A CUMBRIAN runner is 'disappointed' after finishing third in the Three Peaks Race.

Ricky Lightfoot, from Workington, competed in the 66th edition of the mountain race on Saturday.

He said: "It didn’t go very well for me to be honest.

"I was really disappointed. I finished third, but I felt as though I was a long way off.

"It’s probably the slowest time I’ve ran there."

Mr Lightfoot has won the Three Peaks Race twice in the past, also finishing second twice.

He felt like he wasn't in peak physical condition this time round.

"I had Covid two or three weeks prior and I think it was just too early to race like that," he said.

"I was double jabbed and I wasn’t as bad as some people have been, but I had six days where I felt like I could barely lift my head and didn’t really want to eat.

"It was really bad flu-like symptoms. I feel like afterwards, it’s affected my chest more than anything. It feels tight.

"I think it would be alright if I didn’t run or anything like that, but when you’re pushing yourself to the absolute limits, that’s quite often when you find out that these things have affected you more than you think they have."

The Three Peaks Race usually takes place in April, but was moved due to Covid-19 restrictions.

It runs over Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales.

The course is 37.4 kilometres with 1,609 metres of ascent and decent.

Mr Lightfoot, a fireman at Workington Fire Station, finished just under two minutes behind the winner, with a time of 3:07:17.

He is now looking forward to the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Thailand early next year.

He will be representing Great Britain in the marathon.

The 36-year-old said that he is focusing on getting some rest first.

"One bad race and it feels like the end of the world sometimes, and that’s how it feels this week," he said.

"I haven’t put my thoughts too far ahead at the minute.

"I just need to regroup, recover well and start training again before Christmas."