It’s Tori this week taking on the baton from Sam’s guest editor role last week and letting Bronwyn take a backseat on all things CARC.
I think we can all agree that the big news this week is Greg’s completion of the Montane Winter Spine – a gruelling 268 mile race along the Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. Described as Britain’s most brutal endurance race with over 10,500 metres of climbing and a strict cut off of 168 hours to complete it (8am Sunday January 11th to 8am Sunday January 18th). Many of us have been dot-watching on the live tracker and posting notes of support to Greg. I’ve been sitting in my warm house wondering how the heck he can keep going in such tough weather and terrain for seven days. And this only 7 months since Greg completed the summer version of the event in June 2025. I don’t know how many people have ‘done the double’ in a year – it must be a very elite group? Last summer he finished with only 55 minutes to spare (partly from gallantly slowing down over the last mile to support a fellow competitor) this time he had over 5 hours to spare. We look forward to hearing Greg’s account of the race. A huge shout out should go to Emma as Greg’s chief supporter – I reckon that’s a pretty tough role especially the pesky delay on the tracker when there must be heart in mouth moments not knowing if Greg’s on track or headed off to talk to some trees! If anyone want’s a sense of just how brutal the winter conditions were go to YouTube and search for The Spine Race (@SpineRace)
With Ludlow Parkrun cancelled as Forestry England are still working to clear the fallen trees from Storm Goretti, Crofties spread their wings with runners at Queenswood, Hereford, Meon Valley Trail and Groe. The Groe event was a special one with Evan and mum Bronwyn watching dad Eric and grandparents Roland and Ali run. Reckon it won’t be long before he’ll be joining in. Angus was very pleased to go under 29 minutes at Meon Valley Trail
Sam Juson ran the Speedway 10km a ‘race for racers, no fluff, flat and fast course’ organised by Chepstow Harriers. The official results aren’t out yet but Sam ran just over 31 minutes shaving a massive 1 minute of his PB.
