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.

Well the 3P's is like a motorway really, to me Borrowdale is on a totally different scale. Same as Langdale really which is why to me the AL races look quite daunting. I'll have to get a buddy to partner me on an AL race maybe so I can get it under my belt and get the confidence. The distance is not a problem, it's just being so far out of my comfort zone.

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Originally Posted by Fairyfeet

Well the 3P's is like a motorway really

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The walkers route is for sure just below Pen y Ghent - I love seeing walker's suffer as they try and get through black dubb moss without drowning in a bog :). The fell race route on the other hand below Pen y Ghent is just very unexciting, taking a right angles route up Whitber Hill and sticking to one or other part of the Pennine Way as far as humanly possible. I prefer running the walkers route way at that point although its slower, to get the full on mud effect and to be able to freak out walkers with my 'aren't I the expert trotting by' routine, or my 'middle way' which is a bit faster (prob not as fast as the race route though) and slightly less muddy.

The marathon allowance is just a guide and if I remember rightly was only brought in a few years ago when it was the WMRA Champs - I don't think it was expected to stay.
Mind you, it was the same with the £20 entry fee :O (wasn't it £7?)

I've never done a marathon, but based on my clubmates, I'd be 3:10 - 3:20 (I've done a 1:28 HM) but my PPP is 4:39 and 4:45 at my 2 attempts. I think I have a 4:15 in me, but you have to learn the race - in particular Whernside which has been my weakpoint - and also not to run too hard on the PG to Ribblehead section. It does have great running, but better to be 5 mins slower than 5 mins too fast at Ribblehead.

I would advise the fell race qualification route though. It's unlikely you will get lost or isolated in the PPP, but not impossible. But doing some of the qualifying fell races will prepare you better than a marathon.

I'm with WP here. 3.30ish road marathon pace for me, but I've yet to get inside 5hrs for the 3Ps after 3 completions. I also agree with WPs advice about Ribblehead and about qualification routes.

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

Great post Stolly:)


Originally posted by Tussockface
I'm with WP here. 3.30ish road marathon pace for me, but I've yet to get inside 5hrs for the 3Ps after 3 completions. I also agree with WPs advice about Ribblehead and about qualification routes.

Hi Tussockface

I'm on for the 3ps, not done it yet but am really looking forward to it, should be fun, interesting your times you've done, I ran Mable marathon last month in 3.21, but could come in anywhere from 4-4.30-5+ (infinity and beyond, who knows:) should be an interesting one, can't wait? :)

cya
Andy.

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Originally Posted by Will.Race

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.

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Come and do the Tour of Pendle if you need another qualifier; it's only £5 if you pre-enter before the 10th Nov and you get a decent Tshirt.

I did HopeM&T in 3h30, Full Tour in 3h and had relatively slow (due to a lingering viral infection) 3P at 4h20.

I reckon you'd be looking at 5h to 5h15 for the 3P.

I'm organising a reccie for the ToP on sunday if you fancy it; see the separate thread

Hi AndyA

I'm in for Pendle, although been out for a month with an injury, still want to do it, should be great fun and a bargain price and the Tshirts decent you say, cool (although in fairness it's not a deal breaker if it's not).
Regards 3P, I emailed Mr Speight (3P's Secretary) to confirm qualification details, emailed straight back with confirmation that I would qualify to enter:)

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Originally Posted by AndyA

Come and do the Tour of Pendle if you need another qualifier; it's only £5 if you pre-enter before the 10th Nov and you get a decent Tshirt.

I did HopeM&T in 3h30, Full Tour in 3h and had relatively slow (due to a lingering viral infection) 3P at 4h20.

I reckon you'd be looking at 5h to 5h15 for the 3P.

I'm organising a reccie for the ToP on sunday if you fancy it; see the separate thread

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I got the 2nd qualifier in at the Windgather 13.5 the week after Hope and was planning on just training for the rest of the year. Pendle is tempting though so I think I'll more than likely do it. Can't make Sunday but thanks for the invite.

