Not entirely Spine Race related, but the post does concern Ultras and some Spine competitors. So, not long back from a week in Gran Canaria which coincided with the Transgrancanaria series of Ultra events. In fact the original reason for booking to go to GC was to enter the Transgrancanaria 'Maraton', but dodgy knee (and lack of adequate training) put paid to that one.
I did though go down to Maspalomas to see some of the finishers in the Maraton, and there were also competitors finishing the 360 race. Now this 360 race is over 264km with 13,265m of ascent and in second place was Eugeni Roselle Sole (a regular Spine competitor and previous winner) with a time of 53 hours. Pavel Paloncy was a DNF.
Damian Hall (Spine runner and past podium finisher) was in the 128km event (7,500m of ascent), as was Janson Heath, a name I recognise from years ago on oe of the walking forums that were around then (might have been this one) - finishing times of 15 hours and 19 hours respectively.
The 360 winner, Luca Papi from Italy, finished in 50 hours and after finishing went to pick up his Bib No. for the 128km race
He took his time with this one finishing in 27 hours
As a matter of interest, when reading through the publicity blurb abut the events and named runners, the Spine Race gets a mention as one of the hardest Ultras around.
Pics from the finish line in Maspalomas on February 22nd - bit different to Kirk Yetholm on a cold and wet January night.