We’re incredibly proud to share that Team KE successfully completed the Bob Graham Round on Saturday evening, taking it on as a relay team in challenging conditions.

Covering 42 fells and 27,000 ft of ascent, the team pushed through to finish in an impressive 23 hours and 10 minutes. Raising funds for Mind Over Mountains, the challenge combined endurance, teamwork and purpose in equal measure.

The relay itself was the idea of KE’s David, Kerrie and Zoe, who also led on all the planning and logistics to bring it to life. Along the way, they overcame numerous challenges to ensure the event could go ahead. A huge thank you and congratulations to them for making it happen.

It’s one of those events that’s hard to fully capture in words but we caught up with David for a quick reflection on how the run unfolded and what it felt like to know they had pulled it off…

Our Leg 1 team of Jack and Alex set off at a blistering pace and, despite falling foul of the bog of doom over Mungrisdale Common, finished in a perfectly respectable time of just under 4h 30. Tom and Adam then put in a really strong performance on what I would say is the real banana skin of the Bob Graham – the night shift across the Helvellyn range, with a really tough slog up Fairfield and Seat Sandal at the end. Leg 2 concluded just before 4am at which point Tim and I set off on Leg 3. After a fast start up to Sargeant Man and a beautiful sunrise across the Langdales we cracked the main bridge section of Rossett Pike and Bowfell faster than we expected and kept strong over the high fells to Scafell Pike and Sca Fell (although my God Lord’s Rake at the end was tough). After we reached Wasdale Head it was over to Katy and Aaron to complete what was arguably the toughest bit of the entire Round: a tricky selection of fells on Leg 4 in what turned out to be very hot conditions (the colour of Aaron’s neck on Saturday evening can attest to the fact it was a scorcher). This proved a task they were both more than up to, handing over to Zoe and Al at Honister before 4pm and setting them up perfectly to bring it home. Heading off on the final leg, Al and Zoe did everything right over Dalehead, Hindscarth and Robinson (which involves a tricky descent as well). Then, upon reaching Little Town, Jack, Zoe and I carried on for the last 7km on road back to Keswick, joined by Katy (and kids) for the final push up the high street and cheered in to the finish with beers in front of the Moot Hall. A fantastic performance from each and every runner and a team effort we can be very proud of.

We would not have been able to complete the Round (or get very far through it at all) without the unsung heroes of the Relay – the drivers. Tav, Gavin and Al were indispensable, ferrying pairs of runners to each changeover and picking up incoming finishers from their leg.

A big thanks too to everyone who came out and cheered us off at 7pm on Friday and/or the finish on Saturday evening – the support was brilliant and to be cheered up the High Street at the Moot Hall was a very special moment.

Last but definitely not least, a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to our Mind Over Mountains fundraiser so far. We’d be incredibly grateful for any contribution you’re able to make to help us reach our goal. You can do so here.

And who knows… after an effort like this, we might just be crazy enough to take on something similar again in the future!