What a day it was for James Clink as he took on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, this time with a twist—he aimed to run it! Having walked the Y3P before in a decent time, James knew running it would be a whole different challenge. With no training under his belt, he anticipated a tough day ahead but was eager to get started.

First up was Pen Y Ghent, which James conquered quickly, reaching the summit in 46 minutes. The fast and steep ascent set the pace for what would be a gruelling day. From there, he embarked on an 8-mile run to Ribblehead Valley, where the first Martin House Checkpoint awaited at the 10-mile mark. James made it there in 2 hours and 2 minutes, a pace he admits was a bit fast, especially for someone unused to running such distances. The strain was beginning to show in his legs.

At the base of Whernside, around 11 miles in, things took a turn. Both of James’ calves began cramping with each long or fast stride, forcing him to ease off the pace. By the time he reached the summit, clocking in at 3 hours 39 minutes, the cramps had spread to his thighs and groin. But with two peaks down and one to go, he pressed on.

At the 17-mile checkpoint at the foot of Whernside’s steep descent, James was met with much-needed water and support from the Martin House team. Doing a quick calculation, he realized that if he pushed hard on the final peak, Ingleborough, he could still make it under the 7-hour mark. The climb up Ingleborough was tough, each ladder step accompanied by groans, but James reached the summit in 5 hours 35 minutes.

The descent was challenging, with rocky terrain and fatigued legs making running difficult. But with the finish line in sight, James found the energy to keep moving. After some final calculations, he knew it was going to be tight, but he powered through. Crossing the finish line at the Martin House tent, every part of his body was exhausted, but he had done it.

James completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge in 6 hours 48 minutes.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to all those who supported him along the way—it’s what kept him going. Collectively, over £25,000 was raised, the equivalent of running Martin House Children’s Hospice for one day. If you haven’t donated yet, it’s not too late! Support here.

Special thanks to Sam Berrill for hydration at both checkpoints, the amazing Martin House Support Team at the finish, and Phil Lee and his incredible Over Limits Team for their support throughout the day.