On Saturday, 5th July, a group of 14 of us – all current or former clients of what began as “Fit With Lianne” and is now The Stud11o – set out to conquer the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.
We’d been planning this for months. The idea was simple: celebrate over three years of classes, community, and growth since I first started with just a couple of classes in Sowerby – one in the church hall and another on the sports field. Fast forward to September 2024, I took a huge leap and opened our very own studio at Marrtree Business Park. This walk was our way of celebrating how far we’ve come together.
4:45 AM – Game Faces On
We met at The Stud11o in the early hours, full of nervous excitement. The weather forecast? Grim. But the mood? High. We jumped in cars and headed off in convoy, meeting at the start point near Pen-y-Ghent.
Waterproofs on. Walking poles ready. Spirits strong. Off we went.
Peak 1: Pen-y-Ghent
From the start, the rain hit. It was drizzly and windy – nothing too awful, until we started climbing. Then it really picked up. At the summit, visibility was near zero – just fog, rain, and a few brave (and soggy) smiles as we huddled for a photo.
At this point, I did think, Is this a great idea? But the team was buzzing with determination. Down we came, and at the bottom, we faced the choice: turn off and call it a day… or carry on and finish all three.
Without hesitation, everyone chose to continue.
Squelching Socks and Stubborn Minds
The trail flattened out, and we trudged on. Socks soaked. Waterproofs no longer waterproof. At one point we could literally feel puddles inside our shoes. Still, we pressed forward.
Personally, I was battling a pulled hamstring – a lovely souvenir from the Mum’s Race at sports day the day before. This meant I was overcompensating on one side, and soon enough, both legs were feeling it.
Peak 2: Whernside
Still raining. Still freezing. Barely anyone paused for photos at the top – it was too wet, too windy, and our fingers were too numb to use phones anyway.
We descended and made it to a farm shop for a quick break – hot drinks, snacks, and the brief joy of a toilet. But even the simplest tasks – like unzipping a bag or changing socks – were nearly impossible with frozen fingers.
Honestly? Everything was soaked. Even my spare clothes in the rucksack were drenched. But there was no turning back now.
Peak 3: Ingleborough (a.k.a. The Endless Peak)
This one broke us.
Every hill we climbed revealed… another hill. Then another. Then a swampy boardwalk. Then more rain. It just never let up.
There was one brief, magical moment of dry weather – maybe 10 minutes – but otherwise it was relentless. For me, this peak was absolute hell. My hip had seized up, my knees were done, and I knew if I climbed to the top, I might not make it back down.
So I made the tough call to wait at the turning point while the others summited. No regrets – it was the right call for my body.
The Final Stretch
The descent felt endless. Steps. Rocks. Mud. Fog. We were exhausted, but somehow, we kept laughing. Delirium? Probably.
The last fields before the end were brutal. Then came the final test: a pedestrian bridge over the train station with 30+ steps up and 30+ down. I’ve never climbed anything slower in my life. Danielle and I clung to the handrails, wobbling our way to the finish line.
The Result
• ✅ We completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks in just over 11 hours.
• Some finished in an impressive sub-10.
• Others came in closer to 14–15 hours.
But everyone finished. Every single one of us. And that’s what counts.
⸻
Would I Recommend It?
Yes… and no.
Yes – because it’s an amazing challenge and a huge accomplishment.
No – not in that weather. If it’s pouring rain and gale-force winds, maybe pick one peak and save the rest for a sunnier day. I do feel a bit robbed of the views, to be honest!
Injuries aside, mindset matters – and I’m so proud of everyone for pushing through. We don’t start things we don’t intend to finish. This was a big tick off the bucket list.
I’ll be ordering a badge or patch to mark the occasion, and if you ever want to take on the Three Peaks – I’ll be your support crew. I’ll even bring the dry socks and the flask of tea.
