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by **Ace Ventura** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:25 pm

I am attempting the three peaks challenge in the last week of June for charity through our work.
Its the yorkshire one with pen-y-gent and two others - cant remember the names now.
Anyway its a 39km walk which is around the length of a marathon so some distance and it is supposed to be completed in approximatly 12 hours.

Has anyone done anything similar as i am wondering what sort of level of fitness i should have or what sort of training i should do ?

If anyone has any tips or advice it would be really appreciated as i have never done anything even remotely similar.

by **NiftyNeil** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:07 pm

I thought the three peaks are Snowdon, Scafel Pike and Ben Nevis? Are you cheating Ace? Are you doing a few small hills?

I've never done it myself, or anything remotely similar - unless you count the walk between the bookies, the pub then the chippy. I'd recommend a decent pair of walking boots (NB make sure they've been broken in first) some thick wooly socks and, of course, some Kendal mint cake.

by **andy_g** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:05 pm

i wanted to do this a couple of years ago - just for myself. apparently anyone doing it in less than 12 hours gets some sort of certificate or becomes an honorary member of the '12 hour club' or something like that. i think i read that the hardest part of the walk was the descent of whernside with your knees burning like feck and seeing the ascent of ingleborough looming ahead of you.

get yourself a pair of GOOD waterproof hiking boots then get yourself up into the peaks for a few hikes. start of with a couple of around 10k then build up bit by bit, and do them in all weathers (at least, all safe weathers) as its bound to change a lot in the pennines over 12 hours and 39k - whatever the time of year. there are a few nice circuits around marsden moor which aren't too tough but will build up your stamina, especially if you take in a couple of hill climbs en route. i can tell you more about them if you like.

i love hiking around the pennines - hiking through mud in persistent drizzle across bleak moorland does something very weird and really raises my spirits.

good luck with it ace - wish i could join you mate.

by **Ace Ventura** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:37 pm

andy_g wrote:i wanted to do this a couple of years ago - just for myself. apparently anyone doing it in less than 12 hours gets some sort of certificate or becomes an honorary member of the '12 hour club' or something like that. i think i read that the hardest part of the walk was the descent of whernside with your knees burning like feck and seeing the ascent of ingleborough looming ahead of you.

get yourself a pair of GOOD waterproof hiking boots then get yourself up into the peaks for a few hikes. start of with a couple of around 10k then build up bit by bit, and do them in all weathers (at least, all safe weathers) as its bound to change a lot in the pennines over 12 hours and 39k - whatever the time of year. there are a few nice circuits around marsden moor which aren't too tough but will build up your stamina, especially if you take in a couple of hill climbs en route. i can tell you more about them if you like.

i love hiking around the pennines - hiking through mud in persistent drizzle across bleak moorland does something very weird and really raises my spirits.

good luck with it ace - wish i could join you mate.

To get out to the pennines wouldnt be an option for me to train as i dont drive - bad that isnt it

But i will get some walking in by ours, its more the terrain i am bothered about as obviously its a totally different kind of walking that i will be doing.
Went by ours today for about 6 miles over like a wooded hill and then up hills which were just on roads just to get started.

Enjoyed that tbh, i do enjoy walking but havent done anything as interesting or challenging as what i will be attempting.

Glad to see there is someone on here that has some experience in this area, i might start going regulaly if i enjoy it as much as i think i will.

Might pm you for more info cheers mate.

Neil the one you are on about is the 3 peaks in wales different ones mate - think the other one takes alot longer and is more of a 2 or 3 day thing.
But my own experiences are similar to yours regarding the pub and the bookies and that

by **andy_g** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:13 pm

Ace Ventura wrote:To get out to the pennines wouldnt be an option for me to train as i dont drive - bad that isnt it

lime street to huddersfield, trains every hour, takes an hour and twenty minutes. train back out from huddersfield to marsden takes another 15 mins. there might even be a stopping train from manchester victoria.

no excuses

by **Ace Ventura** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:30 am

andy_g wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:To get out to the pennines wouldnt be an option for me to train as i dont drive - bad that isnt it

lime street to huddersfield, trains every hour, takes an hour and twenty minutes. train back out from huddersfield to marsden takes another 15 mins. there might even be a stopping train from manchester victoria.

no excuses

Thanks mate, might get it sorted in a couple of weeks then.

