Finally the day had arrived and we were setting off for the start of the National 3 Peaks. This was probably the biggest physical challenge that I had ever set for myself and so it was with a degree of anticipation and reticence that I viewed the task ahead. I had undertaken a lot of training particularly since the Yorkshire 3 Peaks six weeks earlier when I had climbed each of the mountains separately, and was feeling optimistic about the walks but slightly apprehensive about the effects of the driving in between each stage.

We were planning to start at the base of Ben Nevis at 5pm that evening and complete the challenge after climbing all three peaks and reaching the base of Snowden by 5pm the next day - a total of 25 miles of walking and 500 miles of driving in 24 hours. There were nine teams of between three and four walkers, each team having a separate driver. We set off in the morning and as we made our way up the M6 towards the Highlands, we bumped into fellow Challenge members in the service stations at which we stopped for a break. The Yorkshire guys in their pink and lime green signature outfits stood out in the crowd, but I did not expect anything less.

We rendezvoused in a small hotel at the head of Loch Lomond for lunch by which time four teams were travelling in convoy and the camaraderie was encouraging. We reached the car park at about 3.30pm and were soon joined by all of the remaining teams. In total there were three from Cerner, three from Wirral, one from Yorkshire, one from Milnrow and one multi national team.

By the time we met up at Loch Lomond we had been on the road for about eight hours and the challenge was yet to start, but the mood was good so we brought forward our start time to 4pm and made good time up Ben Nevis. The teams were quite spread out as we made our way up the first two thirds of the mountain and when we broke out onto the plateau the weather was very kind. It was great to see the line of walkers all dedicated to raising money for Improving Chances. A nice moment before pressing on to the last third of Ben Nevis, the difficult bit, mainly because of the adverse weather conditions. When we reached the top we were pleasantly surprised as the cloud cleared and the views were magnificent. It was not as cold and there was a lot less snow than there had been three weeks earlier when I had been up there with Jeff and Adan. I think what kept me going at that point was seeing people in the team as they passed us or we passed them on the way down. Spirits were high and we quickly made it back off the mountain.

When I reached the car park Gary, my teammate, was already down and we were straight in the car and off. John was our designated driver and there was plenty of room in his car to stretch out although it was not easy to sleep and I don’t think any of us did, but it was bearable.

We reached Cumbria in the middle of the night after more than five hours' driving and headed to Scafell, a remote mountain overlooking Wass Water. The roads lacked street lighting and about five miles from our destination we struck a large stone in the road. We carried on but that event was to complicate matters later. We arrived at Scafell at about 3am and both Gary and I wanted to sleep in the car as we waited for first light, but it became very clear that John wanted us to get going as soon as possible!! At about 4am we started up Scafell and once we had got over the stiffness, the walk was lovely. The weather was very kind and as day broke the air was still and the sky was clear. Again there were some lovely views. We reached the top and made our way down in just less than four hours. It was amazing to see how many of the team members had started up the mountain in the dead of night and the Cerner boys were well ahead, descending when we were only a quarter of the way up.

By the time I had reached the base of the mountain Gary was already on his way to Snowden with another team. John had awoken to find that the bump in the road on the way to Scafell had split his tyre, and as they were “anti-flats” he had no spare wheel. Our transport arrangements had fallen down. Gary had hitched a ride with the Yorkshire lads, and I had to wait for the lads from Milnrow to make their way off Scafell. They arrived about 40 minutes later and my addition to the car made it very cramped. Billy was driving and he did his best to get us to Snowden as quickly as possible. We hit driving rain as we entered Wales and the weather had turned by the time we reached Snowden.

Once there I got straight onto the mountain following the PYG Track. It was just after 11am, giving me less than five hours to complete the walk. The stiffness in my legs was really kicking in now, not helped by the cramped conditions in the car. I set off by myself and made good time up the mountain. As I neared the top Gary passed me on the way down. He was doing very well and he looked certain to make it within the time. It spurred me on and I reached the summit. Tim, who was leading the team from Yorkshire, was just ahead of me and I picked up the pace to catch him up. I think a combination of me speeding up and him slowing down to wait for me meant that we were able to descend together. Tim, Stewart and I all crossed the line into the Snowden Car park at 3.40 pm, completing the challenge with 20 minutes to go.

I had achieved the challenge within the required time and felt quite proud. I would like to thank my team for their support and say that the sight of Gary in the distance spurred me on while the driving skills of Mr Scampion are something to behold!

The winning team in our party was the Cerner team, whom we christened the 'Mountain Goats' and who came in at 19 hours 51 minutes. They were followed by the Three Amigos, led by Jeff Realey from Wirral Hospital, who took 21 hours 20 minutes. Finally, in third place, came The Good Looking Bar Stewards from Wirral Local Authority who completed the task in 22 hrs and 45 minutes.

Best of all, the event raised more than £10,000 in sponsored for Improving Chances, which is fantastic. My grateful thanks to all those who took part and those who raised sponsorship on behalf of the charity.

Len Richards
June 2011

Many people will remember the 29th April 2011 as the day of the Royal Wedding. My colleagues, friends and I will remember it for a completely different reason for it was the day we achieved the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. For me it formed part of my training for the National 3 Peaks Challenge in early June and, I thought, a good test of my fitness. For others in our party it was an opportunity to raise money for Improving Chances.

