Border Search and Rescue volunteers take on one of Britain's most brutal races to raise money for life-saving charity
'There's a lot of pain involved...'
Last updated 14th Jan 2024
Now, if you thought you struggled with Monday mornings, spare a thought for Ian Stark and his colleagues from Border Search and Rescue Unit.
Four of the team are embarking on a 160-mile race along the northern half of the Pennine Way to raise money for the life-saving charity.
The mountain rescue challenge is part of the Montane Spine series, and will see the volunteers compete against members of other mountain rescue teams to reach the finish line, at the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm.
The team - who lost a fifth member to injury just a fortnight before the start - have helped rescue competitors from the gruelling course in previous years.
"Everybody suffers on the Spine," Ian told Greatest Hits Radio. "There's a lot of pain involved - your feet are sore, blisters are always a problem; you're tired and hungry."
But, he added: "You just have to have that determination to keep putting one foot in front of the other to get to the end."
Beginning from Hardraw in North Yorkshire at 8am (January 15th), competitors in the MRT Challenge North have a limit of 108 hours - less than five days - to get to the finish line in the Scottish Borders.
Billed as one of Britain's most brutal races, the non-stop event covers some of the country's toughest terrain, including the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall and the Cheviots.
READ MORE: Borderers warned to prepare for blast of winter
Ian said: "The toughest part for me will be the long nights, at a time when your body's at a naturally low ebb.
"We're doing it to raise money for Border Search and Rescue Unit. We've just moved into a new base (in Kelso); we just need to try to fundraise to put some finishing touches and furnishings in there, to make it a bit more comfortable."
Meanwhile, the complete opposite of comfortable...
The winter Spine Race, which takes in the full length of the Pennine Way, is well underway - with over 170 competitors setting off on the 268-mile route, from Edale in Derbyshire, at 8am on Sunday.
The first runners are expected to arrive in Kirk Yetholm sometime on Wednesday.
You can track the progress of all the runners here - https://live.opentracking.co.uk/spinerace24/
To support the Border Search and Rescue Unit, click here to reach their donate page