Top Ten Reasons For Failure

OK. Not really failure, but the top ten reasons for teams not finishing with a sub-24 hour time. These times are worked out from the start of Ben Nevis at Glen Nevis to the end of Snowdon at Llanberis, and are continuous times.

People taking part in large charity organised events may find that the challenge is over some 36 hours, and includes many breaks and time-outs. For example, many charity events will credit each team with a flat 10 hours drive time, when infact very few teams attempting a true 24 hour challenge would get such a quick time...

1. A member of the team simply wasn't fit enough. Highly frustrating when 5 out of the 6 walkers are very fit and enthusiastic. A large number of teams will take 7 hours+ on Ben Nevis because one of the team is totally unfit and unprepared, holding the entire team back. Remember that training AS A TEAM before the three peaks will help resolve any such issues. Click the link for Training & Fitness Advice.

2. A member of the team gets injured. Unfortunately accidents do happen, and a simple slip, trip or fall can result in a painful if not serious injury, slowing an otherwise fit and determined team. The only advice here is to take things steady and carefully especially on the first two mountains. You have a long way to go...!

3. Wasting time at transitions. Our schedule allows no time for the transition between the mountain and the road. Simply stopping to use the toilets, get dry, change your cloths, have a drink, get something to eat, etc., can easily waste 45 minutes. I've watched teams put in a sub-5 hour time on Ben Nevis, then fumble around for over an hour before leaving. Over the entire challenge, this can easily add 2-3 hours to your time - and you will find every minute counts... Make sure your transition is well rehearsed and slick - it should't take more than 10 minutes.

4. Stopping too long on the mountains. The walking times don't include any time for stopping to take photographs, eating butties on the summit, waiting around at various intervals for people to adjust their clothing... Keep small items of food to nibble on in your pockets. Have waterproofs, hat and gloves handy in the top of your rucsac, and keep your camera ready for action. Your team should be moving 99% of the time whilst on the mountain.

5. Getting lost on Scafell Pike. In poor weather conditions, with poor visibility, many teams will make serious navigational errors on Scafell Pike. The key here is taking your time and getting it right first time. Pre-challenge training at Scafell Pike makes a great team training day, and very few teams familiar with the mountain have problems during the three peaks.

6. Running out of fuel. Surprisingly, a number of teams in 2008 lost time because they failed to fuel up at the recommended locations hoping to complete the 450 mile route on a single tank of fuel. Although about 70% of the route is on motorway or dual-carriageway, the section through the Lake District uses a huge amount of fuel, and 24 hour filling stations can be difficult to locate later on...

7. Traffic & road accidents. Some teams were unlucky enough to get caught in long delays caused by road accidents on the motorway. Unfortunately, if you get caught between the site of the accident and the last exit, you are stuck there until the police re-open the motorway. Watch the overhead matrix signs for any trouble ahead, and adjust you route as required.

8. Getting lost by satnav. Our driving instructions detail how to programme your sat nav to direct you on the most suitable route. Minibuses will be lucky to get across the Wrynose and Hardknott Passes, and one sat nav suggested a team try to get a ferry...!?!?

9. General weather conditions. 2008 was a horrendous year for summer weather, with two events requiring a foul weather route to be introduced for safety reasons. Obviously very much out of your hands, just make sure you have enough suitable foul weather gear to remain comfortable and safe on the mountains.

10. Helping other walkers. Sadly, 2008 saw two teams stopping to assist other (unrelated) groups where one of the walkers was in serious trouble on the mountain, both turning out to be fatal incidents. Each team waited for up to 3 hours for mountain rescue whilst assisting the injured party, and effectively ended their own chances of finishing within a 24 hour time, but in the knowledge they had done all they could to help.

Good luck,

Richie..
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