Yorkshire fell runner and Ascendancy athlete Dougie Zinis recently shot into the history books after completing the double Bob Graham round — the ultimate Lake District fell running challenge — and setting a new fastest known time of 45 hours and 3 minutes.

After suffering from a mini stroke in his early twenties, full-time barber Dougie took up running aged 28 in an attempt to overhaul his health.

“My wife, Marie, would go out running in the mornings so I started heading out with her,” explained Brighouse resident Dougie, now 41, who is an active member of the Calder Valley Fell Runners club.

“I’ve always loved the countryside so I was naturally drawn to running out in the fells. I gradually progressed over time and could run further and further, and would look up to ultra runners who inspired me to start racing.”

The standard Bob Graham round is to be completed in under 24 hours and involves a 66-mile circuit, 42 peaks and 27,000ft of elevation.

As the title would suggest, a double Bob Graham round involves two laps of the route.

Prior to Dougie’s record breaking attempt, the current record was held by farmer Nicki Spinks.

Nicki, a cancer survivor, ran the double in 2016 in a time of 45 hours and 30 minutes, becoming the second ever person, and first female, to achieve a sub 48-hour time.

Dougie has run several ultra-marathons and first joined the Bob Graham Club in 2019 after completing his single round in 20 hours and 27 minutes. He attempted his first double last year.

“A friend showed me a video of Nicki’s attempt and ever since the thought of running it myself bubbled away,” said Dougie. “Once I’ve got something in my head, that’s it. During my first attempt I slipped and injured my hip flexor about 80 miles in. I was gutted but I put it down to a lack of training and realised I hadn’t done enough days in the hills.”

Ahead of his second attempt, Dougie geared up his training plan so he was extra prepared.

“I penciled the date in and got to work,” continued Dougie, who also ran a single round of the Paddy Buckley – a 100km long run taking in 47 summits of Snowdonia in Wales — last year.

“I trained with a friend and together we went mad preparing for the double Bob Graham. We did lots of hill sessions, often running 17 mile sprints between summits. We went down to Wales and to the Lakes a couple of times, too, for some different terrain.”

After his 20 hour Paddy Buckley attempt, Dougie then ran the Lakeland 100, achieving fifth place overall.

“I planned this Bob Graham round strategically,” Dougie explained. “I ran anti-clockwise first as it’s more technical. The clockwise route is also familiar to me so I felt better prepared to take that on during the last leg.

“My main aim was to finish under 48 hours, as then I would be the first person to have run two full laps; the two other people who set double records ran three quarters of the way and then came back. I aimed for a 21 hour first lap and a 23 hour second.

“I was actually stung by a wasp five minutes into the run which I thought must be a bad omen, but luckily my leg was fine and the plan went well.”

Dougie had a support team of 23 people helping him along the way, providing him with food, liquid and all important morale support.

“A good team is key as they keep you on the right path and make sure you’re XXX 45 hours and 3 minutes later. “Then, all I have to do is conserve energy and focus on maintaining proper running form.”

Next, Dougie is running the 280-mile Winter Spine Race in January:

“I like to get things ticked off and then look for the next challenge. I was glad everything paid off. It was a good feeling.”

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Instagram: @dougiezinis