The Spine

Rich, great blog. 

I keep getting drawn back to this thread, not because I could even think about entering, but there is some wierd fascination with you peeps that have completed this (whether in full or part) - it's got to be one of the most bonkers events out there, but I simply love the Pennine Way.  For the moment though I am going to stick to LDWA!!!!

Entries for 2014 open tomorrow 2nd feb.

Its make your mind up time. This race is more  about mental toughness and your ability to look after yourself in severe mountain conditions than just the distance . If you do enter one thing  I will say is that even if you don,t make it to the finish, you will be changed forever!

Get in there 

Welcome on board Lirish. You won,t regret it!

Re the price: At first glance it does look expensive but the costs of running a race over this distance and the logistics of potentially having runners perhaps 50 miles appart must be huge .Add to that a mobile A&E team  a mountain rescue team , 6 bunk houses/youth hostels/village halls and you will get to appreciate why it costs that much.

 During the race you will soon learn how much the team really cares about each and every runner. It hurts them each time someone drops out. As a runner you will get to know and  trust them  utterly. To finish this race you need that confidence. Scott  and the team will deliver for you!

I know what you mean about  feeling scared. It does add something to the anticipation. One  odd thing about the Spine is that because it is so darn long you do get the time to really enjoy the race.  Apart from a short spell of about 3hrs on day one where I nearly blew the whole thing I think it was the most natural running experience I have ever had. Strangely it never really hurt. Perhaps thats because I had never entered a race before with such a low expectation of finishing. I never put pressure on myself and that felt good. 

The therapists in Totnes would probably say I was a Wooly Mammoth hunter in my previous life!

 Still working on my account of the race. Its mostly about what was going on in my head. Its my head that got me to the finish line, my body just got with the programme and tagged along. 

great report Rich..and ian some useful info..........not that i would ever contemplate this race but it sounds amazing

good luck Lirish for next year.looking forward to your report

I have entered The Spine for next year - terrified but excited at the same time if that makes sense? Its going to be an extremely tough challenge.

Welcome on board Mimi.

 Still working on my race diary. Its seriously long but then so was the race. I learnt so much during the 7 days. Much of my ideas of what to expect were totally different to the reality of the Spine. 

Jez Bragg has entered The Spine!

At this moment at time I am going to enter the challenger in 2015.  Gives me plenty of time to recce the route, get some orienterring experience (Take my young daughters to that too), get in the mountains etc and sort kit out.   Anything else?

Hi  Lirish  In the conditions we had this year about 30% of the trail was totally invisible on the ground (the latter half once the snow had fallen) so you were down to nav/GPS. I found the way markings ok but only to check I was on course. The way markings are of most use where the trail parts from a larger track or road and you can confirm the trail head. At night none of the way marks are reflective and even the signposts are a bit mossy. We sometimes had to brush snow of the signs to read them. As for deviation ,apart from a new shortening of the rout missing out the Horton dog leg ,I think Harveys map was spot on. You will be briefed about course changes in the briefing. Wish I had listened properly as not listening cost me1 1/2 hrs! The time in itself was not a problem it's planning sleep breaks that is more important.