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Moray ultra-runners to run between Mt Snowden, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis in National Three Peaks Challenge


By Lorna Thompson

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A TEAM of Moray ultra-runners with high ambition are limbering up to not only take on the tallest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales this summer – but run the distance between them – to boost a number of causes.

The four members of Team Run The Peaks – Andy Bentley (43), from Lhanbryde, Chris Sutcliffe (39), from Hopeman, Lori MacPherson (34), from Mosstodloch, and Mike Munro (31), from Garmouth – aim to run 480 miles and climb over 43,000 feet as a team in their take on the National Three Peaks Challenge.

As well as raising funds for charities Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation and Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), they will donate to each of the three mountain rescue teams who cover 1085m Mount Snowdon in Wales, 978m Scafell Pike in England and 1345m Ben Nevis.

The team has been planning their mammoth challenge for two years, and were all set to go in July last year before the pandemic set them back. After a major challenge just to rearrange logistics, they will now set off from Mt Snowdon on August 30.

Running a non-stop relay between each mountain, they expect to complete the trek over four to five days and nights. Each will run on average 140 miles and climb over 19,000ft.

From Mt Snowdon the runners will follow the Wales coastal path before heading north, via Scafell Pike, to Ben Nevis.

Organiser Andy, a personal trainer at Elgin's Odyssey Personal Training, said: "We're going to get all four runners to the top of each of the mountains.

"The distance in between each mountain will be run as a relay, so we've planned the route with around an hour's running before handing over to the next person. The runner can then jump into their camper van for a bit of rest on the drive to the next point.

"Although we're running as a relay there won't be any extended rest periods. There will be no stopping for a good night's sleep.

"None of the team has tackled anything on this scale.

"Just the route planning itself has been a huge challenge."

(From left) Lori MacPherson, Mike Munro, Chris Sutcliffe and Andy Bentley will each run on average 140 miles and climb over 19,000ft in the National Three Peaks Challenge. Picture: Alex Mitchell.
(From left) Lori MacPherson, Mike Munro, Chris Sutcliffe and Andy Bentley will each run on average 140 miles and climb over 19,000ft in the National Three Peaks Challenge. Picture: Alex Mitchell.
(From left) Moray National Three Peaks Challengers Lori MacPherson, Mike Munro, Chris Sutcliffe and Andy Bentley. Picture: Alex Mitchell.
(From left) Moray National Three Peaks Challengers Lori MacPherson, Mike Munro, Chris Sutcliffe and Andy Bentley. Picture: Alex Mitchell.

Mike, an Asda delivery driver, was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease aged 13. He said: "I know what it’s like to struggle to walk a mile. Having beaten it for now, I want to make the most of my health and find out what I’m really capable of."

For Lori, an occupational therapist, a few 10ks progressed over the last decade to taking on ultramarathons. She said: "I now have the attitude of 'yeah sure, I’ll give that a go' and look where it’s got me!"

Climber Chris, a subsea engineer, who started running around five years ago when he realised his weight had crept up, said: "I wanted to stave off the onset of the Dad-bod."

Andy added: "There's a little bit of apprehension creeping in as we get closer but we've planned really well for it."

The team will have buddy runners in tow – Jonny McAllister, from Hopeman, Sally Bruce, from Archiestown, and Pamela Harrison, from Aberdeen. The support runners will accompany team members through the more remote areas for safety and to keep up morale. The back-up runners will be able to step in should any of the team suffer an injury or get ill.

Andy's partner, Karen Wiseman, Chris's dad, Tony Sutcliffe, and Mike's dad, Jake Munro, will be drivers and provide general support, while support runner Jonny will also act as a driver.

The team has taken on a series of training challenges to get into peak condition, including the Goggins Challenge which involves running four miles every four hours for 48 hours.

Their fundraising efforts are being backed by Jonny's employer, Edrington, and The Robertson Trust.

Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation hands out "sparkles" to children with cancer across the UK in memory of Elgin Academy pupil and vivacious cheerleader Abbie Main, who passed away, aged 15, on Christmas Day 2017 after living with Sarcoma.

The runners will remember 15-year-old Hamish Ross, from Rogart, who died in 2019 of young sudden cardiac death. The keen mountain biker and kart racer fell asleep in his grandmother’s car on a short journey and never woke up after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. A memorial fund for Hamish was set up by his parents along with CRY.

The mountain rescue teams of Lochaber, Wasdale and Llanberis will all benefit from donations.

The team's progress can be followed on Facebook and donations can be made here.


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