The Montane Spine Race is brutal, 268 miles of Pennine Way punishment from Edale to Kirk Yetholm. Self-supported. Multi-day. No crew. No pacers. No mercy.
For one runner, it became something more personal, a test of self-belief, luck, blister tape, and just how long a man can go without sleep before he starts mistaking thistles for children.
After scraping in off the waiting list, he arrived in Edale with a packed bag, a dodgy back, and the quiet confidence of someone who’s survived big mileage before. But this wasn’t just another long run. The Spine had other ideas.
Here’s his account. Part warning, part confession, and part love letter to the strange, stubborn world of ultrarunning.
“The Spine” – A Race Report by Ed Payne
I joined the waiting list for this one many months ago and was told I was number 84. Eighty-four decisions had to be made by other people and I was a go. Then calving started and although I kept the odd eye on it, it wasn’t till I slipped under ten that I thought… oh shit, here we go again. Next thing, a payment confirmation email and date in the diary. June 15th @ 8am I was gonna be in Edale with a promise of a kiss from a wall some 268 miles away!!!
Preparation and Planning… or Lack Of
Training wasn’t a dream by any means, not enough miles, not enough meters gained, nothing new for me these days but no excuse either. I knew, I know I can do this but I was going to have to make the right decisions at the right time.
In our house I’m not the organised one, I don’t make lists, I fly by the seat, I lean on luck, I work hard but I don’t plan for tomorrow, I just try to get everything done today!! So by the time I was on the start line I didn’t know much about the route, I knew stage distances, vaguely, no idea of ups or downs or terrain etc. Crazy, I know.
I was a member of a Spine Whats App on the lead in and the attention to detail was crazy. In contrast, my pack arrived 2 weeks before the event, my drop bag, 3 days before. I had bars with me I was gonna get most of my caleries from that I hadn’t ever tasted before the start.
At the Start Line
Bag check and reg was a dream on the Saturday. I was fresh, we had travelled a day early to make sure I was fresh, I’m spoilt you know!! Bed early, nothing left to do only the Spine. Body in good shape, my back my only concern physically but hoping 3 recent visits to the physio had that back in line!!
I had spread the word, told people what I was going to do, I was so confident, there is a thin line between cocky and confident, and I hope I was the right side of it!
Goals Set Before the Gun
I did the usual….. ”Oh all I wanna do is finish, I wont be racing” all that small talk. But I had goals and these are them, these are not the new ones I made cause of DNF or any of that shit! I did not go to compete for top 3 but my absolute massive A goal was to finish in top 5, after that I wanted to kiss the wall less than 100 hours after leaving Edale and lastly I wanted to finish inside the top 20!
Early Errors
Shortly after I left drop bag in, cause I was nervous they would weigh it, I realised my Vaseline and electrolytes were in it. Jen had me sorted with lists I had to go through and that was a help.
I quickly realised the stages were so long that I was going to need more “Proper food”. A chip van and chippy in a shipping container helped with that though!!
Into the Night with Ben
Night one I spent with Ben, a true gent, Jaysus I asked him some amount of questions to try help the Km’s slip by. This is the lonest ever time I have spent in the company of another runner.
So we chatted on and Monday arrived, followed shortly by sunrise!! Ben’s ankles and feet not improving and at the top of the waterfall steps limestone ankle breaker area we agreed to part ways and I ran off.
Disaster Strikes
The water stop for the stage was not far away… I fly like the hammers of hell down that hill, 5min km, legs fresh, no questions asked. Landed at bottom, purple line had disappeared from garmin and I was off course, no hassle, won’t be far back.
Look to my right to see a familiar building Ben and I had passed before going UP the waterfall steps… Now I knew I had proper fucked up!! Phone on, received already known information from Jen, turn around and start the walk of shame!!
Hallucinations and Loneliness
The hallucinations (my first ever) started at about 30 hours… From that point on the walls came to life, boys, girls, family groups. One lovely friendly family were waving… the boys hand that was waving was the first to be revealed as a tall thistle blowing behind the wall and instantly they all disappeared and the wall returned.
The fact that some of the sheep turned out to be actual sheep added another layer to the already confusing situation.
Trail Kindness
Honesty boxes and people leaving full tuck shops out on the course in preparation for our arrival is quite common… I was there five mins maybe and we chatted like we were lifelong friends.
The world is full of great people and don’t ever forget it, it’s just the pricks are better at making noise….. Stops to think….. Shit I make a lot of noise!!!
Checkpoint 3 – Falling Apart
The second night passed, and I passed the half way mark… Off came the socks and with them, quite a bit of skin.
Food in, eat eat eat, are you finished, you think you are, you know your calorie deficit so you just pick something up and shovel it in… New socks on, off we go!! My gallop had manners now, raw skin on the soles, hot spots and blisters appearing and moving.
Navigational Mayhem at High Cup Nick
Check garmin 100 times, I have to go down through the valley… Down I go again and then phone rings, and I check Garmin and line has moved. Nothing for it only to go right back bloody up again.
The End at Dufton
A brief meeting with Jen and the boys… I got a hug and in fairness, my boys and wife give great hugs so maybe that cheating a little. I got a burger from the café, and headed off, walking only now. Pain in the toes too bad to run.
I get a bit pissed off and just go bursting blisters like mad, two are infected, one has blood the rest are just standard… Sorry if your eating!!
It’ll come as no surprise that some of this street side hospital behaviour was bloody sore!!
Final Decision
Only 100 miles now Jen says. She reckons its only 100, I’m starting to look at it different, I know this feeling, I’ve had this, I’ve dropped before. The easy path is always comfortable!! It’s after midday on Tuesday now, 3 o clock maybe.
I’ve not shut my eyes since I started this race Sunday 8am, I take my pack off, lie it as a pillow and set and alarm for 30 mins. Let’s sleep on the decision I think to myself.
I wake up, I feel fresher. I walk 1 or 2 km maybe to find a flat piece of course and try a run, no luck, the pain still there, too little between my fellings and the course!! Its over, it was over hours ago but its confirmed now.
Reflections
I learnt a lot,
I'm not a Spine top 5 and need to realise that
Unsupported is a totally different kettle of fish.
I have great friends and a great many people who think a lot of me.
I underestimated this event and paid the greatest cost
The world does actually have a fair share of great people just they are terrible at showing it, you just have to ask them a question
I love running I just wish I could either be better or be happy at being where I am
Will I be back… Honestly I’m not sure yet!!
Thank you for your kinds words and messages as I was out there, but for now I have a newly turned nine year old that needs a Dad not a role model!!
Run happy!!
Images: Ed Payne