Three Peaks Fell Race

I know there's thread open for this but I would just like some clarification on the entry requirement. On the website it says that for 2011 entry you need to have completed since 01-01-2009 at least 2 FRA AL or BL races and at least 2 BM races. Am I misunderstanding this or does that mean you have 2 full years to gather your experience in order to enter in January 2011 for the April race? Also, why is the endurace road running target so high (3.20) when you can go and do these fell races instead? Speaking as a road runner coming over to the fells, I could do these races but I couldn't do a 3.20 marathon. 4.48 is my best. Don't freak out at me forumites, I am making sure I am prepared for possibly 2012 that's all.....:D

I think that it's a total of two races of AM, AL or BL categories rather than two of each. Stolly, who knows his way around the Three Peaks, reckons you can add an hour on to your road marathon time for this race so 3-20 would give you around 4-20, which is well within the kind of time where cut-offs aren't an issue. I reckon a 4-00 to 4-20 marathon time would get you through the cut-offs more or less.

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Originally Posted by Fairyfeet

I know there's thread open for this but I would just like some clarification on the entry requirement. On the website it says that for 2011 entry you need to have completed since 01-01-2009 at least 2 FRA AL or BL races and at least 2 BM races. Am I misunderstanding this or does that mean you have 2 full years to gather your experience in order to enter in January 2011 for the April race? Also, why is the endurace road running target so high (3.20) when you can go and do these fell races instead? Speaking as a road runner coming over to the fells, I could do these races but I couldn't do a 3.20 marathon. 4.48 is my best. Don't freak out at me forumites, I am making sure I am prepared for possibly 2012 that's all.....:D

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Agreed the marathon time is tough. I'd guess that at least 50 % of the 3 peaks entrants wouldn't be able to do that time. however the numbers have to be limited somehow

THE BL, AM and AL rule seems fair to me. Anyone picking up a bad injury could easily miss a years racing and then be unable to do the 3 peaks.

I don't the the 3P qualification is trying to be elitist but just wants runners to enter who stand a good chance of finishing. I suspect a really good road marathon runner who has never run or seen a fell race before would have a huge wtf moment when he saw the route up Whernside that the race takes :)

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Originally Posted by Stolly

I don't the the 3P qualification is trying to be elitist but just wants runners to enter who stand a good chance of finishing. I suspect a really good road marathon runner who has never run or seen a fell race before would have a huge wtf moment when he saw the route up Whernside that the race takes :)

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The view from Whernside over to Ingleborough can be quite daunting, even if you don't know how far it is from there back to the finish, especially as the first twinges of cramp start to kick in as you start to run again :eek:

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

I think that it's a total of two races of AM, AL or BL categories rather than two of each. Stolly, who knows his way around the Three Peaks, reckons you can add an hour on to your road marathon time for this race so 3-20 would give you around 4-20, which is well within the kind of time where cut-offs aren't an issue. I reckon a 4-00 to 4-20 marathon time would get you through the cut-offs more or less.

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??? - I reckon 30 mins on top is more like it.
My marathon PB is 2-59 and in my only attempt at 3 Peaks I managed 3-32.
I was much quicker when I did that marathon too so I'd hope to go under 3-30 at 3 Peaks if I ever get that fit again.
Jethro Lennox has done a 2-20ish marathon and won 3 Peaks in 2008 in 2-50ish so it stacks up.
Makes the 3 Peaks qualification marathon time look even sillier (as well as the entry fee!)

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Originally Posted by Purpleplodder

??? - I reckon 30 mins on top is more like it.
My marathon PB is 2-59 and in my only attempt at 3 Peaks I managed 3-32.
I was much quicker when I did that marathon too so I'd hope to go under 3-30 at 3 Peaks if I ever get that fit again.
Jethro Lennox has done a 2-20ish marathon and won 3 Peaks in 2008 in 2-50ish so it stacks up.
Makes the 3 Peaks qualification marathon time look even sillier (as well as the entry fee!)

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I think in the same way that the faster you are the nearer your marathon time is to twice your half time then the further down the field you are then the closer 'Stolly's rule' might be to real life experience

I've just flicked through the race calendar for the rest of 2010 and 2011 and I've answered my own question...getting the correct ratio of race standard could leave you hopelessly cream crackered if you did it in a year it seems. I am only going to get 1 AM in this year, Guisborough on Sunday and even though I know the three peaks well the AL races next year look scary so my list could be made up of BL and AM races. Even a dream race like Pen Y Ghent is only an AS (only, she says)...Crikey, serious reality check required...Cheers guys. I will be cheering on at the Ribblehead cut, as per usual.

I think these things are ratio'd to your running skill or in my case lack of skill. For me my fastest 3P time is 4:18 (not in a race but solo in perfect conditions) and, although I've never done one, I'd like to think I could do a marathon in 3:30. The two are incomparable really to be honest. Borrowdale is what 6.5 miles shorter that 3P but to me much tougher.

Marathon I've done 3:48 although I've done nearer 3:30 training. not run the PPP yet but first long fell race Hope Moors and Tors 20 in 4 hours 18. Big step up needed from decent marathon fitness.