THE VIRTUAL SPINE RACE

Widely regarded as one of the world’s toughest endurance races, the Montane Spine Race is an epic challenge that tests a competitor’s physical resilience and mental fortitude. Racing non-stop along the Pennine Way, runners experience the full intensity and ferocity of the British Winter.

In January 2024, as well as the traditional race, we will be offering the chance to take part in a VIRTUAL SPINE CHALLENGE. Your virtual challenge can take place anywhere in the world and you have from January 1st to the 31st to get to the finish.

With five distances, there is a virtual challenge for nearly everyone offering the opportunity to get active or keep fit and tackle arguably the most iconic trail in the UK…

• THE SPINE RACE - the entire 268-mile Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the remote Scottish borders
• THE CHALLENGER NORTH - 160 miles from Hardraw in scenic Yorkshire countryside to Kirk Yetholm
• THE CHALLENGER SOUTH - 108 miles from Edale to the attractive North Yorkshire village of Hawes
• THE SPRINT - 43 miles from Edale to the market town of Hebden Bridge in the picturesque Calder Valley
• THE DASH - 26.8 miles, a shorter challenge from Edale to the wild moorlands of Standedge in West Yorkshire.

In addition, a live weather overlay gives you a sense of what conditions are actually like on the trail. And if that is not enough to tempt you, for all participants who successfully complete their Montane Spine virtual challenge there will be finisher buffs and medals unique to the virtual events.

RACE THE RACERS

There is also a separate virtual challenge giving you the opportunity to ‘RACE THE RACERS’ in the in the 108 mile Challenger South event. Although you will be able to undertake this challenge from anywhere in the world, like athletes in the Challenger South, your challenge will start at 08.00 on Saturday January 13th and you need to finish by 20.00 on Monday 15th January. 60 hours maximum.

DASH IN A DAY

New for 2024 will be the opportunity to do the ‘DASH IN A DAY’. At 26.8 miles the well-established Dash is exclusive to the Montane Virtual Challenges and offers a shorter challenge spread over 31 days. The ‘DASH IN A DAY’ poses a different challenge – 26.8 miles in just 24 hours!

You will be able to undertake this challenge from anywhere in the world. Your challenge will start at 12.00 noon on Saturday January 6th and you need to finish by 12.00 noon on Sunday 7th January.

Unlike the other virtual challenges, for RACE THE RACERS and DASH IN DAY you will need to provide evidence of the distance you have covered and the time taken through Strava, Garmin or similar. There will be no trophies; no gold, silver or bronze medals; just the virtual finisher medal, ribbon, buff and admiration of all who cheered you along the route!

Choose your challenge carefully. Once you have entered there will not be the option to move to another distance.

SUPPORTING THE PENNINE WAY

The 2024 Virtual Spine Challenges will be supporting the Pennine Way National Trail. When you enter you can make a donation of £5, £10 or £20 to support their work to maintain the trail. The presence of a well defined, negotiable path is of paramount importance not just for the safety of runners and walkers but also the environmental protection of the area.

You can find out more about the trail and the work they do here.

 

SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT

The 2024 Virtual Spine Race also offers you the chance to support the TREES NOT TEES initiative.
‘The environmental benefit of planting a tree is huge, it helps us fight against climate change by taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, it provides a home for a diverse range of species, and it gives us clean air to breathe.’ Jim Mann, Co-Founder of Trees for Tees and Spine athlete.

When you enter you can opt not to receive the finisher medal and buff. Instead, you can have a tree planted and receive an e-certificate, a What3Words location of your tree and a unique photograph of your sapling from Trees not Tees.

LOGGING YOUR MILES

Every time you go for a run, jog, walk or even take the dog for some exercise between 00.00 on January 1st and midnight on January 31st you can log your miles manually or we can collect your miles automatically if you connect a Strava, Garmin Connect or similar.

We'll show your position on a virtual map along with your fellow competitors and you can track your progress along the legendry Pennine Way, through the official checkpoints.

VIRTUAL SPINE CHALLENGE PARTICIPANT WAIVER

By their nature, outdoor activities involve an element of risk and your entry is based on your acceptance of those implicit risks.

All participants must take sensible precautions to minimise any danger to themselves or others and agree to assume all risks that may be associated with or may result from their participation in the virtual Spine challenges.

By entering you are declaring yourself to be fit and able to participate in your chosen challenge.

Entries from children under the age of 18 and vulnerable adults are accepted but they should be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult at all times during the challenge. The parent or responsible adult must ensure this support will be in place and that all the risks have been explained and understood.

Agreement with all the statements contained in this document is acknowledged by you as part of your entry and registration and you accept all decisions made by the organisers without complaint or recompense.