10 Spine Race Questions with Damian Hall & Jack Scott

The 2023 Spine Race was one of the most closely fought in the 11-year history of the savage ultramarathon event. Dubbed ‘Britain’s Most Brutal Race’ it once again lived up to expectation with just 81 of the 158 starters making it to the finish line. Upon reaching Kirk Yetholm, all had amazing stories to tell for their epic winter adventure up the 268-mile Pennine Way.

At the front end, INOV8 athletes Damian Hall and Jack Scott battled it out over three-and-half days before Damian eventually prevailed in a new men’s course record time (84hrs 36mins). Damian and Jack finished side-by-side, with Jack having 41 minutes added to his finish time following an earlier navigation error that led to him taking an accidental shortcut.

We fired 10 quick questions at both Damian and Jack, including the one we’ve all been asking…. Who would have won had it come down to a sprint finish? Read on.

Damian Hall

1. Describe your experience in one sentence?

Ace in the hole

2. Was it as ‘brutal’ as it’s dubbed?

Not so much this time, to be fair. Though it was certainly cold, it made the terrain faster. The weather was very kind overall.

3. What was your favourite moment?

The summit of Cross Fell in eerie pink-peach light at dawn and spotting that whippersnapper ahead in The Cheviots.

4. What was your lowest moment?

Knowing on the third night that I needed a decent sleep but by doing so I was almost certainly handing over the race lead to Jack. it looks sensible now but felt like a gamble at the time.

5. Was there something you learnt about yourself?

I can keep it together when it counts.

6. Is there anything you would have done differently?

Allowed more time to sleep at Middleton-in-Teesdale (check point three)

7. Any hallucinations on the trail?

On the Thursday night, when I was at my most sleep deprived, a hiker passed me on the trail as I was ‘running.’

8. Will you do it again next year?

Damian: I’m trying to allow some space between the event and the decision so it's a less emotional one... but currently ‘very keen.’

9. What key advice would you give to anyone tackling the race?

Find out a shoe and sock combo that works for you. And believe it's possible.

10. And finally, the big one, who would have won had it come down to a sprint finish?

In normal circumstances, Jack. On that day, maybe me.

Jack Scott

1. Describe your experience in one sentence?

Satisfying and memorable.

2. Was it as ‘brutal’ as it’s dubbed?

It wasn't, until we hit The Cheviots. Then it was incredibly difficult.

3. What was your favourite moment?

Making a race decision via a Facetime call with my wife at Bellingham. The body understood what it had to do.

4. What was your lowest moment?

Sleep monsters on High Cup Nick and Hadrian’s Wall.

5. Was there something you learnt about yourself?

I can stay awake.

6. Is there anything you would have done differently?

Not made a big nav error on Cross Fell. It was lazy and silly.

7. Any hallucinations on the trail?

Every river played a song or sounded like a radio show. The frozen ice sheets/puddles all had faces with dancing animals in. T'was cool. Dropping into Byrness I was running with an Alsatian dog who was whipping up some strange snow tornado.

8. Will you do it again next year?

Not next year.

9. What key advice would you give to anyone tackling the race?

Don't overthink it, move efficiently and don't look past the next checkpoint.

10. And finally, the big one, who would have won had it come down to a sprint finish?

I'm faster but this man knows his distances, he would have won…