Supporter

I guess in a way I have a unique experience of Nicky’s new record round – a combination of the 3½ hours “warm up” at the beginning and then 3¼ hours crunch time at the end. For me the first and last legs were separated by an enormously long gap of about 16 hours - there was time for a relaxing second breakfast, a long snooze in the campsite sunshine and another in a hot tent, a paddle in Bassenthwaite Lake with Sally and the dog, a pub lunch, a stint in front of a TV watching Petra Kvitova slog her way to victory against Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon, and then a leisurely preparation for the evening resumption of running by donning the sun dried salty gear which only a few hours earlier had been cold and wet. My 16 hour interval must have been very different to Nicky’s, which I would guess bizarrely passed quite a lot more quickly. Recollections of the running include a quite detailed discussion of what a “Tunnock bar” was on the run up Lonscale, and the alarming speed at which Simon and I dropped behind the main group of Yiannis, Neil and Nicky on the Parachute Descent from Blencathra. I was still carrying a kitbag and it was a good job there was a spare set for leg 2 – although I didn’t know this at the time. Nicky was long gone from Threlkeld by the time Simon and I arrived. Leg 6 memories include the incessant bracken clad ascent of Whiteless Pike, and trying feebly to bash it down as we climbed, and being amazed at how strong and in control Nicky was after an unrelenting 20 hours. At one point I passed Nicky a bottle of what I thought, and had said was Lucozade. This was quietly passed back to me, and it was only when I tried a swig that I realised it was just water. I imagined much disappointment, but I recall Helen Elmore rescued the moment with a gel. There was also a “painkiller moment” on Grassamoor (I think) – Nicky seemed to want an Ibuprofen from out of the top pocket of her backpack, but when I tried to put the packet back I was rebuffed. The “pain” was apparently nothing more than the noise of the joggling packet in the otherwise empty pocket! The last tricky ascent was a steep loose stony, and slippery Eel Pike – a good job the weather was dry. There was also a stunning marbled sky off to our left as we seemed to float over the final ridge – Sail, Scar Crag, and Causey Pike. By then I think we had all realised it was pretty much in the bag, and the number of twinkling headtorches in the group swelled as other supporters came up to meet Nicky’s descent to the “fence at Stair”.

Martyn Goodwin - Leg 2

I was paired up with Tom Westgate and Mike Robinson for leg 2. The dawn chorus awake us (along with the adrenaline in our system) and before we knew it Amanda was serving us tea as we saw the first figures appear on the ridge of Blencathra. "Mmm, we better get going we thought" and took advantage of a 10 minute head start. By Clough Head they were nearly with us and from that moment onwards it was like being on the big dipper at Blackpool, one roller coaster of a hill after another! Feeling strong I also went to Catsycam and hung on to the end. Phew. But it was worth it to see the grin on her face (and the home made cake at Dunmail). In fact the cake was that good I went around to Wasdale, nipped up Lingmill and ran in with them before eating more cake.

"Having arrived at the campsite near Braithwaite around 10pm, I surprised myself by managing to get a couple of hours' sleep and hoped Nicky was able to do the same. Road running is my bête noire but the pace was steady from Stair to the A66. Nonetheless we were well inside the split to the first peak (Lonscale Fell) and kept a strong pace for the rest of the stage. I know this because catching up on Sale How after sending a text message update to Amanda was hard work! Yiannis's "parachute descent" of Blencathra was great fun and I ran ahead at the end to take the message "beans and tea" to the road stop. Nicky was off before I'd had chance to replenish water and other supplies so again I had to sprint to catch her on the Clough Head climb and was glad to be able to miss out Watson Dodd; less happy when I realised I'd forgotten the suncream. The coffee courtesy of Julie and Kirsty on Helvellyn was much appreciated before the long slog up Fairfield. Again I ran ahead to Dunmail Raise but Nicky must have only been a few minutes behind, having done Seat Sandal in the meantime. Another rapid kit change and off up Steel Fell. The pace was still fast and with the extra weight and shuttling I'd been struggling to eat. This caught up with me on the ascent of High Raise when I suffered my first ever proper bout of cramps, which felt like someone applying a vice to my quads. I wasn't much use to Nicky after this but struggled on to Angle Tarn and Esk Hause before breaking off for a sleep on Green Gable where I was meeting friends later before dropping into Seatoller. With no Internet access or phone reception available, it was some days later that I found out that Nicky had broken the record despite the heat - fantastic news and a most impressive achievement."

Ian Winterburn

I arrived on the top of Causey Pike a little after midnight on a perfect night, dry and clear with the most amazing clouds burning across the sky to the North, I was there to act as look out and report back on Nicky's progress for the support team and to feed news updates. Almost straight away I could see a row of lights moving up Sand Hill(60), I knew the plan was to try and get Grisedale Pike but I also knew that Nicky had a meticulously tight schedule, if she was a minute off at Sand Hill she would be heading back. It was quite clear that the decision was made very quickly as the lights turned round and retraced their route to Coledale Hause before losing the lights up Eel Crag(61).

By the time they'd dropped to Sail(62) at 1.25 I knew barring an injury she'd done it, They were still moving well and my phone was buzzing from Charlie, Amanda and Willy as the supporters started to move to see her complete her round, the excitement was palpable. Her progress continued to be swift with no let up as she crossed first Scar Crags(63) where I sent my final message to Amanda

Nicky topped out on Causey Pike(64) at 1.50. She'd done it, There were a few cheers and shouts of well done but no stopping as there was still work to do, I led off down to Sleet Hause and down to Stair making sure that we didn't miss the turn off, with 200m to go Nicky was sent to the front and as we crested the final descent a huge cheer went up from around 40 supporters as she touched the fence post at 2.15 to the popping of champagne.

Brent Lindsey - Leg 5

Being on leg 5, for the first three quarters of the day we have little to do. Going to Nicky's start is a must, so up at 02:00 hrs and off as quiet as we can to Stair and find the start fence. Its warm and getting light. Not enough for no tourches but not long and there will be plenty of light as there is hardly a clould to be seen. After wishing her luck and cheering off we go back to the campsite for sleep.

The leg 5 team, do a final check of their role by going backwards over Robinson from the change over point at Newlands Hause, then return double checking navigation points. Dont want any errors this late in the day so we need to be sure. It is a hot day and we return to camp for food and rest where we keep up to date with Nicky's progress through lots of text messages. An easy afternoon for us.

We arrive at Honister early knowing Nicky is on time to take the record. Simon Rippon arrives first from Fleetworth with handover news on eating and clothing requirements for leg 5. He is hot and looks like he has been running hard. I take a layer of clothing off knowing I am about to get a lot warmer. All the way up Dale Head it is a pratical keep feeding and watering approach and stay with the pace. Nicky seems OK. We are all aware she has an extra hill in the bag and just need to mainatin the pace. 4 of us are on support, Roy Gibson, Julie Gardner, Willy Kitchen and Brent Lindsay. We exchange roles through the leg, it works to keep Nicky going. On the way up Hinscarth she is concerned about Whiteless Pike. I did'nt have an answer that could make her feel better, so talked about anything else. When we get to the top of Robinson more are waiting and act as a guide to hit the summit first time. As we come off Robinson there are a lot of people around and it starts to get a bit busy. Not ideal as too many people are shouting instructions and it feels like its getting a little out of control. Dropping off to Newlands hause Nicky is having a bit of a low. We get her back on the better line and hand her over to Amanda and the leg 6 support.

As they set off for Whitless Pike, Willy and myslf decide to go over Ard Crags where we can watch much of their progress looking accross. When the head tourches disappear we run on towards Stair. Ian Winterburn is on Causey Pike keeping us updated. It a beautifull summer night and all is looking good for the record. When we arrive at the finish to join the group everyone is on good spirits waiting for Nicky to appear, not long and they are seen running down Causey Pike with Nicky at the lead. 64 peaks, 23:15 Well done, excellent, brilliant. How else can it be said.

Willy Kitchen - Leg 5

We gathered at Honister somewhat apprehensively, knowing this could be a make or break leg for Nicky. Sporadic reports from Rossett Pike, Wasdale and Red Pike suggested she was still going well, but that the heat was making eating difficult - and it had certainly been oppressive in the campsite earlier in the afternoon.

