Leap Frog Relay
The Frog Graham Round takes inspiration from the Bob Graham Round, but adds open water swimming sections to take the contender on a 40 mile fell run interspersed with four lake swims. The challenge is daunting and committing and an incredible achievement for those who complete it. The idea of the Leap Frog relay, a bit like the Billy Bland relay (a Bob Graham relay), evolved from the joy of completing such an epic adventure, but as part of a team, making it more accessible and fun to share with friends or club mates. NFRC treasurer and Frog Graham round veteran Natalie Hawkrigg had dreamt up the idea of the Leap Frog relay (with thanks to Tim Mosedale for the name) and as part of the Frog Graham committee, promoted it on the website in late 2022. Always wanting to be at the sharp end of the action, she was keen that an NFRC team would be the first to complete one, so as soon as spring was in the air, she put the idea out among members. The response was enthusiastic and even when she announced with a week’s notice that the date should be May 1st (too early! too cold!) she still managed to muster a willing team, plus supporters, and after much anxious weather watching, it was confirmed the night before that the attempt was on…
Leg 1 – Rose Singleton
Distance: 9.7 miles
Climb: 973m/3191ft
Start: Keswick Moot Hall
Checkpoints:
1: Skiddaw
2: Bassenthwaite Church
Swim: across Bassenthwaite Lake from Church Bay to Beck Wythop
When Nats mooted the idea of a Leap Frog relay I was really keen: I had spent the winter swimming weekly in the pool with the express intention of improving my open water swimming when the weather got warm enough. As it happens I skipped the “improving my open water swimming” step as Nats was so keen to get off the blocks I hadn’t even had a lake swim in 2023. I also hadn’t done much running this year, as I’d spent most of the winter cycling in preparation for the Fred Whitton, which was just 6 days later on 7th May. However, it’s hard to resist an adventure so I decided not to dwell on the lack of preparation and just go with the flow.
My alarm went off at 4am on Monday morning. It was so early the dog didn’t even stir. I’d packed everything the night before so I just had to get myself to Beck Wythop, conveniently round the corner from my house, to meet Nats at 4.30. We arrived ready to go at the Moot Hall at 4.45 so decided just to set off early, therefore the official start time was 4.50. Nats waved me off then headed back to Beck Wythop for a snooze.
Despite my recent lack of running I wasn’t concerned about the run leg at all. I know the route well and even with the clag blocking all visibility and the Skiddaw microclimate being predictably grim, it’s always a privilege to have the fells to myself, making the 4am start worth it. I was however, extremely worried about the swim. Not only had I not had chance to go in the lake this year, I also don’t have a great record of open water swimming. When it’s cold and choppy I’m prone to panicking and find it hard to control my breathing. My usual open water swimming season starts in July and consists of me breast stroking across the smaller lakes, so swimming across Bass (around 900m) in early May was about ten standard deviations from my baseline. Our team was also quite formidable; after me it was Natalie, Frog Graham summer and winter ladies record holder, then Paul Wilson, well known intrepid ultra athlete, coach and Bob Graham chairman and finally Si Gray, men’s Frog Graham winter record holder. The pressure to get across Bass weighed heavy, but if I could do it, I knew they would finish the rest of the relay in style.
I reached Skiddaw summit at 6.30am and texted the group which was the cue for Nats to kayak across the lake to meet me for the swim. As I dropped out of the clag the lake came into view. It looked reasonably calm and I tried to visualise myself swimming across it, and then quickly vanquished that thought as it was far too intimidating. Nats and Paul Wilson met me at Dodd wood, and while Paul drove round to Beck Wythop, Nats and I headed down to St Bega’s church and to the lake shore to get swimming.
