Before the miles, before the checkpoints, before the highs and lows of the trail, every runner arrives with a reason. For some, it’s unfinished business. For others, it’s curiosity, ambition, or the desire to find out what happens when things get hard and there’s nowhere to hide.
From the Full Spine to the Sprint distances, each start line brings together athletes with very different stories — but the same decision to step onto the Pennine Way.
Hear from athletes Jon Shield, Chris Cope, Tasha Brook and Victoria Thompson as they share why they’ve chosen to take on the Montane Summer Spine Race.
Chris Cope - Challenger South
A former Summer Spine winner and Sprint South course record holder, Chris returns following a DNF at the Full Winter Spine. Now lining up for Challenger South, he brings both experience and perspective to a race he knows well.
“Most races I do I don’t feel the need to do them twice. But then there is something magical about the intricacies of the Spine Race. The geography, the nature, the history of the event, the epic distances travelled between two countries, the fellow athletes that you build bonds with, including the fabulous mountain rescue teams, the checkpoint volunteers, the start/finish volunteers. Everyone just seems to be there for the love of the outdoors, and the challenge whether we succeed or fail.
I’ve had type 1 diabetes since the age of 13, and there has been huge development in the technology around this condition in the last 30 years since I was diagnosed. The Spine race has been a great way to showcase all these developments, and also for me to prove to other type 1 diabetics that there should be no limits if we put our mind to it and all our efforts into it.”
Victoria Thompson - Sprint North
Victoria returns after breaking the women’s Sprint South course record in 2025. Now stepping into Sprint North, she takes on a new section of the Pennine Way, embracing unfamiliar ground and the shared spirit of the Spine community.
“For me the Spine is all about being part of the running community who have a shared respect for endurance sports, adventure, and just really seeing how much you can really achieve as a runner. I’m returning to run the Sprint North this summer. I’ve never run in the Cheviot Hills before and I’ve specifically not recced the route so I’m looking forward to exploring a new area. I love bumping into people on the trail doing all the different distances, saying hi, and having a quick chat about how their run is going. Even though for the most part everyone’s working independently to overcome the challenge, you really feel like you are part of something bigger.”
Tasha Brook - Sprint South
Tasha’s ultra journey is just beginning. After completing her first ultra marathon at the Winter Spine Sprint North 2026, where she finished second woman and ninth overall, she now returns to take on Sprint South.
“The people are what make the Spine Race unforgettable. The runners, the volunteers, the checkpoints, the medics, the race staff, the team at Montane, everyone just becomes a part of the experience. And it almost feels less like you’re turning up to a race and more like you’re stepping into this huge kind of moving expedition of people that are all looking out for each other, and I think that’s really cool.”
Jon Shield - Full Spine
Jon returns with unfinished business. After taking second at Cape Wrath and later attempting the Full Spine, last year didn’t go to plan, with injury setbacks affecting his race. This year, he’s back to see what he can do when things come together.
“Spine simply, it’s Britain’s most brutal. Last year didn’t go the way I hoped or planned. So for me it’s going back to right the wrong. Although I finished, there’s a feeling that I can go and do significantly better. I’m excited to get out there and have a few days without a phone, just to really enjoy it and challenge myself.”
Across all distances, the Spine brings together athletes at every stage of their journey. Some return with experience and unfinished goals, others arrive early in their ultra-running careers, still discovering what they’re capable of.
For some, the race is about performance and progression. For others, it’s about community, resilience, or raising funds and awareness for causes close to them, with many competitors racing in support of charities alongside their own personal challenges.
Different stories. Different motivations. One continuous line along the Pennine Way.
