Friday 22 January 2010

The Paddy Buckley Round could be the one


I've started the year feeling I need a bigger plan. I already intended on doing two Ultras this year amongst other stuff, but I've begun to feel I need to set my sights on something a little higher, something a lot more challenging. I looked around and didn't really see much that I fancied. I've now found something that's certainly out there - The Paddy Buckley Round takes in 47 Welsh peaks over 60 odd miles with 28000ft of climbing, most runners aim to do it in 24 hours. It's said to be 1hr tougher than the Bob Graham Round. Having spotted it, I've since read a few accounts by people who've run it. I'm beginning to realise the size of the job. It looks like a lot of runners organise a team of support people to do various jobs on the day. So the first task for me would be to establish a support team, difficult enough in itself when the event would have to be next year. I'm thinking of a 2011 date sometime in hopefully settled weather in late August or early September. There's no way I'd like to do it in the heat of the summer. So, I have plenty of time to plan towards an effort. As part of the training I could do with completing something tough later this year, I'll have a look at possibilities soon. Many things may happen to hinder between now and a date that far in the future, I suppose every runner faces that. I'm attracted to this not least because it's Wales. I've mountaineered in the Welsh Mountains for years but still haven't seen a lot of them. I haven't fully decided to do it yet because I haven't read up enough on it. But the fact I'm blogging about it tells me I'm likely to commit soon. Out on my local hill run last night I could see the snow streaked gullies of the hills and mountains that make up the Paddy Buckley course approximately 60 road miles into the distance - I felt a little nervous pang in the pit of my stomach when I thought that's how far the PBR is!

6 comments:

Neil said...

That is just crazy.

Woldsman Dan said...

That sounds like a good approach and hats off to you for committing, as that is the first serious step. I agree that organising a "team" will be tough. I'd offer to help but I don't think I could get over often enough to be useful. I'm sure you'll have many hours of fun recce'ing it all :¬)

as well as general training runs I reckon there will be a fair few "super long" fell races over your way to work on the mental and physical toughness. Then further afield ther are loads of fell races in Lakes and Peaks and events such as Fellsman in Yorks Dales, which is a similar distance, involves night running and is a stern challenge in itself. I read somewhere that an 18/19 hour Fellsman = a sub 24 Bob Graham, so you can probably extrapolate that for the tougher PBR.

ultra collie said...

into the valley ran the..

Nick said...

....yes? I await with bated breath.

I can't be as well versed as you, Dave.

Nick said...

Big respect PTR. That's a serious commitment.

PART TIME RUNNER said...

Ah well Nick - it's only serious when I do it -
this is all talk and planning at the moment.