We all met at 7am on the appointed day at the Golden Lion pub in Horton in Ribblesdale for an 8am start. As we gathered there was an air of confidence about the day ahead. We numbered about 20 in total ranging in age from teenagers to those in their 50’s, all with different expectations of the day ahead. The weather was fine and we set off on time, spreading out within the first half hour and led by the younger members of the team from Yorkshire who set a blistering pace up Pen-Y-Ghent. I reached the top to find that the Yorkshire lads had finished their rest and were soon setting off on the long walk to Whernside. I had an all too brief stop at the top and then off to join them.

The walk to Whernside was enjoyable but again a little quick and by the time I got to the Ribble Viaduct at the base of Whernside, I was feeling worse for wear. I stopped at the viaduct for a drink and something to eat. At this point I had lost touch with the Yorkshire lads and the team from Wirral had caught me up so we rested briefly together.

The slow and relentless climb up Whernside was a challenge, following the railway line for the first couple of miles and then cutting back following the drawn out contour of the Whernside peak. There were some very steep parts but the thing I remember most was miler after mile of climbing. When I reached the top the wind was howling which added to the challenge.

I walked for most of that time by myself, not able to match the pace of the Wirral team. I met them again at the top and we had a brief rest together and then set off to Ingleborough. Two down and one more to go and to be honest with about 15 miles done, I was a bit concerned as to whether I had another 10 miles in me.

The walk to Ingleborough was pleasant enough, supplemented by a short but welcome interlude at The Hill Inn where I had a cool pint of lemon and lime. A couple of the lads from Wirral had a pint of Black Sheep and while I looked on with envy, I knew if I had a beer that would be the end for me.

We set off for Ingleborough and consistent with the walk so far, I was soon lagging behind my teammates. It was clear their natural pace outstripped mine - or was it that I was slowing down. I was really feeling fatigued at this point with frequent stops to take a much needed breather. I made it up to the half way point on Ingleborough where it plateaued out. To my amazement there were a number of runners who were practicing for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks fell race which was due to take place the next day. I suppose you should take heart from that display of fitness but to be honest I was incredulous as to how anyone can run up and down a near vertical cliff face with steps barely three feet in width winding their way up for over 100 metres.

My fellow Trustees passed me at a low point in the walk, just as I was contemplating how I could avoid the steep Ingleborough climb, which seemed beyond me. But after a little encouragement from John and Pat who seemed to take the climb in their stride, I made it to the top. To this day I do not know how I made it up but once I had, I knew I was going to finish the walk.

Once on the top I did not rest. I was determined to make my way back to Horton to complete the walk within the 12 hour timeframe of the challenge. By this time I was not good company, focusing solely on putting one foot in front of the other. I did look up at one point and remember seeing John Scampion running down the side of Ingleborough in his attempt to improve his time. It is a long walk down and I felt every step. About one and a half hours later I arrived back in Horton and joined John in The Golden Lion.

I completed the walk in 11 hours and 40 minutes and got back just as it was getting dark. I enjoyed a well deserved pint of Black Sheep, feeling relieved and wondering how I was going to drive home because of the cramps in my legs.

It was as I was driving home that a horrible thought crossed my mind. If this was so hard how was I going to fare in the National 3 Peaks only six weeks later? It was very clear that I had a lot of training to do!

Len Richards
April 2011

This was the first of my challenges. The Tunnel Run is a 10 km run from Liverpool through the Mersey Tunnel and on to the pier at New Brighton on the Wirral. The run was unusual in that 2½ km was through the Mersey Tunnel which is an experience as you descend into the bleak and unusual atmosphere of a tunnel with its smell of diesel and the stillness of the air.

The run was almost easy as we passed under the Mersey only then to start the relentless climb out of the tunnel at the Wirral end. The light expanding as we neared the end of the tunnel only then to be faced by a howling gale. As you will imagine the gale got stronger as we got on to the promenade towards New Brighton.

I completed the run in 64 min. 10 secs. which was not a spectacular time by any stretch of the imagination and to my annoyance I was beaten at the tape by my fellow Trustee, John Scampion. 64 minutes was disappointing as I normally complete 10 km at the 60 minute mark. Must do better next time.

Len Richards

In July 2010 I, with two other colleagues, were enrolled to do the C2C cycle ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland over two days, with an overnight stay in Alston. My colleagues were Gary Doherty and Vince Richards and we were all excited in anticipation of the challenge as we made our way to the start of the challenge on the 16th July 2010. The ride itself is 140 miles in total with Alston being the half way point.

We set off in torrential rain from Whitehaven and made our way on the C2C route. We were making good progress over the first 2 or 3 hours when disaster struck. At about the 40 miles mark, I fell off my bicycle and hit an on-coming car. My bicycle was a right-off and I had dislocated my shoulder, a painful injury not helped by the embarrassment of a long queue of traffic or the indignity of having to admit failure in front of my most competitive of brothers. After a brief visit to Carlisle General Hospital, where they skilfully and expertly reduced the dislocation, I returned home licking my wounds.

I remain to be convinced that if you fall off your bike the best thing to do is to get back on it and as yet I have not entered myself for any future cycle rides.

Len Richards