The Yorkshire 3 Peaks

The Yorkshire 3 Peaks fell race route - 23.3 miles and 5,279 ft of climbing!

I'd checked the weather updates religiously Thursday pm, all of which said that the weather was due to be fine, warm ish, may be a bit of cloud - ideal.
On waking to Nick and Dave hammering on the door at 6.50am, not the 7.15 that had been promised, the weather was overcast and wet!
I had also downloaded the course onto my Garmin, so we would have a good idea of the route to take.
The drive to Horton in Ribblesdale was good, we got to the start point at about 8.00am. After deciding on kit to wear, food and drink to take, off we went.
We had decided to take the start pretty steady, it's a long way around and Dave's first 3 peaks.
From the off it's all uphill, and quite steep too.
Surprisingly I did feel good going through the fields on the way up towards Penyghent.
In what seemed like no time I had reached the point where you turn left and head up the steep part of Penyghent, before the trot to the trig.
At this point, down came the clag and with it a bit of drizzle, so much for weather forecasters.
I arrived at the trig feeling, still, good!
A couple of young ladies were waiting at the trig also and after a few minutes said "which is the next way to go?" - No map, no compass, but attempting the 3 peaks!
After a few more minutes Nick and Dave arrived and off we went.
The run off Penyghent is good and soon we reached the point where you turn left and head off on the Pennine Way. At the cross roads it's straight on, pretty soon you come to a boggy section. Thankfully it has been dry for a bit so it wasn't too bad.
The next section was almost complete, we came off the fells to the main road, about 2 miles to go to the cafe at Ribblehead viaduct.
At this point my left hamstring became very tight and I started to get cramp, the only cure was to carry on running. I got to the caravan, ordered 3 coffees with plenty of sugar. The other 2 pulled in, Dave looking pretty rough. Within 5 minutes, Nick was up and wanting to get going again. Dave wanted to sit, eat and drink, but, we were off again. This section is tough! The next 5 - 6 miles are all uphill and it drags.
A steady run along the railway line, before heading steeply up hill. You go out, before heading back to Whernside and climbing the ridge. Passed a few walkers here.
Sat down, re fuelled and waited for Nick and Dave.
Both came in sight, Dave looking like he was really struggling. We rested a bit, took pictures, before setting off slowly.

The run off Whernside is tough if taken too slowly, it goes on forever, small steps, causing pain to the thighs.
So I went quickish.
Dave however was much slower and at the bottom was really struggling.
We walked for a while to the farm with the cafe, expecting ice cold orange juice, but ... it was shut.
Nothing for it but to carry on.
I was beginning to think we would really struggle here, but Dave gritted his teeth and battled on.
One climb to go Ingleborough.
A more direct route takes you up the last climb, with the last section very steep.

It was a slow journey to the top, with us all feeling pretty tired.
Only 4 miles to go back to Horton.
The track you follow is probably the worst I've run in, it's full of jagged limestone, that has the potential to really hurt.
These last four miles seemed like 6+.
But we jogged and ran these last few miles to get back in 6 hours.
Not a record by any stretch of the imagination, but ... 23.3 miles and 5,279 ft of climbing - it aint bad.
Well done to Dave and Nick - it was a great day, good run and plenty of laughs.