"Sitting here with less than a week to go until my attempt, I’m trying to convert nerves into positive anticipation. I have been focussing, planning and training for at least a year now to reach this point.
 
"The start of my love affair with long-distance events began when I first heard of the famous Bob Graham Round back in 2004. Thinking that it sounded like “a good challenge”, I approached Dark Peak Fell Runners and asked if I could join the club’s annual mid-summer ‘mass-participation’ (well, not exactly mass - 6 or 8 contenders!)  attempt.  That was successful and, of course, left me thinking; “what next?”
 
"So, I turned my attention to the Paddy Buckley Round in Wales. I had an unsuccessful (bad weather) 25 hour attempt in May 2006 – and then two months later was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not surprisingly, that put all thoughts of running out of my head until after the operations and eventual all-clear. Then - I was straight back to training.  I attempted in May 2007 and this time was successful - finishing in 23.55.
 
"Once again (!), a month later I was thinking “what next?”. Of course the answer was clear – the Ramsay Round in Scotland.  Distance from home in West Yorkshire meant a fair amount of organising and reccying being necessary, but in May 2008 I was ready and the weather was perfect. My other rounds had been hard work  – I was always sick and unable to eat – but this time I had worked and practised hard on what, and when, to eat.  I felt great all the way round and did 22.30 hrs.
 
"After that there didn’t seem to be much that captured my attention, apart from the 100-mile Grand Raid Reunion (an island in the Indian Ocean)  in which I finished a very pleasing fourth.  Then in 2010 I entered the Grand Raid Pyrenees ultra, and as part of my training did the Fellsman in May 2010. I had always hoped to win this Yorkshire classic one day, and I was delighted to do just that - in 12.39 hrs. But when I learnt I had broke the record by at more than 20 minutes, I was astounded. The record was held by none other than Anne Johnson (nee Stentiford) – a very well-known and exceptional ultra-runner who held the Ladies record for the fastest Bob Graham and Paddy Buckley rounds... and the Ladies Lakes 24-hour record.
 
"Simon Rippon, a running friend of mine, then suggested I should have a go at Anne’s 24-hour Lakes record - which is currently 62 peaks in 23hrs and 17 minutes, held since 1994.  A contender has to ascend exactly the same peaks as the record holder in either a faster time or by adding more peaks within 24 hours, with the criteria of 250ft ascent/descent and 0.25 mile apart for any extra peaks.
 
"So, the seed was sown!  Keeping my plans quiet for a while, I made a few trips to the Lakes looking at split-times, and routes and lines up and down hills I had never been on before. I know I’m not particularly fast – but I also know that when I get things right (navigation, pace, eating, drinking etc) I can keep going at the same speed for what seems like forever, so this type of challenge suits me much more than a “fast” one.
 
"This theory was proven when I ran the 100-mile Grand Raid Pyrenees in August 2010, winning in 30.15 hours, and then maintained my form over the winter to win the Fellsman again this May - taking 48 minutes off my own record to finish in 11.51 hrs.
 
"Since then I have been to the Lakes as much as possible – I have been on all the route section at least 3/4 times, and run the dark sections ‘in the dark’ too.   As part of a long build-up of training races I’ve been doing back-to-back long races (consecutive days, not weeks!), and then resting during the week, which fits in well with work on the farm.
 
"Now, with a full complement of support, and six months of planning and prep under my belt, all I need is some good weather!"

UPDATE: long-range forecast for Saturday looking good - check back for a full report on Nicky's attempt next week - we'll post weekend updates on our Twitter feed (right).