NATIONAL 3 PEAKS - TRAINING WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS (2026 GUIDE)
MOST PEOPLE DON'T FAIL THE NATIONAL 3 PEAKS BECAUSE THEY'RE UNFIT...
They fail because they train the wrong way.
They hit the gym.
They do a few runs.
They think that’s enough.
Then they get onto the mountains and realise very quickly…
👉 This is a completely different game.
WHAT THE CHALLENGE ACTUALLY DEMANDS
The National 3 Peaks is not just a hike — it’s a 24-hour endurance event, testing how you cope with very little sleep, 10/11 hours travelling and eating enough calories to sink a ship.
You’re taking on:
- Ben Nevis
- Scafell Pike
- Snowdon
All within 24 hours.
That means:
- Around 25 miles of hiking
- Over 3,000m of ascent
- Roughly 12–13 hours on your feet
- Burning between 5/6000 calories
- Plus 10+ hours of driving in between
And the biggest factor?
👉 Fatigue.
Not just physical — mental and emotionally.
WHY BEING "FIT" ISN'T ENOUGH
You are more than able to run 10k and still struggle on the challenge.
Because this challenge isn’t about speed.
It’s about:
- Long days on your feet
- Uneven terrain
- Climbing when your legs are already tired
- Moving when you’d rather stop
- Most importantly not giving up when every part of you is saying you cannot do, because you can!
👉 It’s about durability, stubbornness not just the fitness.
WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS (THE RIGHT WAY TO TRAIN)
1. TIME ON YOUR FEET (NON NEGOTIABLE)
This is the biggest one.
You need to get used to:
- Walking for hours
- Being on your feet when tired
- Managing pace over long periods
Start with:
- 2–3 hour hikes
- Build up to 5–7 hour days
2. BACK TO BACK TRAINING DAYS
The challenge doesn’t give you recovery time — so neither should your training.
Example:
- Saturday: long hike
- Sunday: another hike (even when tired)
👉 This is where real progress happens.
3. STRENGTH TRAINING (THIS IS YOUR SECRET WEAPON)
Focus on:
- Legs (quads, glutes, calves)
- Core (for stability)
Simple works:
- Squats
- Lunges
- Step-ups (gold standard for mountains)
- Loaded carries
👉 Strong legs = less fatigue = higher chance of success
4. TRAIN ON UNEVEN TERRAIN
Treadmills won’t prepare you for this.
You need:
- Hills
- Trails
- Rocky paths
Because that’s what breaks people.
5. PRACTICE FUELING AND HYDRATION
This is where a lot of people fall apart.
You should be testing:
- Snacks - a lot of people think that protein bars will help, on a challenge they won't
- Hydration - electrolytes, test them plenty of times before, a lot of people they go straight through! Not pleasant and the last thing you want to happen an hour in on Ben Nevis haha. Your not going to find a toilet that's for sure
- What your body tolerates under fatigue
👉 Don’t figure this out on the mountain.
WHAT MOST PEOPLE GET WRONG
- Not enough time on feet
- No back-to-back training
- Overestimating gym fitness
- Ignoring nutrition
- Leaving it too late
And the big one…
👉 Thinking they’ll “push through it on the day”
That’s where people come unstuck.
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED TO TRAIN?
Ideally:
👉 12–16 weeks
That gives you time to:
- Build gradually
- Avoid injury
- Actually feel ready (not just hopeful and wishful thinking)
THE HONEST TRUTH
This is a tough challenge.
But it’s absolutely achievable…
👉 If you prepare properly.
Do that — and it becomes one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do.
Skip it — and it can be a long, miserable, hard 24 hours.
WANT HELP GETTING READY?
If you’re thinking about taking on the National 3 Peaks this year:
👉 We run fully guided challenges with expert support every step of the way
👉
We have over 50 years collaborated experience running this challenge
👉 We also offer structured training plans to get you ready
CHECK OUT UPCOMING EVENTS
DO YOU WANT A TRAINING PLAN?
👉 https://www.chasingsummits.co.uk/training-hike-preparation
Or if you want a proper plan tailored to you:
👉 Drop us a message — we’ll get you set up
FINAL NOTE
You don’t need to be the fittest person there.
You just need to be the one who prepared properly.
