Mark Hartell (M60) with Stephen Watts (M60-Repeat) - 31 July 2024

 Joss Naylor Challenge

31^st July 2024

Mark Hartell and Stephen Watts

Total Time: 16 hrs and 49 minutes

Shortly after my 59^th birthday, I started thinking about the big 60 milestone and, very quickly, decided that a JNT would be an essential part of what I wanted to achieve in my 61^st year. With osteo-arthritis in both ankles and refurbished kneecaps in February 2023 I knew this would be no easy day out but it is always good to have goals especially those that, to some, seem a little far-fetched.

Twice, during the winter months, I set aside weekends in the Lakes to recce sections of the route and twice I was sent home with my tail firmly between my legs and a feeling that my days of moving well over Lake District terrain were over. Wet rock and high winds reduced me to staggering around, yelping in pain and crawling on all fours. I set the idea to the back of my mind.

I chased the cutoffs on Edale Skyline and had a decent springs training on the bike with a few hard rides under my belt but still was very wary of heading back to the Lakes. Come early July and the JNT was suddenly back on the radar as my partner was invited to a low-key attempt. In a triumph of optimism over experience I pulled out maps, poles, gels and all the necessary, drove to the Lakes and set off from Pooley Bridge one sunny morning in early July. The plan was to get to Grizedale Tarn then head down to Patterdale so I could return to the car. I didn’t look at times but hiked and shuffled by feel. The main thing being that at the finish I didn’t feel totally wrecked. The next day I set off from Wasdale Head to Styhead and found my way to the finish. Much better than I had expected; I was smiling! Checking the times I realised it was still going to be a challenge but I set a schedule for 17½ hours and recruited some support.

Steve was the obvious first choice. Still fit, a steady head, great navigator and, bonus, it seemed he would come with a wife (Mel) a van and a daughter (Steph) who wanted to run a leg or two as well.

I’d also recently reunited with an old student friend who I hadn’t seen for 20 years and Ian volunteered for leg 3, Central Fells. We had a plan and a team. As the day approached, others volunteered to be part of the day too so it was set to be a great day out with old friends.

The days leading up to anything long in the Lakes inevitably involve looking at 3 different forecasts several times a day but amazingly it seemed that my old “Rainboy” tag was set to be superseded. After a short night's sleep at Martin and Debbie’s house (Sportident central) the forecasts held true with a beautiful, dry warm and slightly humid day (once it got light!)

Leg 1: Stephen Watts/Neil King

By the time we unearthed Neil from his van on the “wrong” side of the bridge, we were a few minutes late but I kept reminding myself this was not a race nor a record attempt. The key was simply to keep moving and stay strong. A delightful dawn over Loadpot Hill and the first section passed comfortably and uneventfully except for a bit of a flounder and a few curses from me as we took a direct line down to Kirkstone.

Leg 2: Stephanie Watts, Stephen Watts, Jude Jepson, Neil King and Olive (the dog)
Quite the gathering. The Jude/Spyke/Olive combo had obviously decided to take a day off from roofing and renovating and Stephanie was home from Spain and finding it just about warm enough for her liking.

Temperatures were delightful, the banter was good, I was still eating and everything was proceeding well as we arrived a Dunmail a couple of minutes up.

Leg 3: Ian Hill, Alison Wright (part), Stephen Pyke (Spyke) and Stephen Watts (Swatts)

I suppose it was about this time that I started to think Swatts might be planning a full day out. Nevertheless, he was still carrying stuff for me, running ahead to all the tops to take times and generally carrying out all the duties of a pacer.

Seeing Alison for the first time in about 2 decades was great and I was happy that Ian and I had run this section 2 weeks earlier and had all the lines dialled in. Well, apart from the one to High Raise – this is where the humidity and heat kicked in and suddenly I lost 15-20 minutes in a little over an hour. I went quiet and introspective as I did not want this to become a battle against the 18 hours. Fortunately, the low spot passed and by the time we were coming off Bowfell the time bleed had stopped and we gained back a couple of minutes on each top. By the time we were heading down to Styhead Tarn, I was feeling relaxed again: an hour in hand, weather holding, eating again and ankles not too painful.
Melanie had gone above and beyond, carrying water, quiche and all sorts of treats up to the stretcher box so we set off, well-refuelled, onto leg 4.

