Delighted to share that, after years in my CP lead role, I’m moving into a complex new post on the Spine
I am now the Race Systems & Processes Lead & will be working across all departments on both the Winter & Summer race series
Very excited to have a new challenge in a fabulous team!
#SpineRace
Please don't mention the #SpineRace too often here in the feed. I have a family and I don't want to know anything about @spinerace.bsky.social :-) #bm100
I think the #bm100 post I saw with a reference to Back to the Future Guy sealed it 👀😄 #SpineRace
Love how the #SpineRace feed
bsky.app/profile/dani...
Has quietly morphed into a #BM100 feed for the weekend
Enough for today now. Almost at the point where I can consider the winter Spine signed off. Feedback collated and sent out. Post-race report written. Just a few kit jobs to do and a management meeting to attend!
But for now, it’s time to relax
Enjoy the rest of the weekend peeps 🥰
#SpineRace
The image shows a digital screen displaying a confirmation message for race registration. The background is a dark, textured surface, possibly resembling a stone or slate, which gives a rugged and adventurous feel, fitting for a winter sports event. At the top, in small white text, it says "You're in!", conveying excitement and accomplishment. The main message is prominently displayed in large, bold white letters: "You have successfully entered the Montane Winter Spine South 2027." This text is central and draws immediate attention, emphasizing the significance of the registration. Below, in smaller white text, it reads: "Thank you Daniel for entering this race." This personal touch adds a sense of gratitude and community. The final section of text, also in smaller white, provides logistical information: "All the information you need for the race will be uploaded onto your Runner Portal. The runner portal is your one-stop-shop for getting information and updates about the event, and for managing your entry and payments." This text is practical, guiding the participant on the next steps. Overall, the image evokes a sense of anticipation and preparation for a challenging and prestigious winter race, with a focus on clarity and participant support.
Oops 🙊. Looks like I’ll be spending part of next Jan being a dot rather than dot watching. It’s only the sprint, it’ll be fine! #SpineRace #MontaneWinterSpine #running #dotwatching
Two photos of Ruden and Anson, one positioned on top of each other. Both are holding spine race numbers and standing in front of a spine race background of orange and black logos
New blog post up on my @spinerace.bsky.social DNF. My post sits alongside one by the phenomenal Ruden Bhutia. Thank you to Camino Ultra for hosting these. #runsky #ultramarathon #spinerace
www.caminoultra.com/post/spine-2...
The winter @spinerace.bsky.social just got more brutal. The rules are changing next year, reducing the overall time allowed for completion from 168hrs (7 full days) to 156hrs. And the total time allowed for competitors to rest in Checkpoints is reduced from 8 to 6hrs. #SpineRace
A friend, Catherine Hill, and I hugging at the end of her 267 mile Spine Race. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this community is my second family ❤️
This photo by Andrew Hendry encompasses how I feel about the Spine community. There is nothing quite like the group of extraordinary people who run it, work on it & follow it
Love is palpable here. The #SpineFamily is deeply life-affirming
#SpineRace
The inside of hut 2 on the Cheviots. Phil and one of our media crew are sitting in a bench on the right, 2 medics on the far side, and the second of my hike buddies, Ed, on the left side bench
A peak inside the hut for anyone who hadn’t seen it before
#SpineRace #Hut2
"My 2nd consecutive attempt at the 268 Mile Montane Winter Spine Race and my second DNF. After being in a bad headspace at last year's event and carrying the remnants of a foot injury into the race, I was ready to take care of business this time around."
#spinerace #ultrarunning
A selfie with the hut 2 SST (Spine Safety Team) with Phil Hayday-Brown on a murky wet and windy day
The door to hut 2. There’s a sign that says “Like hut 1, but better”. Hut competition during the race is alive and well!
Phil & Ed walking back down into the valley.
Walking along the valley by a stream
Rounded off my spine week with a jaunt up to hut 2, with Race Director Phil Hayday-Brown and one of the Arctic crew, Ed
Best brew of the race was had in that hut, along with a bit of tablet as a reward for the climb up the hill!
