On April 5, 2015, Nicky Spinks completed the Round in 18h6m, beating her own record by about 6 minutes. She wrote about the experience on the inov-8 blog, and a very nice video was made about the run. Spinks is holder of numerous long fell-running records, including the Paddy Buckley Round (Wales) and Ramsay Round (Scotland). Spinks wrote about her history with fell-running, and her fight with cancer, on the inov-8 blog, as follows:
"I started running in 2001 when I joined a friend in doing the Leeds Abbey Dash. While training for that event I relived the enjoyment I used to get from running around the family farm as a child and when I ran to keep weight off in my twenties. I then joined Penistone Footpath Runners and later Dark Peak as my passion for off-road running in the fells and mountains grew.
I first completed the Bob Graham (a 66-mile circuit over 42 of the Lake District’s highest summits including 27,000ft of elevation gain) in 2005. I dipped under the 24-hour time limit with a 23:33 clocking. Having not found it too hard, I decided to have a crack at the Paddy Buckley (a 61-mile route over 47 Snowdonia peaks incorporating 28,000ft of ascent). Foul weather conditions hampered my attempt and I completed it in over 24 hours (25:45).
A month later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had, however, unfinished business with the Paddy Buckley, so throughout my treatment I continued to train and recce sections of the route. It was hard, but having the Paddy Buckley as a focus helped my recovery. Eventually in May 2007 I completed the Paddy Buckley in under 24 hours, reaching the finish with just five minutes to spare.
To complete the ‘Big Three’ I needed to do the Ramsay Round (a 58-mile, 28,500ft circuit of 24 Scottish summits – including Great Britain’s highest, Ben Nevis). I spent almost an entire year learning sections of the route and getting fitter. With my recovery from cancer complete, I was able to push harder in my running. The benefits were clear to see, and in May 2008 I completed the Ramsay Round in 22:32.
During 2009 and 2010 I focused my efforts abroad and took part in two big 100-mile ultras, the Grand Raid Reunion (4th) and Grand Raid Pyrenees (1st). My heart, however, remained with challenges on home soil. So, when a friend suggested I made an attempt at the ladies’ 24-hour Lake District Record, I began planning. This is basically the Bob Graham but with as many extra summits as possible added. The record to beat was 62 peaks in 23:17, set by Anne Johnson (nee Stentiford).
At first I thought it was insane, but with the seed planted in my mind I began to recce the route and look for any potential shortcuts that would save time. To beat the record I knew I would have to not only visit all the 62 summits Anne had bagged but also add some more. And the rules were strict – any additional summits would have to be over 0.25 mile away from another summit and involve an extra 250ft of ascent. I spent months and months running over the hills and perhaps even longer pouring over maps! I eventually made my record attempt in May 2011. Despite being terribly sick, I managed 64 peaks, adding the summits of Fleetwith Pike and Sand Hill to Anne’s previous tally, and doing so in 23:15.
I promised myself a rest but then a friend suggested that my pace during the 24-hour Lake District Record run had been fast enough that I would have set a women’s Bob Graham record had I just been doing those 42 peaks. Anne also held that record, clocking 18:52 in bad weather conditions. I planned an attempt for Easter 2012 but a visit to the doctors in February found ‘possible pre cancerous’ cells in my womb. The doctors recommended I had a hysterectomy. I was devastated, but I just had to get on with it. I rescheduled the attempt for July.
Recovery from the operation was quick but painful. I was actually back running within six weeks, winning the 61-mile Fellsman ultra (UK) in the process. By the time July came around I was ready. The first half of my attempt went really well and I was on for a 17:30 clocking but then bad weather struck on Bowfell. It was horrendous. I lost time and, to be honest, only carried on because breaking the record was still possible. I finally returned to Keswick and the finishing point at Moot Hall in 18:12, taking 40 minutes off the previous record.
The following year I returned to Wales in a bid to lower my time for the Paddy Buckley and have a go at Anne Johnson’s brilliant record of 19:20. Having postponed the attempt 24 hours due to bad weather, I then got the prefect window and just went for it. Running to a 19:10 schedule, I knew time would be tight. I lost some valuable minutes in the mist but there were very few further mishaps. I felt great and ran strong, eventually clocking 19:02 and setting a new women’s record.
With two records (Bob Graham and Paddy Buckley) in the bag, I knew what I had to do next – have a go at the women’s Ramsay Round record of 20:24, set by Helene Whittaker (nee Diamantides). It’s lucky that I have an understanding husband who also likes Scotland because every month in the build-up I was north of the border fine-tuning my running lines to perfection. I even taught the locals a shortcut or two!
With massive help from the Carnethy and Lochaber running clubs, as well as the usual suspects from Dark Peak and Penistone Footpath Runners, I made my attempt at the record in May of last year. The weather could not have been better. The blistering pace affected my stomach but my legs were trained to run – and keep on running they did! The summits of the Mamores passed in a blur of sickness and I was still gaining time on my 20-hour schedule. Eventually I reached the finish in a time of 19:39, setting another women’s record.
The rest of 2014 didn’t go to plan. I went to Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) but, having won the 10 Peaks Extreme in the UK in July, I was too tired to do it justice and really struggled through the last 30 miles. I finished 16th woman (5th veteran). I hope to return to UTMB one day and put things right!
Now in 2015, I have a new challenge. Steve Birkinshaw was the first to come to me with the following statistics, showing I have the third fastest cumulative time (including men and women) for all three rounds (Bob Graham, Paddy Buckley and Ramsay Round).
I always knew I would have to return to the Bob Graham as I cannot walk away from something unless I have done my best at it. But what these statistics have given me is a target! It scares me to look at the times and compute just how fast I need to run! To achieve the fastest cumulative time, and knock Chris Near from top spot, I need to better my Bob Graham time by at least 51 minutes. So, I need to run the Bob Graham in 17:21 or faster. I have learnt lots from my previous rounds and I feel this record is achievable. I’m not the fastest runner, especially compared to many men, however I have the ability and experience to keep going and run at the same pace throughout.
I have been asked several times, ‘what drives you to set yourself these incredible challenges?’ I reply with, ‘the idea is planted, usually by someone else, and once I think a record is achievable then I cannot leave it unchallenged.’
I’m currently doing fine-line recces of the Bob Graham sections that I will run in the dark on the record attempt. I’m also working on my flat speed so I can use that on the final five-mile run along the road back to Moot Hall in Keswick. On top of that, I’m packing in as many long fell races as I can to build my endurance. I hope to make my Bob Graham attempt at Easter but this is dependent on snow / weather conditions. I have a backup date in May."