Andy Cox at the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Race

Andy travelled south to take in the classic 3 Peaks Race in Yorkshire Dales. This year was the 63rd edition and it affectionately referred to as 'the marathon with mountains'. It is actually 23.3 miles with almost 5,400 feet of climb (37.4km & 1,600m ascent) taking in the summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.
I (Colin) had also entered the race but I'd been struggling to train in the last 4 weeks with a niggly knee and dodgy cough and decided that trying to take on such a formidable course without being in good nick was not a sensible move.

I was comforted by being able to follow Andy via the online live timing updates as the race progresses through the various checkpoints. His splits are here and he ran a very well measured race gaining placing through the last third of the race, and making serious gains on the climb of Ingleborough, before being hit by cramp in the last two miles. He finished 92nd out of over 700 starters (and less that 700 finishers!) in a very respectible time 3:42 in a race which saw Scots take the top 2 places with Murray Strain of HBT winning in 2.49 and Tom Owens of Shettleston/Team Salomon 2nd in 2:54 - the race also doubled as the selection race for the Scottish team at the World Mountain Running Long Distance race in Europe later in the year.
Andy commented:
" second half was very rough and technical so needed to stay focused and started to cramp a bit pushing towards the end, saying that a great race"


Andy pushing hard in the finishing straight.
Full details of the 3 Peaks race here