Siamo a poco più di 24 ore dal via dalla 3^ edizione del "The Montane Spine Race" che viene definita come la più "brutale"tra le ultramaratone (prevalentemente trail su sterrato) che si svolgono in UK (Regno Unito), in linea point to point con partenza da Edale (Inghilterra) e arrivo a Kirk Yetholm (quasi al confine con la Scozia), attraverso alcune delle più belle e pittoresche aree naturilistiche dell'Inghilterra.
E' una gara super-impegnativa sia per la distanza che di 268 miglia (e quindi 428 km) da coprire in unica soluzione in 7 giorni e in parziale autosuffcienza. La gara si snoda lungo la dorsale dei Pennini (che è una cantena montuosa che forma per così dire la spina dorsale dell'Inghilterra, distendosi da Sud a Nord). I Pennini, come quasi tutti i rilievi montuosi nel Regno Unito non hanno grandi altitudini, ma poichè i runner soono costretti nei 428 km di gara a continui saliscendi il dislivello altimetrico positivo complessivo raggiunge quasi i 12.000 metri.
In più, si aggiunge il fatto che la gara si svolge nel periodo piùù freddo dell'anno con basse temperature, venti gelidi, con il terreno innevato di neve fresca e volte con ghiaccia, con frequenti nevicate.
I posti di ristoro, presidiati dallo staff, sono soltanto cinque e, quindi, si presentano mediamente ogni 80 km. 
Nei posti di ristoro, che prevedono anche delle porte cronometriche piuttosto rigide, è obbligatorio fermarsi, perchè in essi è possibile riposare al coperto, oltre che rifocillarsi, ma anche perchè - come parte del regolamento - si viene sottoposti a controlli sanitari per verificare l'eventuale presentarsi di sintomi di ipotermia e di disidratazione, oltre che di segni precoci di congelamento.
La sosta - ovviamente - è anche necessaria agli atleti per rifornire le proprie scorte e per verificare la tenuta della propria attrezzatura.
Nella prima edizione di questa sfibrante gara, i finisher furono soltanto tre: e questo semplice dato rende perfettamente l'idea di quanto massacrante possa essere.
Per questa edizione il numero massimo di iscritti accettati era fissato a 75 runner.
La gara è stata ideata  da Scott Gilmour, ultrarunner estremo che ha completato la Yukon Arctic Ultra e ha viaggiato nelle regioni polari, come componente di spedizioni.
La gara attribuisce 4 punti per il The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. 
Allo start di questa edizione si presentano tre italiani che sono
 

Ruggiero Isernia (pettorale 44)
Giorgio Spadola (pettorale 70)
Paolo Valenti (Milano Road Runners Club), con pettorale n°76

The Montane Spine Race is Britain’s most brutal race. The longest, coldest and most demanding mountain marathon in Britain. 268 miles (428 km,s) of ice, snow, cold and savage winds. Competitors have 7 days to complete the race.

The Spine Race is a 268 mile, non-stop, winter mountain marathon encompassing the entire Pennine Way. Widely recognised as the most demanding National Trail in Britain, the Pennine Way crosses some of the most beautiful, difficult and challenging terrain found in England, including; the Peak District, Cheviots, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park – finishing on the Scottish Borders.

The Spine Race is open to anyone with appropriate experience who wishes to test themselves and compete in a truly brutal race. You will face the most extreme weather conditions England has to offer; deep snow, ice, gale force winds and rain in a gruelling non-stop, 7 day race from Edale to Kirk Yetholm. It’s not just the conditions that are against you – your own body could become your worst enemy with tiredness, fatigue, sleep deprivation and exposure playing havoc with your performance. To finish you must be prepared and willing to push yourself harder than ever before.

Scott Gilmour is the creator and joint Race Director of the Spine Race. He is a keen outdoorsman and runner and has competed in the Yukon Arctic Ultra and has travelled in the Polar Regions as part of expedition groups.

Race History. The Spine Race was first attempted in January 2012. During this first attempt we witnessed many courageous attempts to finish the 268 mile course. Three athletes would eventually finish. The race was won jointly by Gary Morrison and Steve Thompson, closely followed by Mark Caldwell. The 2012 record was 151h2m.

