Straight into a conversation with Joe Barrs and Lucy Gossage about their Montane Spine races. This Part One largely covers Joe's Arctic Spine. Joe is a family friend who did the Arctic Spine race earlier this year and Lucy is a long time training partner of George and ex-professional triathlete.

The 290 mile Kungsleden trail is in the North West of Sweden which the Montane Spine Race tackles in February as a self-supported race. It is no small undertaking. Few attempt it, and even fewer complete it. As a child, one holiday, we wandered into the Arctic Circle in mid-Summer in search of Laps and Reindeer - it was cold, wet and misty, and we got lost. The idea of attempting the whole trail, alone, in February fills me with horror. The sun, at best, hangs low on the horizon and night time temperatures drop below -15C. Listen to how Joe got on!

As usual, no editing. This episode is long - I got carried-away.