LOCAL endurance athlete Seán Nickell boasts the rare accolade of completing both the summer and winter editions of the gruelling Montane Spine Race.
The North Down Athletic Club member recently tackled the brutal 268-mile (431km) non-stop event along the most demanding national trail in the United Kingdom, the Pennine Way.
In a dazzling feat of physical resilience and mental endurance Seán completed the race over six days – in 145 hours 47 minutes and 30 seconds.
Throughout the race Seán ran along tough terrain covering Cumbria, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall and the Cheviots – a journey that takes most experienced hikers three to four weeks.
This intrepid athlete was 46th overall, the 38th male and the first Irish finisher, and now has the rare distinction of completing both the summer and winter race challenges.
Seán’s achievement is even more remarkable given that 152 runners started the race and over the course of the week 65 endurance athletes were forced to retire.
The athletes have no support crew and must carry all their running kit, including all the essential winter safety and shelter gear for the duration of the event, collecting drop bags and getting hot food and drink from five checkpoints along the course.
The Winter Spine Race is known for its tough winter weather conditions, and this year’s edition was no exception. The race set off in the wake of Storm Goretti, which brought freezing temperatures, snow, and gale-force winds across the country.
Rising temperatures over the following days did little to improve conditions for the runners, with melting snow turning to slush and ice, creating unstable terrain and treacherous ice sheets.
The conditions led to plenty of DNFs as the snow, ice, and cold got the better of experienced and well equipped runners.
As other runners, including some of the pre-race favourites, dropped out through injury and exhaustion Seán managed his race carefully, taking care of his nutrition and hydration needs, looking after his feet and his kit and grabbing short sleeps in aid stations.
The long winter nights meant that unlike his previous successful Summer Spine Race in June 2024, much of this race was completed in darkness.
Seán has recalled how the race field spread out quickly from the start and outside aid stations he didn’t see any other competitors for two days, making the challenge of the race almost as emotionally demanding as it was physically demanding.
He said that one of the most special moments of his race, a rare bonus of the darkness and isolation, was coming off Hadrian’s Wall under a perfectly clear night sky with the most incredible canopy of stars.
Keen to support their fellow athlete, North Down members, families and friends all seemed to have the race tracker tab open on their phones and computers throughout the race.
They followed dot number 209 as Seán relentlessly made his way north from Derbyshire through the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, along Hadrian’s Wall and through the Cheviots until he crossed the finish line outside a hotel in a small borders village.
