In reply to Nick Smith - UKC:
I have very little time in the coming months and a recovering knee, but i can share some reccie and training thoughts based on my experiences:
Leg 1 (keswick to threlkeld) is an excellent starting point because the pace is fast (by round standards) and therefore acts as a good benchmark (i.e. it's nice to know you are capable from the outset on getting round it well under schedule.
leg 2 needs less attention if you're going to do it in the light (e.g. 1am start), but will require encyclopedic knowledge if you do it in the dark (e.g. 7pm start) It's good to do some research on exactly where the relevant cairns are before you go out, and what they look like. Bob Wightman's site has descriptions, and links to a site that has 360deg panoramas from all the summits -
http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/bob_graham.php
leg 3 is best divided up into overlapping bits on lots of runs through the year. When you're feeling like ramping it up then combining leg 3 from High Raise through to the end of leg 4 (parking in Stonethwaite) is a good test. If you can do that easily within schedule, you're probably winning.
Leg 4 works well on it's own starting with a run over to wasdale from honister.
Leg 5 is simple. Check you know where the tops of the 3 hills are and spend some time assessing the descent options off Robinson. The road bit is best done on a bike / car. No-one likes road running do they?
Don't get too obsessive - navigation on the BG isn't hard, there's just lots of it. I think a lot of people get a bit obsessive about route choices, and it spawns all sorts of doubts and faffery. In fact it's really just an ultra mobile eating and drinking contest - get your hydro-prandial skills up to scratch and you can probably afford a few crap route choices!
The best thing I did in prep for the BG wasn't actually recceing the route, but getting out in other mountains. I did a round of the glencoe munros this time last year, and would highly recommend it. Once you've been up the sides of both the buchailles in short succession, the climb up Yewbarrow is a piece of piss even 14 hours in!
Good luck!