One of the oldest and most famous fell races in Britain. 24 miles over Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough — an AL category classic held every April since 1954.
Brennan has won the Three Peaks Fell Race twice, giving him unrivalled first-hand knowledge of racing lines, pacing strategy and what it takes to compete at the front of this iconic event.
The Three Peaks Race traverses the famous Yorkshire Dales mountains of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside — three of the most iconic peaks in the Pennines. Starting and finishing in Horton in Ribblesdale, the race covers approximately 24 miles with 1,596m of ascent.
First run in 1954, the race is organised by the Three Peaks Race Association and is limited to 999 competitors. It is part of the UTMB World Series Index, contributing Running Stones toward UTMB race entry. The course record is held by Thomas Roach (2:53:28 in 2023); the women's record by Holly Wootten (3:34:36 in 2024).
Each leg has a different character. Train on all three peaks if possible — the scramble up Whernside's steep face requires specific technical practice.
Pen-y-ghent feels manageable on fresh legs — don't go out too hard. Whernside is where many runners blow up. Save something for the long run home from Ingleborough.
Entry opens 1 October and fills very fast. Set a reminder and enter the moment the ballot or entry opens. Priority places are given to top 10 men and top 5 women from the previous year.
Strict kit list required. Missing even one item means disqualification. Know the requirements in advance and practice running with race kit weight.
The Yorkshire Three Peaks covers 24 miles and around 5,200ft of ascent in a single clockwise loop starting and finishing in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The route visits three distinct summits — each with its own character and demands — and understanding each leg before race day is essential preparation.
The race opens with the biggest single climb of the day. The path rises steeply over limestone pavement before a final hands-and-knees scramble to the summit plateau at 694m. Runners go out too hard here every year. Resist the adrenaline, keep your effort controlled, and save your legs for what follows. The descent to Brackenbottom is fast and loose — take care on wet limestone.
The middle leg is the longest and most varied. After the initial descent you follow a mix of flagged path, grassy fell and quiet lane across to Ribblehead and the foot of Whernside. The ridge of Whernside is long, exposed and largely runnable but the cumulative effort by this point catches many runners off guard. Push through Ribblehead checkpoint and keep moving.
The descent from Whernside to Chapel-le-Dale is notoriously hard on quads — steep, loose and relentless. You then face the final big climb: Ingleborough's stepped ascent to 723m. Most runners are deep in the pain cave here. The summit plateau can be disorientating in poor visibility; know the route. From the summit it's 5.5 miles back to Horton — a sustained descent that separates those who trained for it from those who didn't.
The return to Horton is mostly descending track and lane — it feels runnable but your legs will argue. Runners often experience a second wind on this section if they've paced the first two peaks well. Push the pace on the flat lanes if you're chasing a time target. The finish in Horton village is low-key but hard-earned — exactly what fell racing should feel like.
The Three Peaks Race fields 999 places and is one of the most competitive fell races in the calendar. Entry is by ballot and competition for places is fierce. Knowing where your fitness realistically sits helps you set a meaningful target rather than a wishful one.
Sub-3 hours represents world-class fell running at this distance — Brennan has won the race twice, both times inside 3 hours. The course record sits around 2h35. If you're a club fell runner with strong vertical speed and several AL-category races under your belt, sub-3h30 is a realistic stretch target requiring specific training.
The 3h to 4h window covers the largest concentration of competitive field runners. A 3h30 finish requires consistent fell running fitness, good pacing discipline and solid training over 3-4 months. This is the target range for most experienced club runners entering for the first time.
The women's course record sits just under 3h30. Sub-3h30 represents elite women's fell running; 3h30-4h is a strong performance. First-time women runners should target 4h-4h45 and revise based on recce experience on the three summits.
For runners attempting the Three Peaks for the first time, 4-5 hours is a sensible target range depending on base fitness. The race has a generous time cutoff, but mandatory checkpoint times apply at two points on the route. Know the cutoff times and factor them into your pacing plan.
The Three Peaks Race enforces a mandatory kit list. Kit checks can happen at any point and on any runner. Failure to carry required items results in disqualification. There are no exceptions.
The Three Peaks is not a trail race — it's a fell race. That distinction matters enormously for training. Fell running fitness is built on specific terrain: loose limestone, steep grass, boggy moorland. Time on roads or flat trails will not prepare you adequately.
If at all possible, run each summit individually before race day. Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough each have specific technical sections that need familiarity. Running the full 24-mile route in training at least once is ideal. This removes navigation anxiety on race day and lets you focus entirely on performance.
The Three Peaks demands the ability to keep moving efficiently when already fatigued. Train for this with back-to-back long days in the final 6-8 weeks of your build: a big fell day on Saturday followed by a sustained effort on Sunday, when your legs are already heavy.
The race contains over 5,000ft of ascent across three distinct climbs. Build your climbing speed with structured hill reps: 6-10 x 2-minute hard uphill efforts with easy jog or walk recovery. Do these on fell or moorland terrain — not road or treadmill — to build the specific muscle patterns you'll use on race day.
The descent from Whernside is where many races are won or lost. Practise fast, committed descending on loose and technical terrain. This is a skill as much as a fitness quality — confidence on the descent comes from hours of practice, not just aerobic fitness. Build it in training and it pays dividends on race day.
Brennan's Coach Note: I've won the Three Peaks twice — both times under 3 hours. The race is won and lost on Whernside: respect the first climb up Pen-y-ghent, run the Ribble Valley section efficiently, and attack the Whernside descent. A conservative first half almost always produces a faster overall time — go out too hard on fresh legs and you'll pay dearly by Ingleborough.
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