Mary Ockenden (W60) & Gavin Smith (M60) - 05 August 19

Mary Ockenden

In the fell running and orienteering community, everyone knows exactly how old you are, so an approaching milestone birthday cannot be quietly ignored. So, after being inspired by supporting Nick Hewitt with his 4^th (!) JNLC success in October 2018, I considered the possibility of making my own attempt to mark my 60^th birthday. Hence, after months of preparation, including some trail racing in France and plenty more time out on the fells, I decided to go for it. As my husband, Gavin Smith, had come with me on all the route checking and training he decided he would also like to make his own attempt. He proposed that we do it together. Although initially I had reservations, I did finally agree, based on our very similar times on races up to 6 hours long or days on the fells up to 12 hours. But neither of us knew how we would be after nearly 18 hours. We chose the date: Monday 5^th August 2019 – a weekday, which made organising a support team more restrictive, but the only date when all three of our children (also keen runners and orienteers) would be available to support.

The birthday came and then before we knew it we were standing on Pooley Bridge in the dark at 4am with Chris Roberts.

Gavin, Chris and Mary on Pooley Bridge (photo: John Ockenden)

It wasn't actually raining when we set out but it wasn't far off and within an hour we were all back in rain jackets and into the cloud. After a weekend of thunderstorms and very heavy downpours, the ground was very soggy. I was very grateful for waterproof socks, which definitely kept out the worst of the bogs but did not stop the rain running down from the top! We squished our way steadily up the ridge, trying to eat and drink little and often. According to Chris there was a tent near the top of High Street, but I didn't see anything in the cloud and rain.

Descending from High Street in the cloud (photo: Gavin Smith)

Somewhere on the way down to Kirkstone Pass it stopped raining, but we didn't drop out of the cloud until we got right to the pass. That didn't give the support team much warning of our arrival, but fortunately they were brilliantly prepared with hot tea and porridge. I didn't really know what I would feel like eating at the end of each leg, but I found the warm food and drink very easy on the stomach. Thanks John, Tom, Helen, Julian and Nick for your welcome at Kirkstone.

After a short break and a restock of water and food to munch on, we were off again, this time with Julian Lailey. As we climbed Red Screes, the cloud began to break up a bit and we got a few clear patches down to the pass where we could still see the support vehicles. The weather steadily improved during this leg, and although the tops were still in cloud, we had some wonderful views down the valleys, with a bank of threatening cloud above. The support team at Dunmail Raise could see us on the skyline, and once again they had tea brewing. Smoothie, tea, cheesy bean slice, rice pudding and tinned peaches this time. In retrospect, maybe this was too much, as my stomach was a bit uncomfortable on the following leg. Thanks, John, Helen, Annie, Abi, Ian and Mike for food, drink and chairs at Dunmail!

Still on our schedule, we started the pull up Steel Fell, led by our daughter Helen and with Mike Johnson accompanying to take over on Leg 4. We still hadn't seen a single person apart from the support team. With the weather still brightening, we had our first glimpses of the sun, and a beautiful view up to High Raise. The first people we met were at the top of Far Easedale, at about midday. The climb up Birks Gill and the tussocks near the top of High Raise felt harder than usual, as legs were beginning to feel the effort. With a slightly uncomfortable stomach I found it more difficult to eat, but managed to nibble on Hula Hoops, nuts and dried apricots. I love the climb up Bow Fell, especially when you get the line just right and pop out on the plateau just below the summit.

Nearing the summit of Bow Fell (photo: Mike Johnson)

The tops were all in cloud again by this time, but views below the cloud base were beautiful. With some trepidation I knew we were approaching the steep and rocky descent off Great End, my least favourite section of the whole route. Luckily, the rock was almost dry and after the most rocky steep part in the cloud, we were met with a fantastic view all the way down to Sty Head Pass, where we could see our son John, daughter Annie and her friend Abi already waiting for us. For them, watching, it must have seemed like a slow descent (it was, but I had allowed for that in the schedule). Hot, sweet coffee with more peaches and rice pudding set me up for Leg 4. Thanks John, Annie and Abi for carrying an assortment of goodies up to Sty Head (and then carrying all the things we didn't want back down again!). It was great to have a choice, because I found that some foods, that had been great during previous runs, I couldn't face on the day and some things that I hadn't asked for but they had brought anyway were just right!

Mike led us ably on Leg 4. Helen was having such a nice time she decided to carry on with us too, which was particularly useful in case Gavin and I were moving at different speeds (but in fact we were still very similar). John joined us for Great Gable and Kirk Fell before descending to move the car to Greendale. After Sty Head we were back into the cloud again, and didn't see any more clear summits. Fortunately, the forecast possible thunderstorms did not materialise. Our schedule allowed for slow and cautious descents off Great Gable and Kirk Fell, including the impressive red gully.