There was a cooling breeze at Honister, however, and the distractions of some long distance walkers and a solitary BG attempt to keep us from dwelling too much on what might lie ahead.

As dusk began to take hold, we spotted the first signs of Nicky's party snaking their way down the path off Fleetwith Pike. Julie and Roy set off ahead up Dalehead and soon enough Nicky was with us at Honister.

Essential kit was passed from support to support and then we were straight off out of the slate mine car park and hard left up the hill. Nicky was a good hour up on schedule, the first extra peak was in the bag, and the darkening skies to either side, smudged with deep pinks and purples, made for a spectacular scene.

I was relieved to note Nicky was still very much in control of events, although her breathing came with a rasping edge, and she only managed to take on about half the cup of soup we carried up the hill. We caught Roy and Julie after a few minutes and the climb up Dalehead, and indeed all the way to the summit of Robinson, passed without incident - though we were somewhat taken aback by a particularly sprightly sheep which took flight across the path in front of us on the ascent of Hindscarth, as if in celebration of what Nicky was about to achieve.

From snatched conversations between Dalehead and Hindscarth, it was clear Nicky wasn't going to take any unnecessary risks with the 65th peak if things got tight; and she also admitted to just wanting it all to be over at this point. Nonetheless, and on a sparse diet of gels, she was holding that precious hour in hand all the way to the top of Robinson and we supporters could feel we were playing our small part too.

Kirsty and friend met us with torch just below Robinson - they had been clearly silhouetted against the quickening darkness as we descended Hindscarth - and as we dropped over the crest of the hill the enlarged party spread out a little, picking its way down the short sharp descent in the gloaming, most of us now donning head torches.

Ahead of us, the grain of the land seemed less certain than it had in daylight, and the lights laid out before us to lead the way weren't quite where I'd expected them. I tried to hold the line we'd run to schedule a few hours earlier, but drifted a little, and there were three or four of us now strung out across the hillside ahead of Nicky. Suddenly things didn't feel quite right any more, and as we crossed the stream and hit wet ground, I became conscious that Nicky had yet a third line in mind. I mumbled a weak apology for the wet ground as we bog trotted across to the trod a few hundred metres distant, and shortly we were beginning the second steep descent beside Moss Beck (check!).

Before we did so, however, Nicky asked about her leggings; she sounded rattled by the past ten minutes and I certainly was rattled. It felt like everything had unravelled in the time it had taken us to descend two thirds of the way off Robinson and I wrongly thought she was suggesting a change there and then, rather than at the Hause a few short minutes below.

Whatever the confusion between us, we were now hard upon the eroded path down to the Hause, and once again the surplus of bodies preceding her meant Nicky was not following the premium line. Nevertheless she was soon off the hill and in the reassuring hands of Amanda, fed, watered, changed, and off to tackle Whiteless Pike - but, I knew clearly enough, she'd lost five crucial minutes against the schedule off Robinson, and we were leaving Nicky less assured than we had found her.

Brent and I had already decided we'd continue on to Stair under our own steam, taking the Buttermere Sailbeck race route over Ard Crags and then down to the roadside quarry. It was a magical cloudless night, with a faint glow to the north, and the periodic flash of head torches way off to the east as, we surmised, a BG party weaved its route over the Dodds.

More reassuring still, we could now clearly observe the head torches of Nicky's party making steady progress up the flank of Whiteless Pike on the opposite side of the valley to us. As the adrenaline of the previous few hours slowly subsided, we enjoyed a pleasant jog and debrief, before spotting head torches in front and to the left of us too, this time on Causey Pike, from which vantage point Ian Winterburn was soon able to relay regular updates on Nicky's progress.

We knew when the message came through that she'd topped Sand Hill and was turning south to Eel Crag that 64 peaks were as good as in the bag and, barring last minute accidents, the record was Nicky's. Before relaying this to the Dark Peak webmaster however, I checked my words with Brent, who characteristically cautioned against premature reports of success, and the wording was duly tempered. Still, we both knew at that moment, I think, that we were both lucky and privileged enough to be witnessing a piece of real fell running history in the making; and an hour or so later were toasting Nicky's consummate success at the fence at Stair. A truly magical night indeed.