BRIGGS DEFIES CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAIN MARATHON

Rescheduled from April, the 67th Three Peaks Race, also known as ‘The Marathon with Mountains’ was held last Saturday in pretty grim weather.
The course is 23.3 miles with 5,279ft of climbing over the Yorkshire 3 Peaks of Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.
Heavy wet air led to low cloud over the hills and slippery underfoot conditions but that proved no problem to our own Matthew Briggs who finished in a superb 18th position and 3rd under 23 in 3.28.03.
He was followed home by John Butters who was having an ‘easy’ run out after his two races at Kielder the previous weekend. John ‘cruised’ round in 3.50 and looked really comfortable.
Next in was Mike Steven closely followed by Gwenda Cavill (who yarked her knee on the last descent) but unfortunately Gary Mason got pulled at the last time check.
The race has a long history detailed on its website and it is a massive logistical operation to get it on. It’s a really big deal in the Yorkshire Dales and the number of spectators and support out on the course is fantastic.
The organisation is superb but I suspect the organisers are a little disappointed with turnout this year – 800-plus entries yielded only 460 starters and 417 finishers, probably a result of a lot of events being crammed into this post-lockdown period and turnout down all over the place.
If you fancy a challenge next April, have a look at the website above for entry qualification – lots of the route is runnable so you need to have miles in your legs but also strength for some steep climbs – the leaders powering up Whernside was really impressive.
Well done to the five Morpeth Harriers who took part and commiserations to Rich Kirby (who put his back out the day before the race) and Steve Haswell who missed out due to a long bout of Plantar Fasciitis – hope you are both back running soon.