Britain's Most Brutal Race Concludes

Press Release / 23.01.2017

The 2017 MONTANE® Spine® Race concluded late on Saturday night, Helene Dumais (CAN) placing second in the woman's race with a time of 153:31 and Gabriele Kenkenberg (GER) third, in 156:19.

“The Spine Race was epic and brutal,” said Dumais at the finish line. “I loved it. I learned new things about myself. It was my first time in Britain and the Pennine Way is so beautiful. It's like Lord of The Rings.”

Dumais has an impressive ultra-running CV. She is the first woman to complete the Survival Run Nicaragua, Devil’s Double Challenge, Survival Run Australia and Dingo's Double.

“It's hard to compare the toughness with other races, but the Spine is certainly a very, very tough challenge. And it's more than just a race. There's a community, a family atmosphere around it.”

Dumais, along with American husband Tim Puetz, was a late entry for the Spine Race. “I can't believe it. Three weeks ago, my husband said, 'Hey, let's do the Spine Race, I said, 'Okay'. And here we are.”

Due to leg soreness, Dumais had to have a piggyback out to the finishers' wall to great Puetz when he came in, where they had an emotional embrace. She spoke inspirationally about pursuing dreams.

“Dreams aren't going to come to you. You have to chase them. Dream big, or don't dream at all. Don't do things half way. I think the Spine Race is a good example. We often think of why we shouldn't do things. Say yes to things and then figure out how you're going to make it happen.”

Dumais ran most of the race with John Stocker (GBR). “We bounced off each other with the highs and lows,” he said.

“I trained for this race by running 15 miles a day on a treadmill with my full kit on. All of that was irrelevant once I was out on the Pennine Way though. The race is all about what's in your head.”

Germany's Gabriele Kenkenberg placed third in the women's race after overtaking her compatriot Yvonne Lehnert on the last day. A record five ladies reached Kirk Yetholm this year.

Despite the blisters, Spiners were in fine spirits at the end, as a party atmosphere pervaded Kirk Yetholm's Border Hotel, the traditional end-point of the Pennine Way.

The weather, though often well below freezing at night, was relatively kind to the final Spiners, as it has been all race bar the first day, which started in more traditional Pennines winter weather, heavy rain, strong wind and with snow on the ground.

The relatively mild weather brought new challenges however as well-fed bogs and consistently wet terrain meant greater potential for foot problems and several Spiners finished with the use of antibiotics and feet that looked like they belonged in WWI trenches.

The 2017 MONTANE® Spine® Race had 50 retirements and 63 finishers.