Descending from Kirk Fell (photo: Mike Johnson)

The SW wind was quite strong on Pillar, but perhaps meant that Steeple was not as windy as it can be. After Steeple, and the end of the rocky terrain, I began to believe that we could actually complete the route in time. Middle Fell has always been one of my favourite fells: not too big for horrible weather days, generally quiet and great views in good weather. As a child. growing up in Gosforth, I often climbed it with my parents. Subsequently, Gavin and I introduced our own children to it when they were younger. But I have never been as happy to reach the summit as I was on this challenge! It was great to be met near the summit by Abi. John also ran half way up to meet us and then skipped back down to get the tea brewing! We made it to Greendale Bridge in 17 hours 33. Unfortunately Joss was ill, so it was down to Ian Roberts to perform the 'meet and greet'. A brilliant surprise was that my sister Jane and her husband David Hewitson (who live locally) had turned up at Greendale on a whim, not knowing anything about our progress other than our scheduled arrival time, but obviously more confident than me that we would finish!

What a fantastic day! My overwhelming memory is the fantastic support and enthusiasm of all those involved. What can be better than a day in the hills surrounded by family and friends. Thank you to all of you. Thanks also to all who have donated to my chosen charity, The Alzheimer's Society, for which I have raised more than £400 so far.

Support:

Driving: John Ockenden

Leg 1: Chris Roberts, Gavin Smith

Leg 2: Julian Lailey, Gavin Smith

Leg 3: Helen Ockenden, Mike Johnson, Gavin Smith

Leg 4: Mike Johnson, Helen Ockenden, John Ockenden (to Black Sail Pass), Gavin Smith

Food supplies, welcomes and enthusiasm: Annie Ockenden, Abi Plowman, Tom Matthew, Nick Hewitt, Ian Roberts

Gavin Smith

My wife Mary Ockenden and I attempted the JNLC on 5 August 2019. We had run or walked each leg multiple times in the preceding weeks and we devised a bespoke schedule of 17h30 based on our recces. We felt fit and confident that (given reasonable weather) we could complete the whole route, but we were unsure of how much we might slow down towards the end.

We set off from Pooley Bridge with Chris in the dark at 04:02. It soon started raining and then we were in fog and cloud all the way until we dropped into Kirkstone Pass. We were a few minutes behind our schedule here. The support team was ready with hot drinks, lots of food and great encouragement. Julian then led us briskly through Leg 2 and by shaving a few minutes from the two breaks at the road crossings we were back on schedule leaving Dunmail Raise.

Leg 3 was the nicest part of the day, with views forward to Bow Fell, Esk Pike and the waiting Leg 4 peaks, all with their tops in cloud. Helen led us brilliantly through this leg keeping us unerringly close to our schedule. Mike joined us for the whole of this leg too. We had been the only people out on our route all morning, and we saw the first others about noon at the top of Far Easedale.

Climbing Esk Pike (photo Mike Johnson)

The descent from Great End to Sty Head was where I felt most tired, but more food and drink at Sty Head revitalised me.

During our recces we had tried out various types of food to eat on the move and decided on our favourites. However on the day I found most of it unpalatable and so drank well but ate little while moving. I compensated with lots of food at the stops. Good for me and easy to consume were tea and doughnuts, rice pudding, tinned peaches, and Asda smoothies. The support team did a fantastic job having everything ready and in the right places at the right time.

Helen, Abi, Annie, Mike, Mary and Gavin (photo John Ockenden)

For Leg 4, Mike led the way. Helen stayed with us to the end, and John managed to fit in Great Gable and Kirk Fell before dropping down from Black Sail to meet Annie and Abi and take his car to Greendale. All the Leg 4 tops were in the cloud but we continued to make good progress and it was great to reach Middle Fell with 62 minutes in hand for our final descent. We finished in 17h33, remarkably close to our schedule.

We saw the fabulous views during our recces rather than the run itself, but that’s what we’re used to on the fells. It was hard, but it wouldn’t be a worthwhile challenge if it wasn’t hard.

My thanks to all our pacers and supporters for making possible a great day out on the fells, to Joss for inventing the challenge, and to Mary for first proposing that we attempt it. My chosen charity is Wasdale Mountain Rescue.

Pacers

Leg 1 – Chris Roberts (Black Combe/SROC)
Leg 2 – Julian Lailey (SROC)

Leg 3 – Helen Ockenden (SROC/CUOC) & Mike

Leg 4 – Mike Johnson (Bowland/SROC) & Helen
Head of Logistics – John Ockenden (Bowland/SROC/Drongo)

Support team – Annie Ockenden, Abi Plowman, Nick Hewitt, Tom Matthew, Ian Roberts