My initial plan to stylishly swim across doing front crawl lasted about 20 seconds as I felt the old familiar panic setting it with water splashing in my face and difficulty controlling my breathing. The other side looked a long way off and I suddenly realised what a huge challenge I’d set myself. Nats sensed the panic and calmed me down, reassuring me it was OK to do breast stroke and easier than a Friday afternoon at work (true). So…breast stroke continued for longer than I planned, but when we got to the agreed “check in point” (where I was allowed to turn back) I decided I was fine to continue. I had to work really hard to control my breathing and focused on long breaths out, which I knew would help keep me calm and stop my heart rate getting too fast. As we got further across the lake the water got a bit flatter and I could see Paul and Angela on the opposite side, gradually inching closer. I managed to intersperse my breast stroke with some front crawl, pleased to feel like a “proper swimmer” and was grateful for Nats’ endless supply of positive encouragement.
After what felt like forever, I could finally make out Paul and Angela’s smiling faces and knew I’d done it. I got out of the water in total shock that I’d made it and thrilled that the relay could keep going. Nats hopped out of the kayak, did a quick change and set straight off on leg 2. Paul drove round to Buttermere to get some kip after his night shift before leg 3 and Ange helped me get changed, cleaned the kayak then headed off to Buttermere in Natalie’s van. I popped round the corner back home for breakfast and a cuppa, looking forward to seeing the others again later in Keswick.
Leg 2 – Natalie Hawkrigg
Distance: 12.8 miles
Climb: 1578m/5175ft
Start: Beck Wythop
Checkpoints:
3: Barf
4: Lords Seat
5: Ullister Hill
6: Grisedale Pike
7: Hopegill Head
8: Sand Hill
9: Crag Hill
10: Wandope
11: Whiteless Pike
12: Rannerdale Knotts via Low Bank
Swim: across Crummock Water from the small shingle beach to the North of Hause Point to Low Ling Crag
At 5 am it was just a start of Twilight emerging and central Keswick quiet and all to ourselves, a reminder of past adventures for me and another one about to start.
After Rose left at 4:50 am I drove to back to Beck Wythop and rested for an hour before breakfast in the van and then the job of getting the kayak over to Church Bay.
I sat eating breakfast, imagining Rose up in the clag, watching the wind on the water, praying it didn’t get too choppy. Rose’s Skiddaw summit photo arrived and pinged into WhatsApp and that was my cue to set off over the lake to get ready for her arrival.
Rose was cheerful and chirpy and psyched for the swim. She showed no nervousness or trepidation. I was impressed with her resolve and determination as she chipped away the metres 900 m across the lake.
Once Rose had made it to the shore, a quick exit from the kayak, a change of shorts and shoes. I grabbed my rucksack and I was off on my leg.
No hesitation on route for me. I was soon on Barf, Lord seat and Ullister Hill. I knew the way like the back of my hand and had no need to hesitate as I whizzed through the forest.
Signs of folk arriving for biking adventures at the park, and then the Grisedale grind route up Grisedale came and went. Windy on the tops and no visibility.
I’ve got my compass out at the usual spot, making sure I got the right line from Wandope to Whiteless Pike and then I could see Crummock water below and took the usual race descent speedily down over Rannerdale Knotts to Crummock.
Paul Wilson was waiting to kayak across with me, and I quickly changed into double layer neoprene with the help of my friend Clare Regan, who had come out to support.
The swim was uneventful, even though there was a bit of chop. It felt like a big loop to the right as I swam and shouted at Paul that we were going too right, but he had me spot on into the bay.
With my leg done, I kayaked back to the start and met another friend Karen Long, and we soon reunited with leg 4 crew at Buttermere. We enjoyed a sunbathe on the shores of Buttermere, whilst we waited for Paul and Angela Wilson to arrive.
My son Elwood escorted Paul across on the water in the kayak whilst my other son Jonty and his friend Zack played in and out of the water. It was very sociable and rather nice knowing I had done my bit and only now to support the final two legs.
Leg 3 – Paul Wilson
Distance: 6.2 miles
Climb: 1060m/3477ft
Checkpoints:
13: Low Ling Crag
14: Melbreak (south summit)
15: Red Pike
16: High Stile
17: Horse Close
Swim: across Buttermere from Horse Close to Hassness (Crag Wood)
I was quite excited to be on leg 3 of the Leap Frog relay, I haven’t ran this since 2017 when I ran my own Frog Graham Round. It is the shortest leg on the round being only 6 miles long and 400 metre swim, but packs a punch with 3800ft of ascent. It is straight into a steep climb up the front of Melbreak, it is hard going but fortunately being early in the summer, the bracken has not grown too high. I made sure I visited the south summit, (rounds have been disallowed for not doing so). On running down to Scale Force I joined up with Angela, who declined the swim, but fancied a run out.