I need to do more of this during race week 🥰
#SpineRace
Run by Andy Taylor & Fiona Morrison. This marks the finish line for 3 of our races, the Spine Sprint North, the Spine Challenger North & the full Spine Race, as well as being the northern end of the ionic Pennine Way Runners here receive a warm welcome, some food and drink and TLC at the completion of their long and challenging journey. This is where they receive their medals and certificates before their onward journey
Kirk Yetholm
#SpineRace
Run by Sue Parker & Tawera Phillips. This checkpoint changed for this race, from a CP serving hot meals, to one that worked more along the lines of our two monitoring stations in Malham & Dufton, with an urn for runners to rehydrate dried meals. From next year onwards, this will be run by the safety team rather than the checkpoint team The runners here need to ensure they have eaten and rested enough for the last push across the c.27 mile stretch over the Cheviots, with just 2 small wooden huts to shelter in as they cross the hill range
Byrness
#SpineRace
Run by Sharon Dyson & Kirsten Beard. The crew in Bellingham have to support runners who are well over 200 miles into the full Spine Race. Tired, dazed, sometimes quite stressed and always sleep deprived, they need to ensure they manage their kit well as this is the last time they can access their 20kg drop bags before the finish line. This team also manages registration for the new winter Spine Sprint North, the start-line for which is within the checkpoint grounds.
Bellingham
#SpineRace
Spine Race 2026 - Lloyd Biddell - First 24 Hours #spinerace
The audacity to edit a vlog while running the Spine! THAT is impressive! came across this YouTube of this years race well worth watching all the episodes
youtu.be/0GsGm7IXf-s?...
#SpineRace
No 249 finishing at 5 am, just 102 and 178 to finish now.
It's not about winning the race, the great achievement is completing the race 👏👏
#spine
#spinerace
A little under 10 hours to finish the Montagne Winter Spine. Awesome stuff from everyone, 11 left to finish, (finish cutoff is 0800 GMT tomorrow).
There will be dawn/early morning ovwr the Cheviots tomorrow morning to spur the last of the field into the finishing straight.
Go well.
my fave episode so far As the 2026 Montane Winter Spine Race draw to a close, the final few runners battle to beat the cut-offs. #spinerace
youtu.be/9u9KvCq_fgA?...
So everyone I marked as a favourite has now gone black.
Dear #SpineRace,
I promise to never favourite another runner, ever again.
Yours sincerely,
Craig
Screengrab of Spine Race Tracker showing Hareshaw Area north of Bellingham on the Pennine Way. Marker 221 (Juan Patanja) is a mile ahead of the black marker showing the relative position of the Red Lantern (Slowest known completion time)
He's still out there, he's still racing the red lantern.
C'mon Juan!
#SpineRace
Me and Nicky Spinks on our evening walk after a day of visiting CPs lower down the trail
Roadtrip down the trail today in excellent company 🥰
#SpineRace
Allie Bailey taking 7th place in the Montane Spine Race
Sorry for the major delay! The lovely Allie Bailey reached the wall at the end of her epic 268 mile battle this evening. She talked about how everything on the trail both punishes and rewards in equal measure. Lovely interview 🤩
Congrats Allie! 🙌🏻
#SpineRace
#spinerace
#spine
A lot of folks at CP5 Bellingham currently and the check.point closes in 2 hours, so not only do runners have to get there in the next 2 hours....they actually have to leave the check point before midnight GMT. Something like 15 runners there, and one still to arrive...
This time last week I had no idea what an adventure I would be having on the Pennine Way #spinerace.
(I've already downloaded the race pack for the Winter Challenger North!)
I love watching the live stream of people finishing the #SpineRace
I love it even more when their dog is there to meet them. 🐶 😁
Racers continue to finish up at Kirk Yetholm, the day is beautiful, cold and bright and very little wind. For those finishing now, exhausted and in pain, the conditions must give the euphoria of finishing an extra boost.
#spine
#spinerace
Kevin Munt #205 and Juan Patjane #221 have been together for a lot of the #SpineRace yo-yoing with the black lantern. Now there is a little gap & Juan has fallen behind. Perfect pacing?
CP run by Debi Jones & Chris Taylor. Famed for their lasagne, Alston is the 2nd CP for Challenger North runners and the 4th for the full Spiners. This is the CP immediately after Cross Fell, the highest (and often most brutal) point in the race in terms of weather.
Alston
#SpineRace