Leg 4: Stephanie Watts, Stephen Watts, Stephen Pyke (Spyke) Geoff Pettengell (part), Debbie Thompson (greeting on Middle Fell)

So, it was official, Swatts was clearly going to come the whole way AND support me. Great Gable is a bit of a pull at that stage in the game and I had some trepidation about the descent but both passed without incident as did the gully off Kirkfell. Before I knew it we were high on Pillar and psychologically closing in on the finish, except that the recce had taught me that Seatallan packs a little punch and it’s never easy until you are in the bracken coming off Middle Fell. Nonetheless, we finished in daylight with plenty of time before last orders and the whole day was just a lovely day out with friends. A fine way to spend my 60^th Birthday!

Mark

Chief Pacer’s Account

Well, for anyone who knows me, it will be fairly obvious that there was no plan. After turning 60 in 2023, I had wondered how I might mark the occasion, but beyond that, no plans had been made. After 5-6 years away from running, I was once again starting to enjoy getting out fell running. A number of the championship races this year together with the Old Counties Tops fell race and the Saunders Mountain Marathon had kept me relatively content.

I can't remember exactly when, but sometime towards the beginning of July, Mark was suddenly very keen that he needed to take me to a cafe for a discussion over coffee. We wandered along to the Clarence Mill, where Mark told me about his plan to run the JNT on his 60^th birthday, which was on 31^st July 2024, and he asked whether I would support him on a leg or two. During the conversation, I also recall, Mark asking me whether I thought it was a daft idea, bearing in mind his knees and ankles. I couldn't say whether he would complete the crossing, but I knew from years of experience that Mark can dig very deep when the going gets tough and I was quite sure that he would not take on the challenge lightly. That view was confirmed when, over the next couple of weeks, Mark recced much of the route.

At this time, I had no intention of running the whole route. I agreed to support the first two legs and volunteered Mel (my wife) to do the road support. Stephanie (my daughter), who was on a flying trip back from Spain where she lives, asked if she could run a leg or two. So, the initial plan had been hatched; I would run legs 1 and 2 with Mark, Ian Hill, a university friend of Mark's, would run leg 3 and Stephanie would do leg 4.

During the week leading up to the attempt, I could see that the weather forecast was reasonable, and it was only then that occurred to me (but only briefly) that I could carry on with Mark after leg 2. However, this was Mark's attempt; it was his birthday treat, and therefore I decided I would just go with the flow.

Leg 1: Mark Hartell/Neil King

A 4:07 am start began in the dark, but we were soon taking off wind proofs and head torches after passing through the fell gate at the top of Park Foot camping/caravan site. A beautiful dawn and putting the world to rights; what could be better? All passed smoothly until I led the descent on the direct line to Kirkstone. I thought my time was up, if Mark could catch me!

Leg 2: Stephanie Watts, Mark Hartell, Jude Jepson, Neil King and Olive (the dog)

Jude and Spyke were waiting with Mel at the pit stop. Mark briefly stopped whilst I stopped to faff and chat to Spyke, who asked whether I was going to carry on after Dunmail. I had been in doubt, but the opportunity to catch up with Spyke was tempting.

A quick march up Red Screes then followed eventually catching the rest up near the top and time to catch up with Jude.

Leg 3: Ian Hill, Alison Wright (part), Stephen Pyke (Spyke) and Mark Hartell

A bit more faffing at Dunmail, as I had not prepared for carrying on further, meant another delayed start to a leg. Spyke kept me company as I battled to catch the others before the top of Steel Fell. Then time to chat with Ian and Alison, both of whom I had heard about, but never previously met.

The leg passed uneventfully, a few minutes lost here and then a few minutes gained, but generally all on track. The weather was almost perfect although perhaps a little too warm.

Mel and Steph were waiting at Sty Head with food, and water together with Geoff and Josh. Slightly different to my JNT attempt at 50, some 10 years earlier when the timetable was somewhat tighter, and Mel got delayed. On that occasion, Digby and I accosted a kindly-looking runner to ask whether he had any food he could spare and he proceeded to turn his rucksack out and told us to help ourselves to a selection of bars and Kendal Mint Cake.

I had thought about walking back down to Wasdale with Mel from Sty Head, but when I arrived it seemed like such a glorious day that it would be rude not to accompany Mark to the end.

Leg 4: Stephanie Watts, Mark Hartell, Stephen Pyke (Spyke) Geoff Pettengell (part), Debbie Thompson (greeting on Middle Fell)

The early evening is a fantastic time to be running across Lakeland fells. Steeple, Haycock, Seatallen and Middle Fell were all particularly splendid and it was a delight to accompany the others to Grendale Bridge.

Thanks to everyone involved in a truly splendid day out in the hills, and particularly to Mark for his excellent idea for celebrating his birthday.

Stephen