FELL runners are a special breed, but participants in the Three Peaks Race are a class apart. To tackle a course that embraces 24 miles of hill running and involves an estimated 4,500 feet of climbing and descent requires huge supplies of mental and physical fitness, but with 320 entrants signing up for this year's race on Sunday, there is no shortage of athletes willing to take up the challenge.

With foot and mouth completely destroying the fell running programme last summer, the Three Peaks represents a grand return to action in the Dales and while the weather forecast is for a deterioration in the recent dry weather, the course should be good and the going quick.

With the Coniston fell race, a qualifier in the English championships, scheduled for next weekend, some of the more fancied elite athletes may decide to let the demanding Three Peaks pass, but for many, the 48th running of the event, which was first contested in 1954, will provide an annual test of sinew and resolve.

Simon Booth from Borrowdale was the winner twice years ago, beating Ian Holmes from Bingley in second place, while runners hoping to challenge the best time for the event will need to improve on the 2hrs 46mins time posted by Andy Pease in 1996. That race also proved to be the quickest on record for the women, with Sarah Rowell coming home in 3hrs 16secs.

Those times, of course, are well beyond the capacity of most runners, but for other runners tomorrow, longevity is the name of the game.

Brian Leathley, for example, will be 70 when he starts out from Horton on Sunday, while Dave Scott from Clayton-le-Moors will be running in the race for the 35th time. Bill Wade, one of the organisers, makes his 33rd appearance on Sunday, both of them still chasing the record set by Clayton's Alan Heaton, who completed the event 38 times.

Neil Clayton from SKYRAC will collect his award in recognition of 21 successful runs, while Robin Britton from Staffordshire also hopes to reach that milestone on Sunday.

With marshalls posted on the summits of Penyghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, as well as at Ribblehead and Chapel-le-dale to count through the runners, watering stations also to be staffed and the mountain rescue people also on hand to deal with emergencies, the whole operation is also a major logistical challenge.

The Three Peaks, however, is a fell racing classic that still attracts loyal support from runners and helpers alike.