The 2023 Montane Spine race gets underway at 8 am on Sunday 15th January 2023. The event has developed almost a mystical aura since it first started in 2012. The insane or inspiring idea of covering the 268 miles/431 km of one of Britain’s most iconic trails, non-stop in mid-winter, seems to have struck a chord with the running and wider outdoor community. 

Live tracking Montane Spine race 2023

You can follow live tracking of the event HERE from this Saturday 14th January when the shorter Montane spine challenger event begins.

From Humble beginnings 

The race has developed from humble beginnings to reach a global audience. What is it that makes “Britain’s most Brutal” event an appealing challenge for a small but growing group of runners and even more so for thousands of dot watchers?

At first sight, the 7-day cut-off for the 268 miles seems relatively easy. Broken down it “only” involves averaging 1.6 miles an hour to achieve the final cut-off. Easy peasy! 

The reality of “The Race ” is a little different. When you factor in that the race is very much self-supporting between checkpoints and you are having to carry a good wack of essential safety gear, it immediately gives a reality check! 

Up to 16 hours of darkness a day

Factor in also that at the Pennine Way start point at Edale in Derbyshire, the sunrise just now is showing as 08:18 AM, with sunset at 16:14 pm, giving approx 8 hours between sunrise and sunset, with 16 hours of darkness. Still, tempted? NB: By the time one gets further north to the last leg in the Cheviots, daylight hours will be 30 minutes less!

Oh! There will be weather too! 

Race tales from the early races spoke of knee-deep snow on the Fells, trying to stay upright in gale-force winds, and if it wasn’t snowing, then you could have a day with several hours of rain. The tumultuous precipitation obviously resulted in the underfoot conditions being guaranteed to be energy-sapping bog for several miles each day. Overnight temperatures predict close to zero in Edale. This is sure to be lower with an added wind chill factor on the fells. There will also be ice, and ice in the dark you may not see ! Still, tempted? 

Sleep deprivation?

To be clear, the event is absolutely NOT a stage race split up into nice 50km daily stages with pampered overnight stops waiting for you. It is a serious go-as-you-please adventure! Checkpoints along the way in cosy village halls do await one, where hot food is provided, trained extreme event medics monitor the runners for any warning signs, and rest areas are available for those who have planned short power naps or longer sleeps. The sleep deprivation of the serious multi-day runner is indeed a factor. Some have the ability to deal with this better than others. It is a balancing act of knowing your body and where your own “red lines” are.

Rest breaks and keeping well-fuelled at and in between checkpoints is essential, as is the ability to move at an economical and sensible pace and not crash and burn by day 2 or 3.

Sensible pacing over several days is needed whatever your standard, Basically it is a home truth that the longer you sleep, the longer the race takes but it should increase your chances of reaching your journey’s goal at Kirk Yetholm, just over the border in Scotland !  STILL TEMPTED!

The early races 

As with most races, in its first year, it attracted a few inquisitive entrants intrigued by the challenge. Would people finish or find it just too hard? In that inaugural year, there were 11 starters but only 3 finishers. Gary Morrison and Steve Thompson finished together in 151 hours and 2 minutes, with Mark Caldwell reaching Kirk Yetholm in 158 hours and 55 minutes. If you are scratching your heads working that out, that is 6 days 7 hours 2 minutes and 6 days 14 hours and 55 minutes respectively.

The reality of “The race ” is a little different. In those early years, when entrants subsequently told their tales, you began to get a sense of what the undertaking entailed and the challenges involved. 

The table below shows in a simple format the progression of the number of finishers together with the winner’s times each year.

To date, Carol Morgan for the ladies has the most victories with two from two finishes. Pavel Paloncy and Ireland’s Eoin Keith are tied on 3 victories for the men from 5 finishes each. Sheffield’s Stephen Brown has the most finishes with 6. 

Who wants to run the Montane Spine Race ?

I recall thinking when first hearing of the event, who actually wants to take on the Pennine Way in mid-January with the prospect of full winter conditions? As a race organiser, I was also totally impressed with the enormity, of anyone taking on organising such a challenge with the obvious health and safety issues involved.

As to who does want to take it in on? Throughout history, there have always been adventurous souls, all too keen to take on challenges that to most of us seem slightly beyond our own comfort zones. Comfort Zones are indeed relative to all of us

Experienced ultra and mountain runners could pretty much grasp the idea of a 268 -mile journey along the Pennine way. Like the GB’s two other popular long-distance trails the South West Coast Path and the West Highland Way, thousands complete the challenge every year, either in short weekend stages or as a week-long jaunt. The majority also tackle it in spring, summer or early autumn when the days are long and there is at least a good chance of the sun on your back and you can sit on hilltops having picnics admiring gorgeous landscapes.

Jasmin Paris and John Kelly’s current records 

The mantra of “Records are there to be broken” applies of course to the Spine race too. Conditions do play a part. John Kelly’s men’s race record of 3 Days 15 Hours 53 Minutes comes in at a little over 3 miles an hour. A huge progression from the initial race of 6 Days 7 hours and 2 minutes. 

Jasmin Paris created a minor sensation when winning the race outright in 2019. Her time of 3 Days 11 hours 12 minutes averaging just over 5km an hour. Well documented at the time and subsequently.

Those of us who know Jasmin, and her many achievements over the years, will know she just loves finding fresh challenges and adventures in the great outdoors. You sense The Montane Spine Race for her was like being a little kid in a sweetie shop, let loose to play in a huge outdoor adventure playground, that is the Pennine Way, in winter!

I have not had the pleasure of meeting John yet but you feel he has a similar outlook.

A race or a fast-packing adventure 

The reality is that the Montane Spine Race attracts some of the very best, experienced trail and mountain runners from the Uk and Abroad seeking out fresh challenges. The event is also welcoming and achievable for mere mortals, moving slower and/or with the experience to look after themselves in winter conditions. Whether you have designs on moving swiftly and under 4 days or moving at your own comfortable pace, fastpacking just to achieve the cut-off times, it is guaranteed to be a life-enhancing experience. 

Montane Spine race 2023

You can read full details of the event at the Montane Spine race 2023 website

Other websites I am sure will offer previews with Fantasy Athletics predictions! I stand to be corrected, but I believe of the top 10 runners at the end of day 1 in 2022, only 2 or 3 eventually finished. Some had unfortunate mechanical issues, while some simply crashed and burned. The likeable and experienced Irishman Eoin Keith, along with Scotland’s Debbie Martin-Consani, eventually coming out on top by holding back and concentrating on running their own races.

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