Quote Originally Posted by Trundler View Post

The Three Peaks is "big" but is doesn't have enough climbing per mile to be a Cat A under FRA definitions - that is a FACT. If Ingleborough, Penyghent and Whernside were a bit closer together the race would be a Category A, but they aren't and it isn't!
Ah but..... surely to god the steepness of going up Whernside more than makes up for the gap between that and PyG? Okay I've far from run all the steep climbs known to man but Whernside is easily one of the steepest, most gruelling climbs going - steeper and longer than Big End or the scramble (with admittedly avalanches ) up Bessy Boot or the climb up Dungeon Gill to Stickle Tarn.

Just measuring height climbed alone isn't enough - a long undulating course with lots of small climbs and descents is just not as hard as one of the same length and height but with just two or three massive climbs.