Introducing The Three Fells
Looking for a new challenge?
If you’re a swimmer, you’ll know that winter training is just getting started.
Last week felt long for me as I spent the entireity working away on some assessments. My first bit of proper exercise was a Sunday morning swim at Kendal pool. It’s the only pool you can communally listen to Smooth Radio as you swim, and to be honest, I’m not complaining.
The Sunday swim was purely something to enjoy - no ambitions of distance or pace - just move, do something for myself and find my feet ready for one of Coach Ceri’s (of The Aquatic Body) winter sessions on Monday morning.
Being consistent with swimming has been a challenge for me this year as I committed to more (good) things than usual.
“Prioritise until it hurts” is what I’ve learned in my leadership roles and as much as it pains me, swimming had to fall off the agenda at times.
To counteract the pain, I resolved to swim for fun when I could, but the nature of the sport means it is harder to do compared with running. Perhaps it’s something I can improve on in winter …
Another thing I resolve to be better at is not leaving my costume in the changing rooms.
Introducing The Three Fells
I have created a challenge. Like a round, but it is a point-to-point, 51 mile challenge.
I created the route in 2021, but it lay dormant on my paper maps until late last year when I finally decided to do something with it. I then spent part of spring ironing out any hitches, and then ran the whole thing in May, with some help from family and friends along the way.
It goes between Fell Brewery’s three Cumbrian bars starting in Penrith, to Kendal and finishing at Cartmel in the South Lakes.
The only advice I’ll give is to do it on a nice day.
Most of the route traverses lesser trodden parts of the Lakes and South Lakes Peninsular and I guarantee you’ll spend a large chunk of time enjoying the stunningly scenic valleys with just cows and sheep for company. I enjoyed reccying the route, particularly the Lyth Valley as you head South-west towards the sea and the last two summits of Whitbarrow Scar and Hampsfell are in view.
My day out in May was unfortunately very wet and cold. It rained for nine hours and I had to get changed three times so that the cold didn’t set in too much. I finished in a vest top, despite it being cold, so my skin could finally dry out! But I took some comfort in knowing what it looked like beyond the clag.
It’s all on public footpaths and bridleways and you can run it, walk it, or do it over consecutive days. There are some checkpoints to hit along the way (some for safety, and others to see the best of the area) and, of course, you have to touch the door of the bars along the way.
You can find full details on the GoFar website (under ‘other ultras’ and ‘Lakes’. It can also be found under ‘fell and trail’).
Let me know when you’ve done it!
