The story behind The Spine Race (and why it’s become the winter ultra)
If you only know The Spine Race as “that brutal thing up the Pennine Way in January”, you’re missing the best bit: it wasn’t born out of UK ultra-running at all.
Phil Hayday-Brown came at it from polar travel — the world of self-sufficiency, harsh weather, long distances, remote decision-making, and the sort of logistics that can turn a bad day into a proper emergency. He’d helped organise expeditions and races to the Magnetic North Pole (and even a South Pole race), where the whole model is: non-stop clock, checkpoints, navigation, self-reliance, and consequences.
Then came the obvious question: could you create that same “expedition race” feeling in the UK?
So Phil and Scott Gilmore went looking for a route with the right ingredients. The answer was hiding in plain sight: the Pennine Way — similar distance to the polar route, remote in stretches, and savage in winter.
They launched The Spine in 2012, after recces in 2011. The first year was tiny: 15 runners, and (crucially) three people finished the full race. That was all the proof the world needed. By year two it jumped to 50, year three 100, and it’s grown by word of mouth ever since — not because it’s “trendy”, but because it scratches a very particular itch: adventure plus suffering, with a clean line between preparation and regret.
Why the Pennine Way is so unforgiving in January
The original dream was “Arctic Britain”: whiteouts, snowfields, maybe even hauling sleds.
Reality? Bog, mist, darkness, and endless moorland.
The Pennine Way gives you everything:
- long, empty stretches where you can feel utterly alone
- awkward terrain (think scrambles like Cauldron Snout)
- exposed high points (Cross Fell, the Cheviots)
- and the sneakiest challenge of all… navigation on a “well-signposted” national trail
Phil made a great point: even on Britain’s oldest and best signposted trail, you still get those moments where a sign sends you across a featureless field with no obvious line — and on the other side you’re supposed to magically locate the next stile and marker. Add clag, fatigue, night, wind, snow, and suddenly “just follow the Pennine Way” becomes comedy.
And that’s why people make nav errors every year — not because they’re daft, but because the route punishes sloppy attention.
Safety, dotwatching, and why this race changed how we spectate
The Spine looks risky because it is: January, sleep deprivation, long distances, and people running on fumes.
But the safety side has evolved as fast as the race itself:
- a large safety crew spread along the route
- experienced medical teams at checkpoints and roaming
- and a major turning point: live tracking (trackers came in properly around year three)
Trackers didn’t just improve safety — they created the phenomenon of dotwatching. People obsessively watching tiny dots shuffle along the Pennines every few minutes… and somehow it’s gripping. Phil even joked that if a race doesn’t have dots now, you feel like something’s missing.
The media output matters too: the daily videos, the before/after faces, the honest storytelling of the front, middle and back of the field. It’s hard to fake. The Spine’s visuals are the opposite of glossy — and that’s exactly why they work.
Who finishes The Spine (and who doesn’t)
One of the most interesting observations Phil shared: a lot of consistent top performers come from scientific / analytical backgrounds — doctors, vets, engineers, researchers. Not because they’re magically tougher… but because The Spine rewards planning.
This isn’t a race you can wing. You’re effectively managing:
- pacing
- fuelling over days
- sleep strategy
- kit decisions
- weather response
- and constant micro-nav
When DNFs happen (outside of bad luck and accidents), Phil’s blunt verdict was: bad planning.
And yet the most Spine thing of all is that people come back. Again and again. The finish line is full of emotion because for many, it isn’t about “winning” - it’s about proving to yourself you can manage the whole mess.
It’s about to get harder (by design)
Phil also dropped a spicy detail: the race has evolved, but modern kit, coaching, and nutrition have evolved faster - so the plan is to bring the toughness back in line by tightening the time allowance (he talked about removing 12 hours, affecting roughly 10% of the field).
His logic is simple: if the event is meant to be a serious test, it should demand serious preparation - not just stubbornness.
So… what’s this got to do with GPS units?
If you’re doing a Spine event, you already know the truth: navigation isn’t optional. Even on a national trail. Even with waymarkers. Even if you’ve got a GPX.
Mist happens. Dark happens. Your brain turns to soup at 3am. And the Pennines are full of places where being “a bit off” becomes a time-sink — or worse.
That’s why we treat GPS in three realistic ways — depending on whether you’re buying one just to comply, or to genuinely support your navigation.
Our “Spine GPS” recommendations
1) The best GPS lightweight GPS device for ultra running - TwoNav Roc
- Lightweight
- Wonderfull clear screen
- The ability to put Harvey Maps on at an affordable price
TwoNav Roc - £299.99 - more here
2) Buying a good “budget” Garmin button GPS for The Spine - Garmin GPSMAP65s
- Runs on AA batteries
- Very easy to use
Garmin GPSMAP 65s - more here
Options:
- TopoActive Europe + TOPO PRO 1:50k OS maps (v3 2024) – £469.99
- TopoActive Europe + TOPO PRO 1:25k OS maps (v3 2024) – £639.99
Walk & Talk video using the Garmin GPSMAP65s - watch it here
3) Best of both worlds (buttons + touchscreen) - Garmin GPSMAP H1
- Amazing battery life (145 hours)
- Very easy to use
Garmin GPSMAPH1 - more here
Options:
- European TopoActive maps – £549.99
- TopoActive + TOPO PRO 1:50k OS maps (v3 2024) – £674.99
TopoActive + TOPO PRO 1:50k + 1:25k OS maps (v3 2024) – £844.99
Walk & Talk video using the Garmin GPSMAP H1 - watch it here
If you want to find out more about this epic race, please watch a recent podcast interview with Philip.