Spine Race Questions

𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗴𝘀?

You don’t really avoid them, you read the ground, follow faint lines, and accept you’ll still get it wrong. If it’s darker, shinier, or oddly flat… it’s probably a trap. Sometimes the least-bad option is straight through, quickly and decisively.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗲?

You trust systems, not feelings.

Kit checks, weather knowledge, layering, nutrition, navigation. Fear comes from “what ifs”; confidence comes from preparation. You don’t eliminate fear, you learn to move with it.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝘂𝗻/𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸?

Mostly purposeful walking with short runnable sections when terrain and fatigue allowed. Running was earned. Walking was efficient. Ego stayed at home.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀?

I made 3 changes;

When my feet got saturated after long periods & when the hot spots started.

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗲? 

My appetite remained the same, I train with everything I'm going to eat like 20p noodles from Tesco, flapjacks from home bargains and the odd pastry. My nutrition was on point and its so important to train with what your going to eat.

𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱?

Cold, tired, questioning why. Every night brought these moments, normally around 3am, but I kept reminding myself that the sun will rise.

𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 — 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗽?

Different jackets for movement vs survival.

Lighter, more breathable when moving like my patagonia waterproof jacket.

Heavier, warmer when stopping like a down jacket.

Swapped to manage sweat → cold risk.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀?

Dry layers
Simple food I knew I’d eat
Socks
Battery Packs

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀?

No, I tried using them during training but my trainers where just as good, I did carry Yak Trax as a back up. 

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺?

Yes, I swapped. Drainage and foot comfort mattered more than cushioning. Fresh shoes helped both physically and mentally, sometimes a reset is as important as grip. I swapped 3 times from using Inovate GTX to Craft Sportswear Hybrids for comfort.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲?

I used Highland Fuel and Revive Active.

𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀?

No. All wet clothes went straight into a bag in the drop bag. There were dry rooms, but realistically nothing dried properly.

Moisture management mattered before CPs, not in them.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴/𝗸𝗶𝘁?

Walking fitness including time on feet in bad conditions instead of focusing on long runs for time. Testing kit when I didn’t want to be out, these moments made such a difference.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲?

Absolutely nothing, my race preparation was spot on and my nutrition was great, maybe I could have slept earlier on but I did try.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆?

By getting it wrong in training. Repeatedly.
Layering is a learned skill, you only dial it in by being cold, wet, and uncomfortable before race day.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗣𝘀?

I'll be honest I wasn't blown away by the food offered, but I did have the best cheese on toast imaginable! 

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗵? 

Nitecore 53 — lasted all night. Solid, reliable, one less thing to think about. 

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿? 

Pure fatigue-induced nonsense. I wanted the hoover to sort out my vac pack bags, I needed to tidy my life before continuing.  

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘁? 

Wild, exposed, quiet, and relentless. Beautiful but unforgiving. It doesn’t care who you are or how prepared you think you are. But I enjoyed it and was expecting a much worse experience.  

𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀? 

Definitely my Marrigolds, they helped keep the elements off my skin when my gloves got soaking.

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? 

I started seeing animal faces in the shadows of the rocks and by wednesday night I was hearing voices in distance. I also had a conversation with a lady laying on the floor, before being convinced I was in south wales mountains.  

𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲?  

My biggest challenge is and always will be the Swiss Alps 100, that broke me.  

𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁? 

Being on my own as the sun was coming up crossing the Cheviots, it was peaceful and I could feel the end approaching. 

𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 

Accept it early. Don’t fight it. Darkness isn’t the enemy, impatience is. Prepare and accept its going to suck. 

𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻? 

Simple framework, flexible execution. Eat early, eat often, adapt fast when appetite shifts. And obviously train with what works for you, for me it was Highland fuel and flapjacks.  

𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿? 

I expected it to be bad. When it was, it felt normal. Hope isn’t a strategy, preparation is. If your hoping for nice weather, your going to struggle when its bad.  

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗔𝗦? 

RAS is intensity and precision.
Spine is patience and attrition.

Different skills, same respect required. 

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰? 

Very little. Silence kept me present and aware. But I did have a sing along on the last few miles!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴?

