This race is a shorter version of the full Spine race which runs the whole length of the Pennine Way.  Shorter is a relative term and at 160 miles, it is still over 6 consecutive marathon races.  It is not therefore a running race as we think of it in the club, it is more of a physical and mental challenge.  Two Barlickers took part in this race - Ian Cocks and John Boothman.  Ian Cocks had a brilliant performance in the Montane Spine Sprint Race last year to come home in 2nd place.  Although it is called a sprint, it is still a 46 mile race. 

Ian fancied a new challenge and moved up to this longer race.  On the other hand, John is an old hand at the full Spine race, but he moved down a category as he could not get into the main event, such was the demand. Such a demand is amazing as it is a particularly tough challenge in the middle of summer, let alone in the middle of winter with the tougher conditions and short days.

Ian had trained hard for the race, whilst John did not do enough. But this is no normal race and training is only one aspect of race preparation. 

Like last year, Ian set off well and was in the leading group.  However, about an hour away from the check point at Langdon, which is about a quarter of the way through the race, Ian took a nasty fall whilst making a descent.  He felt fine at the check point, but afterwards, on the way to Dufton, he started to feel the effects of his fall.  He got lost over High Cup Nick and arrived at Dufton in a bad state.  But after some pain killers and a rest, he felt good to go.  Luckily, he was in a group of five as the conditions over Cross Fell were brutal.  It was cold and wet with side rain and the runners were following foot steps in the deep snow.  Luckily, he made it to Greg's Hut, which is manned for the race and where they maintain a fire.  Once he left Greg's, he went on the descent to Alston, but his feet and calves deteriorated rapidly and he struggled to get over some of the stiles.  He tried to get some sleep at Alston, but his body had shut down and he struggled to walk 10 feet.  He therefore decided that discretion was the best part of valour and he pulled out of the race.

Behind him was John Boothman who always maintains a steady pace rather than racing off with the front runners.  He had the same problems with the conditions over Cross Fell and welcomed the stop at Greg's Hut for a brew and some chilli noodles whilst sitting by the fire.  John planned to stop for a sleep at Alston, but when he got there, it was full of builders who were carrying out extensive works and the noise made sleep impossible, so as waste daylight hours, he pressed on.  He reached the next check point at Greenhead which marks the start of following Hadrian's Wall.  John does not like this section, but this year, he did not find it too bad.  The next target was the check point at Bellingham where John planned to catch up on his lost sleep.  He allocated a mere one and a half hours for sleep before setting off for the final check point before the trek over the Cheviots.  He stopped for a minimal time there and set off up the long climb up the Cheviots to complete the last 24 miles to the finish.  There are two climbers huts on this section and with the end in sight, John upped the pace.  He made good time to hut 1 and carried on at the same pace over the summit to hut 2.  Once at hut 2, there is only one hill of any significance, which is the Scill.  Looking back down the track, he could see the lights of a head torch from a following runner and being competitive to the very end, it spurred John on descend from the hills as fast as possible towards the finish.  That runner never passed him and he trotted into a very quiet Kirk Yetholme at 4:17 am to the waiting marshals and his wife Angela. 

Once more John had demonstrated that his meticulous preparation, his personal fitness, but more importantly, his grit and determination had seen him to the finish.  There had been 115 starters and John finished 20th overall and 11th in his class which is merely male runners.  There is no recognition for the fact that John  is a V60 male.

John has written an account of his individual experience in this race and this can be accessed from the link below.

John's Race Account.

83 Robert Cranham 44:50