Looking forward

Ooh - two posts in two days - it's getting busy on here....

Anyway, I am taking stock of things to come - namely my big race that has been number one in my running mind for the best part of two years. The Montane Spine race.

Last year was just a taster - the smaller, easier, shorter "Montane Spine Challenger". But this time it's the full monty...

Here is the blurb from their website:

Widely regarded as one of the world’s toughest endurance races. A truly epic challenge that will test your physical resilience and mental fortitude. Racing non-stop along the most iconic trail in the UK, you will experience the full intensity and ferocity of the British Winter. Prepare yourself for the biggest challenge of your life.

The Pennine Way is one of the most demanding National Trails in Britain, and certainly the most iconic. The trail crosses some of the most beautiful and at times difficult terrain found in England, including; the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall and the Cheviots; finishing at the Scottish Borders.

The MONTANE® Spine® Race is open to anyone with appropriate experience* who wishes to test themselves and compete in a truly demanding race. Expect to face extreme weather, deep snow, ice, mud, bogs, ground water, storm force winds and driving rain in a gruelling, non-stop, 7-day race from Edale to Kirk Yetholm.

It’s not just the conditions that are against you, your own body and mind could become your worst enemy. Tiredness, fatigue, sleep deprivation and exposure to the extremes of winter weather are all to be expected. To finish you must be prepared and willing to push yourself harder than ever before.

There is very little hand holding on this race. We expect you to travel with a degree of self-sufficiency and skill which sets this race apart from others. Why? You should never embark on an adventure of this magnitude without the appropriate knowledge and skill to make yourself safe in a time of need. There is nothing more personally reassuring than being secure in your own abilities. That said, we still attach a GPS tracker to you with an emergency button just in case!

The MONTANE® Spine® Team will support your herculean efforts by being there when you really need us. We have an event safety team who will support you on the course, checkpoint teams who will provide you with some of the comforts of home when you need a rest, baggage transfers for your resupply and an excellent medical team provided by Exile Medics.


I just read this again, and to be honest with you I had a tingly moment - both with nervousness and also with excitement. This race has got me gagging to be out there and challenging myself.

Just a couple of bits of kit still to arrive in the post - then I have it all...



Not sure if I mentioned this before - but the race this year is unsupported - in other words I cannot have friends meeting me and plying me with food and hot drinks. I have to be totally self sufficient.

That said, if anyone is in the area while the race is on, feel free to stand there and wave/cheer/pull faces, just don't try and give me anything.

Alternatively, if you are really sad and lonely, why not volunteer to help out in the checkpoints, I'm sure they will be happy to have you on  board and I can say that seeing the friendly faces of checkpoint staff, really boosts morale when tiredness is at its height.

Anyway that's it for now. I'm sure as the race gets closer i will be posting more and more - i am SO excited, can you tell?

Ta Ta for now

Chris