In dramatic circumstances the 2013 Dare 2d Spine Race was won by Eugeni Roselló Sole in an incredible 5d4h52m with Annabel Gates completing the race as 1st Female in 7d4h59m. Defying the almost Arctic conditions the entire race field battled bravely on and are a testament to the courage and camaraderie shown by those who wish to take the Spine on.

There will be 5 manned checkpoints along the route for Spine Race athletes and 1 checkpoint for Spine Challenger athletes. Here you will be able to rest (sometimes in a bed!), get some food, resupply using your drop bag and quench your thirst!

Visiting the checkpoints is mandatory as you may be checked for signs of exposure, hypothermia and cold weather injuries by our medical team. If our medical team deem it necessary you may be held for a minimum of 4 hours or withdrawn from the race to prevent injury. 

Full race rules are available here.

Checkpoints. There are 5 checkpoints that you must visit along the route to complete the race. The CP’s are distributed evenly along the course and it is here you will receive hot food and water, resupply, beds and showers (available at 4 of 5 CP’s) and medical attention should you require it. These checkpoints run from the start to the completion of the event. The CP’s are staffed 24/7 to provide as little disruption to your race as possible. They provide a haven from the sometimes hostile weather.

To make your stay with us more comfortable we move a resupply/ drop bag for you to the next CP as you progress through the race. The drop bag must be no larger than 60 litres in volume.

Challenge. The longest day on the race is the second day. This is the longest section of the course between CP’s (approx. 60 miles). In 2012 the average completion time for this section was between 22 and 30 hours. Most competing athletes withdrew at this point of the race. If you are competing in the Spine Challenger you can start to build a picture of why you may need 60 hours. Mark Brooks, the 2012 Spine Challenger winner reached CP2 in an impressive 36 hours and 30 minutes. It is worth noting that Mark did not stop running for longer than 1 hour 30 minutes at CP1.

There is also a smaller ‘run through’ CP located at a middle distance between CP1-2. Medics and food are made available at this point as our intention is to keep you in your race as long as possible!

The Spine Team also monitor the course 24/7 to ensure competitor safety and our support vehicles carry additional hydration for competing athletes (approx. 2 litres per athlete per day). Along with the course monitoring you are permitted the use of a personal support team. For further information about the personal support team, please consult the Race Rules.

Safety. To complete the race safely it is required that you carry all of the COMPULSORY equipment listed in the Race Rules. Your equipment may be checked on the course or at a checkpoint by any member of the Spine Team. If you do not carry all of the equipment you may find yourself wanting on the course and place the safety of the Spine Team at risk. In this situation you may incur a time penalty or disqualification from the event.

The Spine Race is a 4 point qualifying race for The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® races and has historically carried 4 points. The current course record is held by Eugeni Roselló Sole who completed the course in 5d4h52m.

We take your safety very seriously and staff the event with appropriately skilled professionals who are capable of dealing with emergency situations, should they arise. There is the very real potential for cold weather conditions such as hypothermia caused by freezing temperatures, wind, rain and winter weather.

If all of this hasn’t put you off and you want to take on one of the toughest challenges you could possibly find; visit the Apply section for further information. Alternatively, you can register directly with our online entries system provided by SiEntries.

In 1 Daytime, The Spine Race starts and we have 3 Italian athletes running! (of 75 competitors in total)

70 Giorgio Spadola N Male Italy
76 Paolo Valenti N Male Italy
44 Ruggiero Isernia N Male Italy

Scheda

Distance: 260-268 miles approx.
Ascent: 11,759m
Highest Point: 893m
Time: 7 Days, non-stop
When: 11-18 Jan 2014
Checkpoints: 5 (all indoors)
Beds: Yes (4 CP’s)
Food/ Water: Provided at CP/ On course
Resupply Bag: 1 60 litre moved CP to CP
Medical Support: Yes
Support Staff: Yes
Cost: £450
Training Event: November 2013 Tbc (£100)
Course Record M: Eugeni Roselló Sole, 5d4h52m
Course Record F: Annabel Gates, 7d4h59m
Places: 75