Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge

77km – 5070m climb – 30 summits – 14 hours

Joss Naylor MBE, sheep farmer turned fell-running celebrity, is a legend. He was born at the head of Wasdale and is still living there. People who know nothing about fell-running know about Joss. In his youth he was a championship runner, excelling in the long distance races that surround his home. As he got older he turned his hand to the ultra running classics, like the Bob Graham round, and even competed in 100km track races. He is still going strong, completing 70 summits in a long distance run to celebrate his 70th birthday.

Joss Naylor first met me when I was 2. My grandparents lived near Wasdale and apparently l used to play in his garden. I first remember meeting Joss when l was 22. At that time l was generally doing lots of inactive things and living a long way from the mountains – in Brighton.

It was always assumed that I would live an active, fit and healthy life being brought up in an outdoor family. My Grandad introduced orienteering into the Lake District, and organised many of the long distance fell races, which my Dad and brothers then ran – and often won.

So the pressure was on… therefore l rebelled and joined a band. (We even made a record!)

Now, 30 years on, l am as passionate about running and being in the mountains as Joss; funny old world!

Background to Joss Naylor Challenge

The Joss Naylor challenge traverses 30 summits, covering a distance of 77km with 5070m climb. In all that there are only two road crossings. The route goes from Pooley Bridge to Joss’s house in Nether Wasdale and was laid down by the man himself in 1990.

The challenge was offered to people aged over 50 to complete the run in set times according to their age group, and with the proviso that you raise at least £100 for a charity of your choice. My age target was U14 hrs and my charity was ‘Challenge Cancer through Adventure’ (see end of article for details).

"I wasn’t confident that my body would
hold out for 14 hours of running"

As a member of Dark Peak Fell Runners it was always assumed that l would do the Joss Naylor Challenge. Over the years l had done lots of ultra distance events, mountain marathons, combined running and sailing races etc, so l had lots of experience and always enjoyed being out with friends on the hills. I completed the Bob Graham round in good time in 1991, but hadn’t done much since the Lowe Mountain Marathon a couple of years ago – so I wasn’t sure that I would be able to repeat my form of 15 years ago!

Loads of injuries had forced me to train on a bike (now l have three!) but I wasn’t confident that my body would hold out for 14 hours of running. However, I knew l could do the mental bit, biking had made me strong climbing hills and Huw George (my trainer at the gym) had made everything else stronger so maybe l would be able to do it.

Training

Two running friends of mine, Debbie Smith and Karen Davison, decided to have a go at the ultra long Tour du Mont Blanc race so l seized the opportunity and announced l would definitely have a go at the Joss Naylor. I joined in with their enthusiastic training regime and chased them round the Peak District (at a distance – they’re both nearly half my age!) during the winter months and got reasonably fit.

But l still needed to recce the Naylor route so l joined in with a real attempt with two fellow Dark Peak members, Dave Lockwood and Bob Marsden. They successfully completed the challenge in early May. To my delight I felt strong on the sections that I completed, about half the route, and couldn’t wait to have a go myself.

Saturday 10th June

I set a date in early June, and rallied round the club for supporters - to carry food and water, keep me up to the schedule and on course. Being a point-to-point route, logistics needed a bit of planning so l had arranged for one person to drive from the start to the finish with my tent, food and more importantly the champagne!

The route finishes at Greendale Bridge in Nether Wasdale less than a mile from the pub and campsite. Unfortunately, a phonecall to book the campsite revealed that it was full so l pulled a favour on Joss and he allowed us to camp in his field and wash down in his beck. A minor panic over!

The route is split into four sections, the first two being relatively easy underfoot and with minimum climb; but the second two sections are continually up and down covering some of the roughest rocky terrain in the Lakes.

Four of us drove up to Pooley Bridge campsite on a gorgeous summer evening. I was feeling perky after resting and eating all week. I had planned to run the challenge with minimal but organised support. Leaving Debbie Smith to drive to the first road crossing, l set off at 6am with two very experienced ultra distance fell runners – Kev Saville and Paul Sanderson. The first section was lovely; we saw no one, only some wild black horses galloping over the tops in the distance.

