This really is an ultra roundup… but first, we’ll have to rewind back to last Sunday morning at 8am, where our Jenny Yeo headed out from Edale in Derbyshire for the start of the Montane Spine Race. 286 (two hundred and sixty eight) miles later, she arrived at Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. And arrive she did… as the female winner! Rather than try to do any of this justice, we’ve obtained an exclusive interview with Jenny for you:

“Enough sleep has been banked to say something about this now although to be fair I’m still not sure what to make of it all really.

So first thing- how far was it? Obviously really really far but if you want specifics then the pennine way is 268 miles, although the gpx said 259 and my watch recorded 270 odd as it over records in the battery saving mode (this proved to be really annoying). The longest thing I’d ever attempted by quite some way. It took both ages and no time at all but more specifically 101 hours or so bringing me in 1st woman and 6th overall.

Turns out I can go a fair way on very little sleep (3 hours or so in the whole race) without the wheels falling off and I guess that’s something you are able to do or not, although kids and night shifts have probably helped train that one. No real hallucinations other than heading in to Middleton after being up 48 hours and nothing that dramatic to report. Few rocks that were cows, people that were trees etc

I had no definite expectations of time or placing promising myself there’d be no racing early doors or doing anything daft that would compromise my ability to keep going to the end. Despite being obviously tired and latterly with bloody sore feet I felt I was able to keep moving well and very pleased to find I could run better in day 3 compared to day 2 – go figure

The spine is a place where time is fairly meaningless for food- curry for breakfast (double portions), lasagne at midnight (triple portions) Fanta at 3am, haribo and babybels anytime. Thankfully the checkpoints were cracking and really look after you including an information board which reminds you of the day and some fantastic volunteers who couldn’t do enough for you. ‘You need superglue? No problem.’ ‘You’ve broken your watch strap? We can fix that’ Checkpoints also contained people who could do amazing things with feet which I needed from 100 miles in. Simultaneously they also made this rather bonkers endeavour feel both normal and pretty epic- thank you to everyone

Then there was the animals- loads of cows and sheep obviously but also some fairly feisty geese families that weren’t keen on me, rain bathing frogs that jumped at your legs and a gorgeous tawny owl heading out of Bellingham.

And of course it’s the people you meet on the way who really make these things what they are. The fantastic Laura Swanton Rouvelin who I ran so many enjoyable miles with, Phil Harris who seemed to find another gear up crossfell , Rob who wanted to sleep on a moor somewhere but was finally persuaded a bothy might a) be more comfortable b) he might not die. Helen and Andrew that got out their beds at 0230 to wave me through byrness- meant a lot guys, thank you. The post box pantry in dufton who stayed open for us and the wonderful woman who runs the oasis that is horneystead farm.

High point was heading out of hardraw up great shunner fell having sorted myself out at the checkpoint and feeling pretty good, like I could finish this in fact, whereas 5 miles previously I couldn’t imagine going another 160 miles. There were a few low points too for sure, especially along Hadrian’s wall, in the heat, sore feet, on my own. A power sob can do wonders it turns out.

Physically afterwards I’m still pretty tired although can now get through until lunchtime without a nanna nap. Otherwise knees up are not bad at all, knees down another matter. Oozy feet and calves so swollen they are bigger than my thighs. No shoe I own fits so the ‘family crocs’ 3 sizes too big are the order of the day.

You might ask why and I’m not sure really I have an answer other than it’s enormously liberating and pleasingly selfish to free yourself from societal norms for a week and do something that is ultimately just time for you. And you get to run an amazing route with fantastic scenery and say you did it on your own 2 (now rather minging) feet.

I can’t finish without thanking Peter (even though he hates this kind of thing) who’s put up with me wittering on about this event for ages and helped me recce loads of it, and Mark, Claire and Paul who came up to see me finish – thanks guys.“

Absolutely incredible. There are no other words.

Adding to this Ultra update – Marc Runkee took on the Trail Outlaws St Cuthbert’s Way 100k, from Melrose to Holy Island on Friday night and into Saturday morning… Securing another exclusive for the DVRC website, we got this from Adele Sinclair:

“Marc did the St. Cuthbert’s Way 100k (well 65 miles) He set off at 10:30pm from Melrose in the Scottish borders to head straight over the Eldon hills (part of the Jedburgh 3 peaks race). He had a great race through the night hours, holding 2nd or 3rd place for many hours. Unfortunately, the next morning painful stomach issues and the heat almost put an end to his race. Thankfully, he pushed on with determination* and and having lost lots of places he managed to pass quite a few again to finish 21st out of 72 starters of which 25 DNF’d-due to really tough hot conditions! He was told by Trail Outlaws that he was the first person to actually follow the real SCW path and trudge over the marshes onto Holly Island , rather than the usual causeway road route – genius!”

*this Determination was brought on, by the way, by Mark Marchant telling him to “pull his socks up and stop being a winging little b*tch “ well, thats how he remembers it…

351 miles between the two of them. In two races. Three hundred and fifty one. Never let anyone tell you you can’t do something. The human body is an amazing thing.

A bit closer to home, with the ParkRun updates – we had plenty of DVRC volunteers at our home course of Chopwell Wood – with Beth and Grant Ramsden, Kirsty and Tony Robson, Alan Vicarage, as well as Chris Morris timekeeping last weekend. We had runners tackling the courses of Blyth Links with Bex Hewitson volunteering for pacing duties (and the quickest pacer on the day, doing 21 minutes), as well as Prudhoe Riverside, Tyne Green and Chopwell Wood.

Sunday saw a big group head to the trails of Chopwell for a gorgeous morning run in the sun.