This is the post I probably shouldn’t publish as its really just me trying to organise my thoughts and make some notes before it all becomes a blur. However it might be useful or interesting to someone so I will. Where to start? Lets start with kit – what worked and what didn’t. Overall myContinue reading “The Winter Spine Race 2024 – some random thoughts”
Tag Archives: Spine Race
The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Final part)
I attempted to get some sleep at the checkpoint but it didn’t work too well. Ironically the only place I was cold all week was in the sleeping area of CP5. I got up, got dressed and ate copious amounts of rice pudding with jam for breakfast. I was offered porridge but I felt riceContinue reading “The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Final part)”
The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Five)
After I’d showered and dressed I went looking for food. The overriding principle of the Spine Race is that everything must be done for everyone or for no-one. This means there can be no favouritism. This meant I couldn’t have a bacon sandwich because there wasn’t enough bacon for everyone to have one. This wasContinue reading “The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Five)”
The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Four)
Whilst the Spine Race presents a huge challenge for the runners, it is arguably even more of a challenge for the organisers. In both cases it is necessary to be prepared for all eventualities and try and have strategies in place to cope with them should they arise. In the case of the organisers thisContinue reading “The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Four)”
The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Three)
I don’t know how it works for other people but I find sleep at checkpoints slightly more elusive than I feel it should be. However I got some rest and a bit of dozing in so I did feel at least slightly refreshed when I got up. I showered, dressed and went looking for food.Continue reading “The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Three)”
The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Two)
I can’t remember if I had any more food before leaving Checkpoint One but I’m fairly sure I had a couple of cups of coffee. I don’t normally take sugar in coffee but on the Spine Race I wasn’t interested in the taste of the drink, it was just a means to obtain caffeine andContinue reading “The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part Two)”
The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part One)
When I first decided I was going to take on the Spine Race there was only one thing I was very definite about - I would only ever do the Summer version. The Winter version was cold, dark and had no appeal to me whatsoever. Anyway it’s January 2024 and I’m waiting to register for theContinue reading “The Winter Spine Race 2024 – it’s cold outside…(Part One)”
Recce Six – A Fairy Tale of North Yorkshire
The 2024 Winter spine Race is getting ever closer. Unfortunately I was developing an inverse relationship between how close the race was and how prepared I felt. The main issue for me was ‘am I really prepared for the cold?’ I kept playing out a nightmare scenario in my head where my hands got cold,Continue reading “Recce Six – A Fairy Tale of North Yorkshire”
The Lakeland 100 – Yee-Haw!
I’ve done the Lakeland 100 – twice. I’ve finished it – twice. I’ve said ‘never again’ – twice. So it probably surprised no-one when I signed up for my third (and definitely final) time for 2023. After two previous trips to the Lake District, Sharon took the ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ approachContinue reading “The Lakeland 100 – Yee-Haw!”
Saltmarsh 75 – The Return
I imagine that everyone that has read this blog will already know, in 2013 the Saltmarsh 75 was my first ever ultra. I’ve also done every Saltmarsh Ultra since then. The first six events were two day races and 2019 was a single day 50 mile run. It was stopped by Covid in 2020 andContinue reading “Saltmarsh 75 – The Return”
The Only Way Is Pennine... 