25th April 2015, The 61st 3 Peaks Race – Ali Nash reports…
An 8am pick up by the dream team of Igs Robun and Bernadette Cook, en route to Horton In Ribblesdale for the 10.30 start of the 61st 3 peaks race. The organisation was a smooth as clockwork, although bacon butties cooking in the registration tent were a distraction too far…..Ominously dark and dismal conditions were confirmed as NONE of the 3 peaks were visible through the low cloud….and then the heavens opened….. Although a ‘balmy’ 10c in the valley belied the real truth on the mountains. Race Director informed us that it was -4c, getting colder and windier as the day goes on – so full mandatory FRA kit for this one!
Having put my waterproof on and off more times than Jezza changes his running shoes, it was a good decision for the ascent of Penyghent to go ‘lite’. Although the wind on the final ridge was giving a taster of what was to come, 6km and 37 minutes of climbing and the first ‘dib’ of the day with the Si-entries tracker thingy. Felt good, and a strong leg cross country through the next checkpoint 33mins clear of the cut off. Ribblehead viaduct was the next stop, having gained a bit of time on the 5k road section, and a welcome SIS electrolyte drink (not one for product placement, this stuff is ace) from Mrs Nash.
The next section up the front of Whernside (to quote a recent Channel 5 documentary on gangs) ‘f*cked me right up’…..it just got progressively steeper, boggier, rockier and more elemental until the last hands and knees climb to the trig. So I did it twice, having slid 50m back down on my arse, only being stopped by a friendly soul who grabbed me as I shot downhill. Mega-wedgie. Did the ‘dib’ on hands and knees before having a a short faint- probably from the wedgie, got up and carried on. Descending Whernside is a life and death experience…..enough said. The Chapel Le Dale checkpoint and the 3 1/2hr cut off were well in hand, staggering through to plenty of Saltaire cheers 41 minutes clear, hoping that Igsy and Bernie were on track to avoid the 3 Peaks bus of shame.
It was quite clear the weather was worsening, on the ‘Hillary Step/ North Face/ stairway to hell’ up Ingleborough, with a blizzard raging on the top. Part way up I did spot an innocent walker with a tub of prunes… I think he was too scared of the hypothermic lunatic arms outstretched zombie style not to hand them over immediately….. the very same process halfway across the summit plateau resulted in a babybel cheese and a handful of jelly worms. All fingers at this point were on an overtime ban and refused to work, so was unzipped and ‘dibbed’ by the marshalls – absolute heroes the lot of ‘em for being up there in such foul conditions.
The descent from Ingleborough felt like a blessed relief as the cheesy pruny jelly mix started to work its nutritional magic, although the gin and tonic at the Sulber Nick water station turned out to be water…..bastards. With the finish tents finally in sight it was time for a turn of speed, not forgetting to remove jacket to show the Blues and Yellows of Saltaire for the finish.
4hr 16mins , pleased with that under the conditions. Steph came in at 4hr 58 mins. Igs and Bern were soooo near to the cut off at Hill Inn, missing out by only 3 and 6 minutes respectively, showing real guts and determination to get so close.
One hell of a race, certainly not to be underestimated. So glad I’ve done it and got the T-shirt.
298th Ali Nash 4:16:29
602 Steph Wilson 4:58:32
Igs Robun – missed cut off at Hill Inn(3:30:00) 3:33:08
Bernadette Cook – missed cut off at Hill Inn(3:30:00) 3:36:22