The Montane Winter Spine - Trail Running

The Montane Winter Spine follows the whole Pennine Way, 268 miles (431 km) from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, with 10,732 m of climbing and a 156 hour limit. Held every January, it pits runners against long nights, bog, snow and wind with little outside help. Shorter Challenger and Sprint races cover the southern and northern halves of the route.

The Montane Winter Spine is a continuous, nonstop journey along the full length of the Pennine Way, Britain's first National Trail. Starting in Edale, Derbyshire, runners cross the Peak District, the South Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines and Northumberland before finishing in Kirk Yetholm, just over the Scottish border: 268 miles (431 km) and 10,732 m of ascent, to be completed within 156 hours.

The route links some of the wildest moorland in England: the peat plateau of Kinder Scout, the limestone of Malham Cove, the waterfalls of the River Tees and Cauldron Snout, the great amphitheatre of High Cup Nick, the summit of Cross Fell and finally the remote Cheviot Hills. In January, daylight lasts barely eight hours, so most of the race is run by headtorch through snow, rain, frozen bog and strong winds. Runners carry a full winter kit and navigate themselves; staffed checkpoints at places such as Hawes, Langdon Beck, Alston and Bellingham offer hot food, a place to sleep, medical care and a resupply bag.

Alongside the full Spine, the series offers the Challenger South (108 miles, Edale to Hawes, 60 hours), the Challenger North (160 miles, Hardraw to Kirk Yetholm, 108 hours) and two Sprints of about 45 miles each, plus Mountain Rescue team editions of the Challengers. Whatever the distance, the Spine is less a race against others than a test of resilience, sleep management and judgement in the British hills at their harshest.