3 peaks query for the mountain walkers.

[Beebo]

I've signed up for the 3 Peaks Challenge with work in 2 months time. Ben Nevis, Scarfell and Snowdon in 24 hours.
We wont be trying to breaking any records, it will be a mixed bunch of 30 - 40 somethings split into 2 teams of 8, with professional guides, so we dont need to worry about navigation.
So my question to the montain walkers out there is, do I need to specifically train for this, or will my cycling legs get me through it?
My thinking is that my base fitness will be OK and as long as I wear comfy shoes I should be fine.

 

[green1]

I'd do some training, walking up and down hill uses different muscle groups to cycling.

Edit: Downhill is far worse than uphill.

 

[DCLane]

Train. I did it last year and whilst my general level of fitness helped massively, I struggled particularly going downhill.

 

[Beebo]

Train. I did it last year and whilst my general level of fitness helped massively, I struggled particularly going downhill.

The trouble is I live in south east London, I dont have any hills to train on!!!
People have suggested walking poles, will these help me or will i look live a prat?

 

[green1]

The trouble is I live in south east London, I dont have any hills to train on!!!
People have suggested walking poles, will these help me or will i look live a prat?

It doesn't have to be big hills, but i wouldn't go straight into doing those 3 in 24 hours completely cold.
Sticks are a personal thing some people love them, some hate them, I'm in the latter camp.

 

[Beebo]

[QUOTE 2422111, member: 9609"]
The only way to get hill fit is going up and down hills - is there a 30 story block of flats nearby you can run up and down 10 times a day?[/quote]
My office is 7 story, I will start taking the stairs!

 

[green1]

My office is 7 story, I will start taking the stairs!

Stairs won't help that much as your feet will still be landing on a flat surface. It's the foot landing on a up/down slope that makes the difference.

 

[Markymark]

Sorry for the diversion. Ive also been thinking about doing this for a while but I'm terrible with heights. Don't mind being high up but cannot bear being near any edges. Would I struggle with this?

 

[Spinney]

Get some proper walking boots and wear them in.

I've been up all three several times, and although there are obvious paths, these are rocky and rough. Wearing 'comfy shoes' is not good enough - very likely to lead to sore/sprained/twisted ankles and, unless you have shoes with pretty thick soles, also sore under your feet.

And proper walking boots need wearing in, to avoid blisters - you might need to try different combinations of socks etc for the most comfort. Not having any mountains is a bit of a drawback, but even getting your boots and wearing them whenever you go out of the house (unless you are cycling!) will be better than nothing.

If you are having a professional guide, have you asked them for advice?

 

[Spinney]

Oh, and use walking poles (or one, at least). If your knees aren't used to going downhill, they could be very, very painful by the end, and a stick will help. Lots of people use them - you are only a prat when you wave them around threatening to take other people's eyes out!

(Anyway, I'd rather be a prat with working knees than a non-prat in agony!)

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Sorry for the diversion. Ive also been thinking about doing this for a while but I'm terrible with heights. Don't mind being high up but cannot bear being near any edges. Would I struggle with this?

depends on how near to the edge is an issue.
Ben Nevis has a big edge with a huge drop, but you don't need to go anywhere near it to get to the summit via the tourist route and the cairn marking the summit is a good distance from the edge.

Scarfell Pike you should be completely fine with.

Snowdon is more interesting. If you are careful with the route, again going by the tourist route you will be fine, but it does have big edges and steep drops by any other route. I can't remember how close to the edge the cairn is at the top of Snowdon. everytime I have been up it it has been dense cloud/freezing fog etc so you only got to see brief glimpses of the drops which was probably just as well given we took one of the other routes!

 

[classic33]

http://www.mountain-adventures.co.uk/snowdon.html
Other links on the site.

 

[Leodis]

You will need boots and train hard. Get yourself up to the Lakes or where ever and do them one by one.

 

[ASC1951]

Oh, and use walking poles (or one, at least). If your knees aren't used to going downhill, they could be very, very painful by the end, and a stick will help. Lots of people use them - you are only a prat when you wave them around threatening to take other people's eyes out!

(Anyway, I'd rather be a prat with working knees than a non-prat in agony!)

Walking poles do relieve your knees provided you use them effectively, but like most things that does require practice. Giving them their first outing on the event would be a waste of time.
I'm afraid I couldn't get on with them. They require a much more deliberate and measured gait than I normally use.

 

[Archie_tect]

It's the tick-tick-tick constant noise that irks me when people use them on level paths... but agree they are good for downhill when you're tiring.