Further. Faster. Podcast

To kick off the new year, we're taking a look at the Montane Spine Race, a 268 mile, 7 day, winter ultra. Starting in Edale the race follows the Pennine Way through the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, and into the Northumberland National Park over the Cheviots, finishing in Kirk Yetholm on the Scottish Border.
To start, we hear from Montane athlete Debbie Martin-Consani, who came first in the women's field, moments after she crossed the finish line. Host, Daniel Nielson chats with Montane ambassador and running coach Howard Dracup, who this year took part in the Spine Challenger North Race and took an impressive third overall. Howard tells us about the nitty-gritty of the race and how he tackled his training. And finally, we caught up with Eoin Keith, the overall winner, at the finish line.

Welcome to episode 8 of Further Faster, in association with Montane. This is the podcast that invites ultra athletes, mountaineers and explorers to understand how, and why, they do what they do.
In this episode, presenter Daniel Neilson talks to the remarkable expedition runner and fastpacking athlete Jenny Tough (yes that's her real name!) We say expedition runner, but it’s hard to really know how to define 30-year-old Canadian, now living in Scotland. She’s a runner, of course, but these days not racing so much. It is perhaps best to define her through her remarkable feats of endurance. Fastpacking across the mountains of Kyrgyzstan for three weeks, solo and unsupported. And most recently across the Bolivian Andes.
Jenny talks about how she overcomes the physical and psychological strains of running for so long on her own. We talk about her training, and recovery, and also about the people she meets who make the mountains their home. There’s also some knitting chat. Jenny is great company. Listen in.

Joanne Backshall and Steve Tonkin are the programme manager and digital lead for Fix the Fells. For 20 years, this organisation has made an astonishing impact helping to offset visitors’ impact on the Lake District fells. Just have a glance at the before and after photos on fixthefells.co.uk for the frankly jaw-dropping changes that have been made by this inspiring team.

Over the years, more than £10 million worth of donations have been made to help support this cause. This year, Montane are also donating money to Fix The Fells on Black Friday – instead embracing Green Friday. In addition to this, we also are matching funding people who raise funds for Fix The Fells when running the George Fisher Tea Round. If you’ve not heard of the tea round, google it - you'll want to give it a try!

In this podcast they share the history of Fix the Fells, where it all began and what it’s all about. But most importantly they discuss what we can all do to help stop erosion, so we can maintain the biodiversity of the Lake District’s landscapes for future generations. Listen in.

Welcome to the Further. Faster. Podcast, in association with Montane, the podcast that asks ultra athletes, mountaineers and adventurers the why and the how. In this second episode, presenter Daniel Neilson talks to British Alpinist Malcolm Bass. Malcolm discusses how he started his climbing career, his caving roots in North Yorkshire, how he manages to combine his passion with his full-time job as a Clinical Psychologist as well as how that helps him choose the ideal climbing partner, with Malcolm discussing his next Himalayan project and why he’s got the perfect personality to take on these dangerous peaks. Listen in and get inspired.

In this episode, we speak to Jenny Graham and Calum Maclean about their challenge, which wasn't the furthest, nor the fastest, but the straightest.

A few years ago, Ordnance Survey found the longest straight line in Britain that didn't cross any paved roads. The line crosses the Cairngorms, and over four days Jenny and Calum walked that line, crossing whatever they came up against.

On hand were Matt and Ellie Green from Summit Fever Media to record the trip. The result is The Longest Line, a short film about their exploits.
The film will be available to watch as a live premiere on December 28th at 7 p.m. via our Facebook channel and will also be available on YouTube until midnight, December 29th.