So once you get to marsden do you know how close that is to where i would need to go to walk ?

by **Judge** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:22 am

i did the 3 peaks when i was 20. long time ago. should be a doddle for you ace, as erosion over the years wouldve made them smaller, than in my day

by **andy_g** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:48 am

from marsden station you just walk back along the canal towards the tunnel and there you begin to find the trails. the information office in the village has a decent selection of maps and guides but there are plenty of websites too.

a walk i like a lot is the standedge trail, or variations of it - its about 11 miles and not too difficult if your in reasonable shape. it combines a good selection of terrains and some great views from millstone edge if you use that part of the route.

an easier one to start with is the one that takes you past march haigh reservoir - about 5 miles altogether.

i would recommend that you build yourself up eventually to tackling the route up to black hill. head off to weesenden and blakely reservoirs form marsden then begin a long circular route that takes you to the top of black hill and back round to the reservoirs. think its about 12 or 14 miles altogether and has some energy sapping bog navigation and climbs. its a feckin great hike though

if you get the OS map of the area you will see that it is fairly easy to just get out there and devise your own routes. if you have a gps its even easier. you'll meet a lot of hikers up there as well who'll be able to share favourite routes and tips with you, they are generally a friendly bunch.

the national trust also do a few guided treks around the area with various levels of difficulty and themes. i did one which was a route similar to the standedge trail but with some variations and some bits of 'off trail' and based on the pre-history of the area. marsden moor was very important for neolithic man and continued to be so throughout the roman times until the industrial revolution. its well worth doing one of these walks as it really brings the area to life.

one of the best things about starting and ending your routes in marsden is that there are some great pubs for your well deserved pint of pedigree when you've finished.

marsden moor - fecking love it, me

by **Ace Ventura** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:20 am

Andy thanks for all the info mate, will deffo be looking into getting up there.

Sounds great, thanks again.

by **Sabre** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:16 pm

The physical part must not require a lot (1) because Sabre has done 39Km in a day more than once. I'm not sure though if I did it in 12 hours or less.

But if you're gonna buy some boots, make sure you don't have them brand new the day you make the 39Km, wear them for some weeks!

(1) If the terrain is not impossible.

Don't forget to tell us how it went mate.

by **GYBS** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:51 pm

i did the two peaks challenge last night with the missus

Did the three Peaks challenge couple of years ago but the One where you do Scaffell Pike ,Snowdon and Ben Nevis in a weekend for charity - feet where killing me - only advice i would give to you is quality boots and socks and keep taking loads and adive of fluids .

by **Judge** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:51 pm

if your boots are brand new ace, you can cover them in a cloth and hit them with a hammer to soften the leather. that will help to break them in

by **GYBS** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:57 pm

Or you can use the old war trick of :censored:

on them to soften the leather .

by **Ace Ventura** » Mon May 11, 2009 1:21 pm

Thanks for advice everyone, i have new boots as i havent done anything like this before.
I have over a month to break them in though so will make sure they are well worn in before i do the challenge.

Really looking forward to it tbh.

by **Sabre** » Mon May 11, 2009 1:27 pm

Long walks is probably one of my favourite activities when I have spare time.

While I never particularly enjoyed walking under a thin rain as Andy does, I've had great sensations when I walk under the summer sun. It's one of the things I seek when I go on hollidays to my village in La Rioja. The dry heat, the smell of the fruit trees, the lively noise, yet relaxing sound of birds. And walk, walk, walk seeking always the protection of a bigger tree. I feel great, even with the sweat.

I think it's because one of the things that irritates me most is town noise. A nearby tuned 49cc motorbike and traffic noises really stress me.

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Three peaks challenge - Tips and advice

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