The Montane Spine Race is notorious for its extreme conditions, testing even the most seasoned ultra-runners as they battle relentless weather, sleep deprivation, and the unforgiving terrain of the Pennine Way. For Will Robinson, this wasn’t just another race—it was a long-held ambition, a challenge he had followed for years, waiting for the right moment to step onto the start line. In this interview, Will shares his experience of tackling the winter Spine, from the toughest sections of the course to the unexpected moments of camaraderie and survival.
The Spine is often called "Britain’s Most Brutal Endurance Race." Can you describe your first impressions of the event and what drew you to take it on?
What attracted me to it…? Like its name describes, the brutal conditions and temperament of the Pennine Way in winter attracted me to the race. The Spine was the first ultra race I ever came across and have been following and dot watching it for years.
I remember saying to myself one day I want to give this a crack and no amount of fatigue or bad weather would stop me from getting to the Scottish border. The race has so many quirks, which meant that it honestly felt like I was running through familiar landscapes which have had so many ultra running legends race over.
Why do I like brutal conditions? Well there is no better reminder of how small you really are than being caught in horrific weather. It reminds you of what's truly important. Forget your phone, and other modern day comforts. This is about smashing carbs to ensure you’re able to keep moving to keep you warm, layering up and drinking enough liquid. Raw and simple.
The Pennine Way is known for its rugged beauty and tough terrain. What section of the route did you find the most challenging, and why?
Easy! Fountain Fell. When passing through the farm at the base of the climb I bumped into the farmer who asked if I was going up the climb. After explaining that I was doing the Spine and running the Pennine Way she said “You’re even brave or stupid. There's 6ft snow drifts on the summit”.
I can confirm she wasn't wrong. The ascent and descent was slow moving and I chilled to the bone. Progress was slow as the route was covered in deep snow, there was no visibility, driving rain and high winds.
When I reached the road on the other side I passed a farmer who was locking up their barn. I went up to him asking if I could change my clothes and boil some water to warm up. After being unable to get warm I decided to get into my sleeping bag and have a 10 minute sleep in the barn which I shared with a bull, two sheep and nine cows.
You decided to take on this challenge without focusing on competitiveness. What did completing the race symbolise for you on a personal or emotional level?
It was within the first 10 miles when I decided to focus on enjoying the run and forget about any type of competition. To put it simply, I could feel the fatigue in my legs as I only finished running across India 3 weeks earlier. I struggled with staying awake on night one which I'd normally be happy to push through, so had to have an hour's sleep in an old horse's stable.
Did you experience any particularly memorable encounters or moments along the trail that stood out to you?
Countless memories were made on the Pennine Way. A stand out has to be the start. With the winter Spine you dream of a proper winter experience and it certainly delivered. We had the best conditions you could ask for whilst climbing Jacobs Ladder due to the deep snow which blanketed the landscape and even got treated to a cloud inversion which was perfectly captured by Rich Gill.
This is closely followed by reaching Greggs Hut. At the hut you get special treatment from John Bamber who makes you Chilly Wack noodles which is a cup of instant soup and a packet of noodles with some homegrown chillies sprinkled on top. A meal which has been raved about in all blogs, posts and documentaries. I just wanted to reach Greggs Hut. Have a picture with John and eat a bowl of noodles.
Looking back on the race, what’s the biggest lesson or takeaway you gained from the experience?
To be honest I’m extremely proud that I wanted to do the Spine so I simply managed my body, sleep and most importantly expectations to ensure I achieved my goal.
It would’ve been really easy to say that I'll come back another year, use India as an excuse or blame the slow winter conditions. To anyone reading this - If you want to complete a goal don’t wait. You never know what's around the corner. Put yourself out there. Roll the dice and put one foot in front of another. You too could kiss the wall in Scotland.
My biggest lesson is that you burn lots of calories by just keeping warm. Having done a number of these events and distances I feel confident in knowing the amount of calories and carbs my body needs, but this was thrown out the door as I needed lots more during the colder sections. Luckily the Gel 50’s didn't freeze!!!
My biggest takeaway is that every time you take on an ultra event you roll the dice. You never know what you’re going to get in terms of good or bad luck. It's all about keeping a relentless forward motion, managing your body, eating and problem solving / breaking down any challenge which presents itself to you.