The Why
“I reached the top of this peak, and a lightning storm happened. I looked back and saw every other racer stop and look up. It was a spiritual moment. You could feel the scale of the universe." - Anna Paxton
You are an explorer.
There's no reason to deny it. The urge to explore, to seek adventure, is in your DNA. Embedded into your nervous system.
When you're in a thrill-seeking situation, there's risk. This risk can be real or perceived.
Either way, your brain releases adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine to protect your body.
As this response intensifies, your body receives more testosterone, giving you more strength.
Your heart starts to beat faster, flushing your brain and muscles with oxygen. You become fixated on the task at hand. You enter a flow state, and you're off.
This feeling is amazing. It's wonderful. It's nothing short of pure bliss. But when was the last time you experienced it? When was the last time had a proper adventure?
As a kid, it was as close as your backyard. You walked out your door and into a different realm. As an adult, you have to work a bit harder, though.
"You're not going to experience something like that unless you put yourself out there," says Anna Paxton. "You can't demand that someone gives you that experience."
Anna is a trail runner, writer, and producer from Sheffield, England. Sheffield is a great place to live if you're an adventurer like Anna. It's the only city in the UK that has a national park.
And it's an easy 49-minute car ride to the start of the Montane Spine. The Montane Spine hosts some of the toughest endurance races in the world.
Montane’s flagship adventure is their Summer and Winter Race along Britain's most challenging trail, the Pennine Way.
Known as the backbone of England, the Pennine Way stretches 268 miles across England's northern uplands. It starts in the Peak District National Park and ends on the Scottish Borders of Kirk Yetholm.
The course is hilly and remote. Hikers experience a combined ascent greater than that of Mt. Everest.
Much of the route is exposed moorland, making navigation difficult. Certain parts of the race have limited shelter. So, there's no respite from the elements.
"You're facing extreme conditions. You're carrying everything you need to survive with you. This is not a race for beginners," cautions Anna. "There's a limited amount of daylight. The whole race is pretty much in the dark."
Adventurers can attempt the full length of the Pennine Way, or they can take on the Sprint version.
The Sprint might be shorter, but it’s not easy. Athletes have 18 hours to run 46 miles along the most challenging and technical section of the Pennine Way.
There are only eight hours of daylight, and night-time temperatures reach 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The level of self-sufficiency required to complete this race sets the Montane Spine apart from other events.
"In 2022, I finished 16th overall and second in my division. At one point, we had thunder snow," laughs Anna. "It was already snowing. You had snow in your headlamp. And then I reached the top of this peak, and a lightning storm happened. I looked back and saw every other racer stop and look up. It was a spiritual moment. You could feel the scale of the universe."
The Community
When you're tackling races that can last days, brute strength isn't going to cut it. At these distances, you're never working at max capacity.
Oxygen efficiency and mental toughness become paramount. As it were, these are two areas women excel at when it comes to running long distances.
RunRepeat found that the gap between men and women shrinks as the distance increases. When you start creeping toward the 200-mile mark, women are faster.
And the results support the findings. In January 2019, British ultra-runner Jasmin Paris became the first woman to win the 268-mile Montane Spine Race. Paris demolished the course record by 12 hours.
Courtney Deawalter is making headlines every other week. She is the first athlete to win the Western States 100, the Hardrock 100, and the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in the same year.
Seeing greater representation of women in the ultra-running community is at the heart of why Anna continues to run and write.
"The reason I started writing about adventure was because I didn't see any women," explains Anna. "I'd go on guided runs in the Peaks and noticed that most of my fellow runners were women. We started training and doing races together. It showed me that highlighting women in this space is really important."
Training
In the middle of England sits the Peak District National Park. More playground than park, the Peak District is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. It is also the perfect training ground for athletes like Anna. With over 100 peaks to tackle, it's an ideal environment for a trail runner.
Your environment matters
“When training for an ultra, you need to run in similar environments as the race,” explains Anna.
Focus = consistency
Time on feet is paramount. Anna’s longest training day was 30-miles. You’re never at max capacity during the Spine. You need consistency.
When you’re hiking, it’s best practice to carry a pack with a weight equal to what you’ll carry on race day.
Variety is the spice of life
Now that Anna has a coach, she’s focusing on variety.
“We focus on more frequent smaller runs with variations in zones.”
Here’s a complete guide to heart rate training zones.
Pro tip
Incorporate hiking into your training regime. You’ll rack up the miles without beating your body down.
The Food
When chasing big goals, you need to dial in the small things. Having a solid nutritional foundation is critical. Gut issues are the most common reason for "did not finish" (DNFs) in ultra-races. Staying fueled during ultras is a balance of calories, sodium, and fluids.
Food choices
Anna prefers to get her calories from real food.
Some of her favorite items include bananas, bagels, flapjacks, and cake.
Eating schedule
Anna will eat every 45 minutes when she’s racing.
This strict eating schedule ensures she can maintain concentration over long stretches while operating at a caloric deficit.
Race day nutrition
On race day, Anna recommends bringing more food than you had during your training.
"I had to bring at least 3,000 calories for the Montane Sprint. And at least 1,500 of those calories had to come from ready-to-eat foods,” says Anna.
The Gear
The Montane Spine is a point-to-point ultra. It covers some of the Pennine Way's most demanding terrain. As such, racers should have previous ultra-experience and baseline knowledge of survival skills.
Required gear
Athletes in the Spine Race must adhere to a struct gear list.
Some required items include a backpack, a sleeping bag rated to zero degrees, a baseplate magnetic compass, and a robust medical kit.
You can find the full Montane Spine Sprint gear list here.
Understanding your gear
Take time to understand why each piece of gear is in your bag. It’s there for a reason.
You should also know where each item is located.
Delays in finding can lead to a dangerous situation if you’re stopped for too long.
The Advice
Anna on suffering:
"Some people see these races as suffering. But I don't. These races are sources of inspiration. The people I race with are so mentally strong and determined. - @anna_paxton_
My $0.02
Everyone perceives risk differently. For some, scaling a mountain is a typical Tuesday. For others, climbing a ladder is a pass.
So, it's easy to dismiss challenges like the Montane Spine as insane or stupid.
Those events may be too far outside your comfort zone. That's fine. But why not consider working toward something a bit closer?
Look for something that's one step beyond the edges of your capacity. Once you complete it, you've set a new boundary.
Don't avoid life's adventures. To remain comfortable is in direct opposition to your nature. Because you are meant to move.
So, seek adventure. Pursue your horizon. Use your fitness.