You don’t need to feel good. You just need to keep moving.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿? 

After the first night and I knew my training and kit choices where correct.  

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗡𝗙? 

No not at all, I knew it would suck on times but isn't that why I signed up?  

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁?

Headtorch. Light in the dark keeps you motivated.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? 

Unexpected resilience amongst other competitors, working together really helped. 

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹? 

Respect. Gratitude. Closure. 

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗜 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲? 

Stopping cost more than pushing through. Micro-rests worked better for me.
At the time i was chasing a top ten spot. 

𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲? 

No but it is one of the most enjoyable races, even though it was tough. 

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 & 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴? 

Core, posterior chain, single-leg strength, loaded carries. Built durability, not aesthetics. 

𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀: 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 - 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀? 

Learn to walk well
Fuel earlier than you think
Slow down sooner than feels sensible
Respect recovery
Enjoy being outside for long periods. 

𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆? 

Technically manageable. Hard when tired, wet, cold, and alone. Discipline matters. 

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻? 

Not immediately. But I haven’t said “never”. 

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆?

Muscles feel good, feet are aching and im starving, but with a race in 3 weeks its time to rebuild. 

Footwear

Mammut GTX Mid – main shoe for long, rough sections and when conditions were at their worst

Craft Xplor Hybrids – used for variety and comfort when feet needed a change

Inov-8 GTX – lighter option for moving well in less extreme conditions

Socks

Tesco baselayer socks – simple, surprisingly effective

Sealskinz – vital for wet, cold sections and prolonged exposure

Legwear

Craft Trail leggings – worn most of the time for comfort and warmth

Berghaus waterproof trousers – added when conditions deteriorated

Upper Body

Patagonia waterproof jacket – reliable protection when the weather closed in

Craft windproof jacket – used as a mid-layer for warmth without overheating

Thermal base layer – essential for long cold stretches and during stops

I had 3 full sets of clothing, all the same and tested in training. 

Nutrition

Highland Fuel – 2 sachets between each checkpoint

Flapjacks – 3 per section for steady, real-food calories

Protein powder dessert (Aldi) – used as a morale boost and to aid recovery during longer stops

Warm cooked meals at checkpoints – 3 in total, crucial for calories, warmth, and resetting the head.

Foot Care

TrailSkin Trench Foot Cream – applied proactively to protect skin during prolonged wet and cold exposure and to prevent trench foot.

Sock rotation – alternated between Tesco baselayer socks and Sealskinz, depending on conditions and how wet the route became.

Shoe rotation – switched between Mammut GTX Mid, Craft Xplor Hybrids, and Inov-8 GTX to manage pressure points and give feet a reset.

Checkpoint routine – feet checked at every checkpoint, cream reapplied, socks changed when needed, and shoes dried or swapped where possible.

Problem management – focused on early prevention rather than treatment; addressing hot spots and maceration before they became issues.

Overall my feet stayed dry throghout, the socks and gaiters combination worked well. 

Spine Race – Experience Summary

The Spine was about keeping things simple and staying present. Conditions were relentless at times, so progress came from patience rather than pace. I moved steadily, mixed running and hiking, and focused on making good decisions rather than chasing time.

Nutrition stayed repetitive and reliable — liquid calories between checkpoints, real food when I could stomach it, and hot meals at checkpoints to reset both body and head. Appetite dipped, but routine carried me through.

Foot care became a daily priority. Regular checks, sock and shoe rotation, and consistent use of trench foot cream meant small issues never became big ones — which was critical in prolonged wet and cold conditions.

Layering was constant. Jackets, waterproofs, and baselayers were added and removed to manage heat and exposure, with swaps made when kit became too wet or ineffective.

The hardest moments weren’t physical, they were mental — long, dark stretches where the job was simply to keep moving. Breaking the race down checkpoint by checkpoint, focusing on controllables, and accepting discomfort made the difference.

Crossing the finish wasn’t about celebration, it was about relief, gratitude, and quiet pride. For sticking with it, respecting the route, and seeing something through that once felt completely out of reach. 

Thanks for all the support, Jonesy x