This is a preview of the race – scroll down to read full updates as to how it all unfolded…
The Winter Spine Race is an annual unsupported ultramarathon held in the UK each winter and is widely regarded as ‘Britain’s most brutal race’.
Last year’s edition saw the record time of Jasmin Paris, who clocked 83hrs 12mins when she became the first woman to win the race outright in 2019, shattered by Jack Scott.
When he crossed the line in Kirk Yetholm on the English-Scottish border he stopped the clock in 72 hours and 55 minutes – and he revealed at the finish he’d had just 54 minutes sleep during the race!
The race is a continuous one and the competitors only sleep when they choose to.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 version…
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The Winter Spine Race 2025 starts in Edale in the Peak District at 0800 UK time on Sunday, January 12th.
That day is forecast to be the last in what has been a serious cold snap in the UK, with overnight temperatures reaching -20 degrees in places.
Thankfully for those taking part the forecast is looking better for the following days but it still promises to be a daunting challenge over what have been frozen surfaces which are now likely to become incredibly boggy.
Competitors have exactly a week to complete the course, though last year’s record-breaking time saw the winner take not much than three days.
Each competitor carries a GPS tracking device, which allows race organisers to monitor their progress and to ensure every competitor stays safe. The GPS device also allows fans to follow the race online. Dot Watchers can follow the progress of the runners pretty much in real time by tracking those GPS signals via this link.
You can follow how the race unfolds with our detailed updates below…
The Spine Race
start list
Click here for the full – and latest – roster for this year’s race.
Notable runners
Route
Participants start the 268 miles (431km) course – which includes 10,732 metres of elevation gain, more than Mt Everest – in Edale in the Peak District.
From here, they then race along the Pennine Way National Trail up through the North of England before finishing in Kirk Yetholm on the English-Scottish border.
The trail crosses some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of England, with competitors following the Pennine Way through the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park and Hadrian’s Wall to name a few.
Over the 268-mile course, participants will experience every type of terrain the North of England has to offer, as well as some of its famously unfavourable winter weather.
Analysis
We haven’t quite got the incredible list of winners we had last year when nine of the last 10 male victors plus the defending women’s champion lined up.
But it’s still a fascinating renewal and in terms of the overall, 2020 winner and Pennine Way FKT holder John Kelly has to be the favourite.
He was derailed by a sprained ankle last year before he pitched in with the support team but everything has gone smoothly this time around.
He says he’s relishing the current snowy and frozen conditions [click here for interview] and he looks the standout name on the men’s side.
Dougie Zinis has been fourth in the last two years and was runner up in 2022.
While Kim Collison was the winner of the Swiss Peaks Trail 360 last year and has also triumphed in the Northern Traverse and Arc of Attrition in the past but has DNF next to his name in each of his three Winter Spine attempts.
James Leavesley, Tiaan Erwee, Simon Roberts, Dave Phillips, Eugeni Roselló Solé, the winner back in 2013, are other big names to watch out for.
There’s no Claire Bannwarth, winner in the last two years, on the women’s side but we still have a stacked line-up, arguably the strongest ever.
The last two runner-ups, Hannah Rickman and Elaine Bisson, are back for more while plenty of the UK’s best female ultrarunners did a joint recce late last year – click here to read more about what sounded a very special three days.
Of those who take part in that recce, Rickman, winner of the Northern Traverse, is on the start line this week as is Sarah Perry, who won the UK National Backyard Team Championships and broke the UK distance record.
Lucy Gossage took an incredible third on debut last year in an incredible transition from multiple Ironman triathlon winner – click here to hear why she’s looking to “find closure” on her Spine return.
The 2023 Dragon’s Back winner Robyn Cassidy is also here as is Mel Sykes who was second in the Summer Spine Challenger South last year.
Winter Spine Race course records
Jack Scott’s display last year set a new men’s and overall record with a time of 72 hours 55 minutes and 5 seconds.
That beat the previous best of 83:12:13, set by Jasmin Paris in 2019, which still stands as the women’s record.
Irish raider Eoin Keith (2016, 2019 and 2019) and Czech adventurer Pavel Paloncy (2014, 2015 and 2018) have the most Spine Race titles.
2024 – Jack Scott / Claire Bannwarth
2023 – Damian Hall / Claire Bannwarth
2022 – Eoin Keith / Debbie Martin-Consani
2021 – not run due to COVID
2020 – John Kelly / Sabrina Verjee
2019 – Eoin Keith / Jasmin Paris* (*overall winner too)
2018 – Pavel Paloncy / Carol Morgan
2017 – Tom Hollins / Carol Morgan
2016 – Eoin Keith / Anna Buckingham
2015 – Pavel Paloncy / Beth Pascall
2014 – Pavel Paloncy / Debbie Brupbacher
2013 – Eugeni Roselló Sole / Annabel Gates
Past winners
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