Amanda on Mount Pisco in Peru

Amanda on Mount Pisco in Peru

A research student will this weekend tackle a gruelling long-distance fell race to raise cash for a mountain rescue team.

Keen climber and outdoor enthusiast Amanda Seims will join almost a thousand runners aiming to complete the Three Peaks Race in the Yorkshire Dales. The 31-year-old, from north Leeds, will also take part in the Mont Blanc Marathon in June.

Money raised from sponsorship of the Leeds Metropolitan University student will go to the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, the volunteer team that carries out mountain and cave rescues in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Three Peaks Race takes in the summits of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in its 39km (24-mile) route. This Saturday’s race will mark the 56th time the annual event has been run. The record for the winning time is held by Bingley Harrier Andy Peace who crossed the finishing line in 1996 in a time of 2hrs 46mins and 3secs.

Amanda will face an even tougher prospect with the Mont Blanc Marathon, involving 2,511m (8,238ft) of ascent at an altitude of up to 2,200m (7,218ft).

She is a member of the Valley Striders running club, and a keen fan of the outdoors with pursuits including climbing, kayaking and mountain biking in addition to her running training.

The student, who is researching the effects of high altitude on human performance, said: “With all of my outdoor interests sometimes taking place in remote and wild places, mountain rescue volunteers are vital to me and my friends if we were ever in need of assistance in an emergency.

Runners climb Pen-y-ghent during the Three Peaks Race

Runners climb Pen-y-ghent during the Three Peaks Race

“The Three Peaks fell race will be my toughest physical challenge so far. While I used to compete in local races a few years ago, a 22-month period of backpacking around the world and then becoming so busy with studying for a PhD meant that I got out of shape, however a visit to a friend in Chamonix last year ended up with me agreeing to enter the local Mont Blanc Mountain Marathon.

“The Three Peaks Race is something I have always wished to achieve since I have lived in Yorkshire and with all of the climbing it will be great training for the Mont Blanc race in June but it will be interesting to see how my own body copes with the altitude.”

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association is one of three Yorkshire Dales volunteer rescue teams that operate both above and below ground – the others being the Cave Rescue Organisation and Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team. The everyday funding of UWFRA is by donations from the public and is used to pay for insurance, maintenance and running of emergency vehicles, operating and up-keep of their base, and the replacement of rescue and medical equipment.

Ms Seims has set up a justgiving website for anyone wanting to contribute to the fundraising effort.

The Three Peaks Race starts from Horton in Ribblesdale at 10am this Saturday, 24 April.

Some articles the site thinks might be related:

  1. Marc Lauenstein wins wintry Three Peaks Race by nine seconds
  2. Falling rock traps Ilkley Moor climber on crag for two hours
  3. Runner Joe Symonds chases father’s tally with second Three Peaks Race win
  4. Man suffers serious leg injuries in fall at Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire