Gruelling ultramarathon kicks off after storm

One the UK's most gruelling ultramarathons has kicked off in full winter conditions.

The Montane Winter Spine race is a single non-stop 268-mile (430km) stage along the Pennine Way, taking in parts of Cumbria, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian's Wall and the Cheviots.

Race organisers said more than 700 runners were expected to cross the start line in Edale in Derbyshire, "battling freezing temperatures, driving rain, and snow".

Storm Goretti brought heavy snow, ice, rain and strong winds to the UK on Friday, with a yellow warning of snow and ice remaining on Sunday for Scotland, the north of England, the Midlands and Yorkshire.

The event also features six other races of varying distances.

The main participants could climb more than 10,000m (10,936 yards) of ascent as they tackle tough terrain between Derbyshire, Yorkshire, the Northern Pennines and the Scottish Borders.

Each competitor has one week to complete the main race.

Last year, Kim Collison won the winter race in a time of 82 hours, 46 minutes and 32 seconds, while Lucy Gossage won the women's winter race in 87 hours, 41 minutes and 38 seconds.

Cumbrian competitors this year include athletes include Anna Troup from Grasmere, who won the 2025 summer Spine race, and Sarah Perry from Cockermouth, who recently was the last woman standing in The Wrekin challenge in Shropshire.

The inaugural Winter Spine Race in 2012 attracted just 11 starters, with only three of them reaching the Border Hotel wall in Kirk Yetholm.

In the following few years, the race's reputation grew with more and more athletes from around the world wanting to challenge themselves against some of Britain's toughest terrain and conditions.

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