Tulsk man wins gruelling 268 mile race
The Tulsk man completed the brutal course in three days. Credit: Montane Spine Race Facebook Page.
A Tulsk man has won one of the world’s most iconic endurance races, the Montane Spine Race, in just over three days.
Well known local elite athlete, Ed Payne won the 268 mile race along the length of England’s mountainous Pennine Way on Wednesday. The dairy farmer won the challenging course in an incredible 82 hours, 28 minutes, and 7 seconds, more than nine hours ahead of the nearest competitor.
Waiting at the finish line was Ed’s family, his sons Ben and Aaron, and wife Jennifer, who are his biggest supporters. Speaking to the Herald this morning, Ed said crossing the finish line with his two sons was a particularly moving moment.
“The two boys have really become drivers for me,” he said. “They are a big part of why I do what I do.”
Ed, who came first in the 'Race Across Wales' and second in the 'Race Across Scotland' last year, added that the Spine Race was his most difficult to date.
His remarkable achievement is made even more impressive by the fact that Ed returned to the brutal course after unfortunately not finishing it last year.
“As a farmer, Ed is no stranger to battling thick mud and deep bogs, and those everyday skills certainly paid off out on the Pennine Way,” the organisers said. “He showed absolute mastery, resilience, and pure grit over every single mile to claim the ultimate title.”
