NOTE: This is a preview of the race, click on the names to read about dramatic victories for Sébastien Raichon and Anna Troup.
The Montane Winter Spine is billed as Britain’s ‘most brutal race’ – an annual unsupported ultramarathon held each winter (there is also a summer version).
It only began in 2012 when there were just 11 starters – and three finishers.
Last year’s edition saw an emotional win in the women’s race for Lucy Gossage, while it was fourth time ‘lucky’ for Kim Collison in the men’s after a brilliant wire-to-wire success.
![Lucy Gossage finish line wall Montane Winter Spine Race 2025 [Photo credit: Wild Aperture Photography / The Spine Race]](https://run247.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Lucy-Gossage-finish-line-wall-Montane-Winter-Spine-Race-2025.jpg)
The race is a continuous one and the competitors only sleep when they choose to as they navigate the 268 miles to Kirk Yetholm on the English-Scottish border.
Read on for our full preview and click here if you are interested in taking part in the future as we go through all the options, kit requirements and much more…
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 version…
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The Winter Spine Race 2026 starts at 0800 UK time on Sunday, January 12th.
The UK is currently in the middle of a cold snap – and Storm Goretti is on its way too, prompting organisers to say: “The weather is looking suitably ‘Spiney’ 🧊”
The temperature is forecast to hover around freezing point for all of Sunday, getting up to no higher than 3 degrees Celsius on Monday and 4 degrees on Tuesday.
With snow around it might actually be less difficult for competitors if the ground mostly stays frozen rather than becomes boggy.
They have exactly a week to complete the course, though the record-breaking time (in 2024) saw winner Jack Scott (who will tackle the Challenger South this time around) take not much than three days.
And it’s already been announced that from 2027 onwards it will become even tougher, with the time limit reduced by 12 hours to six-and-a-half 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 from Sunday onwards 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.
And watch out for weather-enforced diversions as organisers put runner safety first.
RELATED CONTENT: Jack Scott and Damian Hall chasing records in Challenger South and Sprint North
Analysis
No doubt about the headline name on the men’s side – that’s ultrarunning legend John Kelly.
The American may be best known for his Barkley Marathon exploits but he’s also inextricably linked with the Pennine Way.
He’s a FKT (fastest known time) holder, swapping it with ‘fr-enemy’ Damian Hall and he has also taken part in the Winter Spine Race three times. He won first time up in 2020 but has been frustrated in the last couple of years.
For the first time ever this year he’s got Western States – arguably the biggest race Stateside – to look forward to having finally been drawn out of the lottery last month. But for now all eyes are on the Spine.
His two biggest challengers would appear to be Britain’s James Nobles and Frenchman Sébastien Raichon.
No one looked to be going better than Nobles on his debut in the record-breaking 2024 edition as he ran alongside eventual winner Jack Scott and Hall.
But he made an untimely exit around halfway because of injury and will be relishing tackling some unfinished business.
Raichon meanwhile makes his Spine Race debut but adventure racers (think Eoin Keith and Pavel Paloncy, who have six wins between them) have thrived at this event so he’s definitely one to watch.
He made a great impression at the Barkley Marathons and relishes ultra-long tests as shown by his multiple victories at the 450 km Tor des Glaciers.
On the women’s side it’s all eyes on Raichon’s compatriot Claire Bannwarth.
She was in a class of her own at the Spine Race in both 2023 and 2024 and jumps off this year’s start list.
Bannwarth missed the race last year though did head to the Barkley Marathons for the first time but found the going tough in the notoriously quirky event.
If she’s in form then she’s the one to beat but it’s yet to be confirmed whether she starts ad there are plenty of interesting contenders up against her.
Anna Troup is the reigning Summer Spine champion and looking to join an exclusive club to triumph in both races.
Alice Kershaw was the winner of the 108-mile Winter Spine Challenger South 12 months ago from Edale to Hardraw.
She came second in that race in 2023 and added to her two excellent Winter Sprint results, she has now featured on a Spine Race podium no fewer than four times – could it be five now that she tackles the big one?
And it will be fascinating to see how Sophie Grant fares on what is her Spine Race debut. Her ultrarunning CV is impressive but, more importantly, anyone who follows her on Instagram will be well aware of what has been an emotional and far more challenging ‘off course’ journey.
The more snow and the more testing the race is, the better for the New Zealander who has done much of her running in the UK.
Record time and past winners
Jack Scott’s display in 2024 set a new men’s and overall record with a staggering 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.
2025 – Kim Collison / Lucy Gossage
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
(2012 was the first year – just three finished from 11 starters)
Past winners
Tab 2 content.
