How Winter Spine Race hero got the better of ‘Reggie the chimp’ to turn a DNF into a win

If at first you don’t succeed…

This year’s Montane Winter Spine Race wasn’t just about the incredible story behind Lucy Gossage’s win in the women’s race – in the men’s event something very special happened too.

For the previous three years Kim Collison had often been right in the mix early on in ‘Britain’s most brutal race’ but each time ended with the same result – a DNF.

So when he stormed clear in the 2025 version of the 268-mile slog up the Pennine Way, many were wondering if history was about to repeat itself.

Changing the story

But this time the outcome was very, very different as he powered to an emphatic success, reaching the finish line in Kirk Yetholm over three hours ahead of his nearest challenger.

So what changed? He’s now given a fascinating insight on his Instagram account, titled ‘Changing the story’ and featuring Reggie the chimp!

Collison explains all, saying: After the 2024 Spine DNF, I decided I needed to change my story. I felt the choice to DNF had become too easy and Reggie my chimp was too ready to pick up on this script when times got tough.

“I wanted to work on my mental resilience in 2024 to give me the tools to cope in the lowest moments in the Spine.

I did not want Reggie to decide my race was done.

Easy get-out resisted

“Luckily, I soon got to practice at the @centurionrunning South Downs Way 50, when I ran way too hard for my fitness chasing a certain Dan Lawson on his home trails. By a marathon I was blown, I was suffering in the early spring heat, it could have been easy to pack it in as I ran past our campsite.

“I gritted my teeth with determination to change the story, I arrived in Eastbourne for a lap of the track. A smile not for an amazing performance but for a win in the bigger picture, the ball of improving my resilience was now firmly rolling and would pick up momentum with every further success.

“Going into Spine 2025 without a DNF on my record was another piece of my confidence jigsaw.”

A valuable insight for anyone – is that everyone? – who has had a chimp to battle!