I arrived at the first road-crossing at 9am, 20 mins up. l felt pleased, as this section had a tight schedule. My support crew cheered me through as l stopped for less than a minute, not wanting to lose any time.

29°C in the valleys

Kev and Paul continued to pace me over the second section to Dunmail Raise (dual carriageway between Grasmere and Keswick). We ran over Red Screes and Fairfield and many other tops. By the time we arrived at Dunmail l felt how hot it was in the valleys, someone said over 29°C. Luckily the tops had a cool breeze which helped me enormously.

I drank lots and lots of water plus sports drink with carbohydrate. I was joined by Dave Lockwood, my overall advisor and mentor and now my next pacer. We headed up the first of the big steep climbs chatting all the way! From here to the finish the route does not cross any roads, it stays high in the mountains where the terrain gets rougher, rockier, steeper with some difficult technical descents – this is the kind of terrain l enjoy and what l was good at!

I dug deep and stormed up the first few hills. After a couple of hours of running over rough tussocky terrain we saw our first hill-walker – amazing on such a fantastic day! Apparently England was playing in the footie World Cup. A shortcut up the front of Bowfell kept us ahead of schedule and my friend Anne Salisbury (who had paced me on my Bob Graham 15 years ago) now joined in.

Navigation was easy all day, with clear blue skies. The only challenge in that respect was whether to go back and round Great End (easier terrain but longer) or down the front (rougher but shorter). l opted for the latter, and with the help of Roger Baumeister we got the perfect line! This brought me to the bottom of Great Gable and new pacers Debbie Smith and Jeff Harrison, and more refreshments. I started to crave new tastes, coffee and marzipan – did we have such food with us? We did. The new path up Great Gable made it easier but the descent was steep and rocky; with tired legs, one slip and it’s all over!

"I stumbled down the last hill
to a massive reception"

It’s important to get all the lines right off the mountains, as most of the descents are not on paths especially on Kirkfell. We hit them all bang on and we still had only seen half a dozen people all day. A worried face in the distance as Phil (my partner) caught us sitting down enjoying a coffee and chocolate – he thought we were in trouble! We climbed the last two steep climbs easily and began to descend to the finish at Greendale Bridge and all of a sudden l began to feel tired.

Wendy Dodds met me as I stumbled down the last hill to a massive reception and l crossed the bridge with tired legs but a BIG smile on my face. I completed the round in 13.25 hrs, 35 mins under my 14hr schedule.

Joss Naylor who was in training for his 70 peaks at 70 and had just completed the long Ennderdale Fell Race that day, gave me a big hug as l crossed the bridge. Mary Naylor fed me fudge and offered me her shower, which I didn’t turn down!

All long distance runners draw on the help of supporters, to pace you, carry food and gallons of water, and sometimes to help on the navigation. You can’t do it without them and I was grateful to them all for making it such a special day. And big thanks to Debbie who drove all over the Lakes to support me at both the road crossings and then put up my tent! Afterwards she said:

“Hilary completed the Joss Naylor in style – she was strong all the way and burnt off most of her supporters! It was very hot but luckily a cool wind kept it just about bearable. It was an excellent weekend.”

And Kev, who despite getting the cramps kept with me for the first two sections, said later:

“She went strongly from the word go, ate and drank plenty, ran the legs off Paul Sanderson and me on the first two legs. Fantastic effort made all the more difficult by exceptional temperatures.”

l had a fantastic time out with my friends, a real memorable day – and made even better by having a champagne breakfast with all the supporters in Joss’s field. l even went for a walk the following day and no blisters! As soon as l left the Wasdale valley my mobile started bleeping and the enormity of what l had achieved started to sink in!

I am now the 7th woman in the Joss Naylor Club.

About the author

Hilary Bloor is a highly committed orienteer, fell runner, climber and mountain biker. She regularly competes for local clubs: South Yorkshire Orienteers in the forest and Dark Peak Fell Runners on the fells. She has been selected for the England team on many occasions and has won several British Orienteering titles and local fell races.

Hilary has done many mad running/biking races and challenges. She recently discovered ‘Challenge Cancer through Adventure’ and has started raising money for them. You can make a donation here: www.justgiving.com/HilaryBloor

Thanks to all who have donated so far.