Another big climb to Red Pike then run along the ridge to High Stile. A steep descent off High Stile, one you probably never run the same way twice! We didn’t mess about looking for a path in the clag, just headed off down, rock dodging and scree running. We ran out of the cloud into rather a nice day.
On arrival at Horse Close Bay at Buttermere, I got changed into my wetsuit. Having witnessed Rose and Natalie covered from head to toe in neoprene, I was slightly concerned I was going to be cold in my summer wetsuit and swim cap only! As Elwood escorted me over the lake in the kayak, I swam a bit faster to keep warm! On reaching Hasness Bay I handed over to Si Gray.
It was a good day and I enjoyed the social aspect, as much as the challenge itself, meeting up with other Northern Fells runners.
Leg 4 – Si Gray
Distance: 11.5 miles
Climb: 1189m/3900ft
Start: Hassness/Crag Wood
Checkpoints:
18: Robinson
19: Dale Head
20: High Spy
21: Catbells
Swim: across Derwent Water from Otterbield Bay to:
22: Otterbield Island
23: St Herberts Island
24: Rampsholme Island
Then to the most western point of Calf Close bay
Finish: Keswick Moot Hall
After arriving very early at Buttermere, I enjoyed a civilised few hours lying on the beach, chatting in the sunshine, gazing over to High Stile. One false start later (boulder mistaken for fell runner), I saw Paul descending alongside the beck and it was time to sum up the motivation to strip off and do some exercise. I must have looked disappointed to end my basking as I was asked “ARE YOU UP FOR THIS?!”
Paul quickly emerged from the short swim, and we shook hands on the water’s edge (first ever meeting). I didn’t want to risk being left hanging with a super enthusiastic high five. Who knows the etiquette here?
The ascent of Robinson always feels steep and slow with hands aiding in various places. I was smug about getting the best line off Dale Head and the best running conditions of the day, clear summits with touch of breeze. The highlight of this leg is always the aggressive descent off Cat Bells, sliding through the dead bracken that gives a bit like scree.
I appreciate that a very slender man doing breaststroke in a wetsuit is not the most masculine of visions, but it enabled me to sight the islands and maintain a straight line across Derwent Water. It was a necessity due to the woeful amount of swimming I’ve done in the last two years. I was briefly attacked by a very surprised goose on one of the islands but the time lost was negligible.
I received strange looks from the plethora of tourists as I ran through Keswick in a neoprene swim-run wetsuit and gloves, still dripping wet with goggles and hat hanging out of pockets. It was accurately described to me as “The Glory Leg”.
What did I learn?
- I wore a horrifically tight, borrowed tri suit which was a novelty but practically makes a lot of sense. I did however think the large TRIATHLETE motif down each leg was a tad tragic and was glad the fells were quiet.
- Having a support kayak on the swim allows you to concentrate on swimming rather than worry about “paddle boarders” and yachts. It is a very sensible addition.
- I think the creation of the “leapfrog relay” is a great idea, a shared adventure with friends/clubmates and those convinced to do a leg will surely be inspired to come back for the lot? Good decision Frog Graham Committee.
The total time was 12hrs 28mins and we are hoping many other teams will follow. Adhering to guidelines regarding biosecurity is critical to protect the lakes from invasive species and secure the ongoing future and success of the Frog Graham, needless to say these were followed throughout (and easy to adhere to in the relay setting). A huge thanks to Natalie Hawkrigg for the inspiration, motivation and logistics. Thanks also to the supporters: Angela Wilson, Karen Long, Clare Regan, Steve Razzetti, Elwood Razzetti, Jonty Razzetti and Zack Brown.
Sounds fabulous!