Hi has anyone done the 3 peaks challenge, group of work colleagues are doing the challenge later in year and asked me to take part I was wondering if anyone with angina has done it and if so how did they get on.
I use to do ironman triathlon before being struck with this so fitness level was ok just getting my self wound up and stressed about this challenge and don’t want to fail
Many thanks
I would discuss this with your Cardiologist.
It depends on how microvascular angina affects you as an individual.
What is your exercise capacity and stamina like now?
Does your medication manage your symptoms well?
Other things to consider.
What happens if you have a severe episode of chest pain whilst you are on top of the mountain?
You might need to call the Mountain Rescue Team to help you down in this situation.
How are you effected by the cold and wet? Will the cold trigger your angina?
The weather can change dramatically in the mountains.
Altitude can be an issue for some people living with microvascular and vasospastic angina too.
I live with vasospastic angina, I can exercise however I experience delayed chest pain after exertion.
I have walked up Haystacks in the warm summer months.
It took me a very long time.
I did it but I had to rest the day afterwards.
The cold is one of my triggers of angina so I am only a fair weather walker now.
I hope, after a discussion with your Cardiologist that you can make the decision that is safest for you.
Please do send us a picture if your Cardiologist clears you for the challenge though 😊
thanks for the reply two of the people doing are mountain rescue folk one of them being a doctor.
The walk isn’t till April so plenty of time to train etc my angina doeS not really get impacted on weather it tends to kick in when doing vigorous exercise like running I live on the edge of the Pennines and do a fair bit of walking which doesn’t really have an impact
Just wondered really if anyone had dove the same challenge and how they found it.
I will be speaking to dr before I go for his advise as well
Many thanks 🙏
I think you know your own body..I walked the Julian alps ( Slovenia),and the west highland way just before having surgery..
Hi. I've done it. Twice, in fact (if you mean the Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon one), albeit long before I found out I had heart issues. I can't comment on the angina side of things, but as a physical challenge it's great and hugely rewarding. If you have experience of climbing mountains in the Lake District or similar and have a decent base level of fitness (which I imagine you will have from doing triathlons) then you should be fine. Key things that are challenging about it are aching leg muscles, especially by Snowdon which usually comes last, cramping after sitting in a car for a few hours between climbs (sometimes in wet clothes) and general fatigue from not getting much sleep.
If you're not familiar with mountain terrain and weather then definitely get some practice of that and as others have said, probably wise to get a cardiologist's opinion too.
Best of luck if you go ahead with it. The sense of achievement at the end is fantastic.
Hi. I did the 3 peaks many years ago (assuming you are talking about Pen y Ghent etc?). I have memories of there being a bit of scrambling with hands on some of the ascents. There's quite a walk from Pen y Ghent to get to Whernside and past the Ribblehead Viaduct, and for me I found the last bit after descending Ingleborough was tricky underfoot due to the limestone pavement with all its crevices that you could slip down. It's about 25 years ago since I did it so thankfully I had youth on my side as I I did a fair bit of walking, but I hadn't trained for this and went into it not really knowing what I was taking on with our group. I remember waking up the following day in our b&b and finding that the bottom half of my body refused to respond to direction! Great experience though and on that particular day there were lots of other groups doing the challenge including a large group walking in aid of a heart charity including several doctors!
I hope you able to do it 🙂
I admire your spirit but the next bit will seem brutally negative to you, I am just putting forward another point of view.
I do not have personal experience of your condition but I strongly feel that you must take into account the risk you pose to other people if you take on this challenge.
I would compare this to driving after drinking alcohol, you put others at risk and if they come off worst you have to live with the consequences. Are you prepared for that?
There must be other challenges you could take on which don't involve knowingly making life potentially hazardous for others. Maybe a charity marathon where emergency services only have to deal with local traffic conditions?
I only tend to get issues when I run, I am in more control when walking and walk in Pennines on a regular basis I think the fresh air helps
Micro vascular angina
Micro vascular angina 
micro vascular angina
Micro vascular angina specialist 
