Becoming King of the Fells
Joss Naylor, a renowned record-breaking fell runner and resident of Bradbury House, recently shared with us his remarkable running accomplishments, literary works, and experiences of living at Abbeyfield.
"I've lived in this area all my life, growing up on a farm in Wasdale Head, a hamlet nestled in the Lake District near Wastwater and Scafell, not far from Gosforth. It was a rather labour-intensive upbringing, which prepared me well to become an athlete. I was a wiry lad and a fair turn of speed, so I was quite lucky in that respect.
"My legs were good and I was a fair climber, so fell running came quite naturally to me. My first competitive event was the Mountain Trial in 1962. I eventually won the Trial in 1966. It turned out to be a favourite of mine and I won it a further nine times between then and 1979, including seven on the trot from 1971-77.
"I circulated the Lake District a bit, participating in numerous events. Peak bagging, the pursuit of reaching as many peaks as possible within a set timeframe, became my specialty. It was during the extension of the Bob Graham Round, a 24-hour challenge, that I secured my initial record of 61 peaks in 1971. Subsequently, I broke that record twice more. Notably, in 1975, I conquered 72 peaks, covering over 100 miles and ascending and descending more than 38,000 feet, completing the challenge in 23 hours and 20 minutes. This is one of my proudest achievements, with the record standing for 13 years. In 1983, I embarked on a journey to visit every lake, mere, and water in the Lake District in just over 19 hours, a feat I repeated in 2020. I compiled my experiences into a book, which won a prize for its illustrations and presentation, with proceeds from each sale donated to charity."
"I also ventured further afield, completing the Three Peaks Challenge in just under 12 hours in 1971, and the coast-to-coast journey from Robin Hood's Bay to St Bees in 41 hours in 1976. I also set records in various other endeavors, including the Welsh 3000s (the 14 peaks of Snowdonia), the Pennine Way, the Lyke Wake Walk, and the 214 Wainwrights, achieving these feats in just over seven days.
“But I don’t let it go to my head. People have called me ‘King of the Fells’ and ‘The Iron Man’, but I don’t listen to that too much. I consider myself quite lucky with all the records and wins over the years. The conditions and your body have got to be alright on the day, so I was fortunate I was able to perform at the right times. It was particularly difficult to keep going during the heatwaves, but I received a lot of support from friends, family and the fell-running community.
"Success heavily depends on favorable conditions and your physical state on the day. I was fortunate to perform well at crucial moments. Running through heatwaves was a challenge, but I had great support from friends, family, and the close-knit fell-running community."
"There are many wonderful people involved in the sport, who I consider to be the greatest people on earth, and I am immensely proud to be associated with them. We come together as a community, often organising events to raise funds for various charities. I lucky to have been honoured for both my charitable work and running accomplishments with an MBE.
"I take great pride in the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge—a run stretching from Pooley Bridge to Greendale Bridge, a route that holds personal significance as it passes by my former residence and one that I first undertook at the age of 50. This challenge is exclusively designed for participants over 50, emphasising inclusivity within the running community. I firmly believe that anyone can participate in running, and doing any form of sport holds significance. It's about pushing boundaries, achieving personal goals, and maintaining physical activity, which becomes increasingly vital as we age. I realise I’m lucky to still be here after suffering several strokes, and being fit helped me through.
"Having been at Bradbury House for a few months now, I have to say I am surrounded by a great team of people. The staff here are incredibly generous and kind-hearted, and spending time with them has deepened my appreciation for their dedication. I’ve got to know most of the other residents too and I’ll chat to anyone."
If you're interested in learning more about Joss's life, you might like to read a copy of his 2009 published biography Joss: The Life and Times of the Legendary Lake District Fell Runner Joss Naylor.
Joss's most recent publication, Joss Naylor’s Lakes, Meres and Waters of the Lake District, is available to buy for £19.95 with proceeds going to the Brathay Trust, a charity turning young people’s lives around through outdoor education.
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