As a road runner in my first season on the fells (bar a couple of races 10 or 25 years ago) I've been caught out by trying to transpose road pace on to races like the 3Ps. My marathon these days is around the 3:10 mark, I was hoping to do about 4 hours on the 3Ps, but I completely mis-judged the first half getting to Ribblehead comfortably, or so I thought, in 1:42. However, the ascent of Whernside drained the old legs, the ascent of Inglebugger finished them off and I dribbled into the finish at 4:45.
So I've got a ghost to slay. My old mate told me the race starts at the Hill Inn, I should've listened.

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Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

As a road runner in my first season on the fells (bar a couple of races 10 or 25 years ago) I've been caught out by trying to transpose road pace on to races like the 3Ps. My marathon these days is around the 3:10 mark, I was hoping to do about 4 hours on the 3Ps, but I completely mis-judged the first half getting to Ribblehead comfortably, or so I thought, in 1:42. However, the ascent of Whernside drained the old legs, the ascent of Inglebugger finished them off and I dribbled into the finish at 4:45.
So I've got a ghost to slay. My old mate told me the race starts at the Hill Inn, I should've listened.

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Know the feeling BL. I thought I was pretty fit and have been coming top quarter of the field in the marathons I've done. Started fell racing couple of months ago and I'm nowhere near that level

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Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

As a road runner in my first season on the fells (bar a couple of races 10 or 25 years ago) I've been caught out by trying to transpose road pace on to races like the 3Ps. My marathon these days is around the 3:10 mark, I was hoping to do about 4 hours on the 3Ps, but I completely mis-judged the first half getting to Ribblehead comfortably, or so I thought, in 1:42. However, the ascent of Whernside drained the old legs, the ascent of Inglebugger finished them off and I dribbled into the finish at 4:45.
So I've got a ghost to slay. My old mate told me the race starts at the Hill Inn, I should've listened.

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It's the climbing - I'm the same - new to running really, nevermind fell running. Hill walking and training on the fells whilst trying to maintain some tempo work on track/road/XC will help over time and I would advise 5 minutes slower to Ribblehead will get you a sub 4:30.

Oh am excited! One for me to have a go at this year. Let's see how i get on!:)

There are some interesting time comparisons listed between road marathon and 3P times. I always thought the 3Ps marathon qualifying time was unrealistically fast. I'd have no chance of getting anywhere near it, yet I was confident I'd get round the 3Ps within the cut-offs. My marathon best is 4 hours and my first 3Ps time in 2007 was 4:45.
I'd never done an 'official' fell race but qualified with some of the mountain ultras I'd done. They are very accommodating and understanding on qualifying race experience.

I did 3P in 2008, two weeks after completing the London marathon. Respective times were 4:13 and 3:11. Like BL I was fine until the top of Whernside after which it became increasingly difficult. By the time I got to the top of the steps at Inglebugger I had to have a sit down to rest for a few minutes while small children plied me with jelly babies. I kept telling myself (and anyone else that would listen) that it was because of the marathon 2 weeks earlier, but in reality I think that it is just tougher. More fell-specific training this year when I attempt to repeat the double.

Hi Podro

Am I correct in thinking that you did London in 4.13 and the 3P in 3.11? that's quite interesting and considering you'd just completed London so soon then 3.11 was a pretty decent time:)

I think you may have got that the wrong way round Andy !!!

I think he knows, Jez.

See you at Pendle.

Thanks guys, doh, yes may be a case of think before you type eh!!ha, I'm very much looking forward to the 3P's, should be great fun:)

Will do BL, can't wait !

See you at the 3P's Andy !

Thanks Jez, look forward to it:) oh what fun will be had!!!

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Originally Posted by AndyH

Thanks Jez, look forward to it:) oh what fun will be had!!!

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Thats what you think...;)

Entries are open.

Entered :D

I'm in !

Enter here.

£25 inc t-shirt, don't tell The Missus !!

The Great Yorkshire Trail Race :closed:

Thanks, cool, I'm in:) :)

You can't be a purist all the time DT. And it is a great race, whether you deem it trail or fell !

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Originally Posted by Jez Hellewell

You can't be a purist all the time DT. And it is a great race, whether you deem it trail or fell !

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I was going to delete my post. I was being cynical and the comment was aimed more at the cost than the pedigree of the race. I've done it a couple of times and it's a grand day out :cool: