By Graham Robinson
Running the classic Yorkshire 3 Peaks fell race has long been an ambition of mine, one which would bring together lots of variables; qualifying races, training, fitness and weather on the day. Consisting of 24 miles with another mile of overall ascent, this was going to be one hell of a challenge.
Fellow WRC member Steve E and I pitched up the night before at the Holme Farm campsite in Horton-in-Ribbleside, providing us with an easy walk to race registration, and more importantly, a walkable pub afterwards!
Pre-race nerves/ noisy campsite resulted in a poor night’s sleep which at least provided a viable performance excuse if needed.
The weather forecast gave an overcast start, with showers in the afternoon, and a 40% chance of cloud free summits. In the end, conditions couldn’t have been much better. Only the tops of the first two summits were slightly shrouded in cloud, with afternoon sunshine instead of showers.
The start snaked its way through the streets of Horton with cheering spectators lining the pavements. Things quickly got more serious as we started the Pen Y Ghent (694m) ascent.
It was on this section I discovered I’d overdressed. I congratulated myself on efficiently whipping off a layer without stopping. This joy was short lived as Steve, running just behind me, returned my dropped dipper!! It could have been curtains before I’d reached the first checkpoint!
Sighting the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct is both good and bad news. You’re at the end of the longest flat section (8miles), but it’s time to ascend Whernside (736m). This approach involved a both-feet-submerged river crossing, just to remind us we’re in a fell race, therein followed a brutal calf testing ascent, which took more than a few cramp casualties. Incredibly, the gradient increased towards the submit checkpoint requiring hands and feet to haul you to the top. Once topped out, it was time to quickly swap into downhill mode again.
Ingleborough (724m) was gained by another steep, stepped section topping out onto the lunar-like landscape of the summit plateau. With the knowledge that this was the final high point gained, and with heavy legs, runners gratefully retraced their steps across this very trippy terrain, paying lots of concentration to stay upright.
From here it was a direct downhill fast home-straight. Tracking through interesting terrain including thankfully dry slabs of limestone pavement. The finish doesn’t become apparent until the last moment as the course routes through a private back garden before opening out into the finishing field where upon (referencing race numbers as finishers approached) we all had our name and running club encouragingly called out over the tannoy.
The race certainly took no prisoners with 120 of the 701 starters DNF, either through retiring or failing to the make the tight cut-offs (denim, nice). I finished in 04:34:29 (243rd) with Steve 04:44:14 (298th). Both over the moon!
Post-run refreshments were consumed in the grand event marquee, washed down, after the compulsory over sugared tea, with a bottle of Northern Monk’s Three Peaks Race IPA beer! I told you this was a special race.
