George Foster

George Foster is a man with a mission.

I felt I had unfinished business with the Bob Graham Round. I don’t know what it is but when I start something, I absolutely cannot leave it alone until I’ve finished it. I once read an entire book about soil because of this quirk.  I’m a geography teacher in my life outside of running, so it might not have been as painful for me as most, but nevertheless, it was not exactly the most thrilling read of my life, but once I’d opened it up, I just had to finish it.

I revisited the Bob Graham Round after a successful attempt back in 2016 in a time of 20:52. However, it was not a premeditated attack. I had not been plotting my revenge for 5 years, head in the records waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It was more a happenstance. The event I had been training for, the British Trials for the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship, had been cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions. I had been training over the year and had built up a decent level of fitness, so I thought I may as well try my hand at the Bob Graham, to save all that training go to waste. I had a 3–4 week window if I was going to take it on and so I got things together quickly and had a crack at it.

I called on my coach Martin Cox, who I have worked with for years. Martin is a rarity these days. Coaches like him are found, few and far between. He won’t turn up and just create a training plan and schedule, Martin goes above and beyond in his holistic approach to each athlete and their challenge. Martin also coaches the incredible Beth Pascall and so I was able to view her schedule for the Bob Graham and tweak it for my own effort.

Nutrition was a key factor for me, not just on the Bob, but as an ultra-runner in general. I have struggled, and still do, to some degree, with under fuelling. This is something we hear about more with female athletes but it is an issue that is prevalent in male athletes as well, though for whatever reason we hear little of it. I remember a time where I was weighing myself 3 or 4 times a day, it was ridiculous! Things became a constant battle to lose pounds and I found I was beating myself up if I unexpectedly gained any. Training your body to absorb nutrition while the body is under so much stress is make or break for ultra-challenges. I am still improving.