Former triathlon star stuns ultrarunning world by winning ‘Britain’s most brutal race’

NHS oncologist and former pro triathlete Lucy Gossage has claimed a remarkable victory in the Montane Winter Spine Race, a 268-mile ultrarun which is known as ‘Britain’s most brutal’ and one of the toughest in the world.

A 12-time Ironman winner in her triathlon days, Gossage’s focus in recent years has been on both her work and co-founding and growing the 5K Your Way Cancer initiative and MOVE Against Cancer, which aims to ‘use physical activity and exercise to improve the lives of people with cancer’.

She took part in the Winter Spine Race for the first time last year and exceeded all expectations with third place in the women’s race.

However a shocking development during and afterwards – read more about that here – gave her the ‘why’ to return 12 months on.

This year the runners had to face snow and ice at the start – and then the threat of floods when it thawed – but Gossage took it all in her stride, smiling throughout as she not only won the women’s race but finished fourth overall.

It’s an incredible story – if you would like to donate then her JustGiving page is here – and read on to find out how her race panned out…

Following in Jasmin Paris’ footsteps

Even before the race started there was the feeling that something special was in the offing as many of the leading female contenders took part in a groundbreaking three-day recce.

And when the action ‘proper’ got underway at 8am on Sunday, recce companion Robyn Cassidy powered away from the women’s field and opened a lead of around 90 minutes.

Last year’s second and third, Hannah Rickman and Gossage, were her closest pursuers but the conditions would contribute to Rickman making an exit after 90 of the 268 miles, describing it as “A 100% brain-related DNF. Wasn’t hurt, wasn’t cold, wasn’t sick. My body was ready to go to Kirk Yetholm, but my brain wasn’t.”

Gossage though by now was cutting down the gap to Cassidy and the two would join forces on Tuesday morning as they headed towards Dufton.

Later that day was the point where Gossage started to move clear and she would never be threatened from then on – moving up to fifth overall and running alongside American ultrarunning star – and fellow former triathlete – John Kelly.

Kelly of course finished the infamous Barkley Marathons for a third time last year when Britain’s Jasmin Paris, the overall Winter Spine winner in 2019, became the first woman to ever complete ‘The Race That Eats Its Young’.

But what Gossage was doing was echoing Paris’ heroics and she took time out on Wednesday before the finish to record a video message for Sir Chris Hoy, which you can watch below.

An ultrarunning star is born

So onto the final miles and Gossage continued to run alongside Kelly, with the two of them making great progress towards Kirk Yetholm.

They reached the finish line shortly before midnight on Wednesday, Gossage stopping the clock at 87 hours and 41 minutes, with Cassidy now around five hours behind.

It was an incredible victory for any number of reasons but in purely sporting terms it will make the ultrarunning world – stronger than ever currently on the female side – sit up and take notice of Gossage.

Just under seven hours later Cassidy would cross the line in second place.

‘This woman is a HERO’

Pro triathlete Nikki Bartlett, fifth in the IRONMAN World Championships last year, has been looking after Gossage’s social channels during the race and afterwards she said: “You’re literally my hero in every sense. I know this will be the icing on the cake for you Goss. The Spine Part 2 was for you, for closure, to have the ending your way after your world came crashing down this time last year. 💔

“It’s been an absolute privilege literally living on my phone for 5 days, and taking over Goss’s social media.

“I can’t put into words how much this absolute gem of a person means to us.”