Montane Arctic Spine Races 2024 | Ed Sellon, 1st Ever Finisher of the Arctic Spine Challenger

Ed Sellon has reached CP2 at Kvikkjokk and become the first person to finish the Montane Arctic Spine Challenger course, and under incredibly challenging conditions. It’s not enough to say that Ed’s race had a lot of twists and turns, but he has kept his head and kept moving no matter what has come his way.
Ed originally entered the full-length race with 2 other team members, but we long ago closed the rule book and started adapting to what was happening in front of us in this pioneering event. There was no hesitation from Race Director Phil Hayday-Brown in deciding to award Ed with an Arctic Spine Challenger finisher’s medal when he arrived at Kvikkjokk.
The learning curve in this event has been near vertical and Ed and his team suffered setbacks early on. Navigation issues blighted the opening hours of their race and the trio felt the pressure from that second forwards. In the blistering cold of the wild and remote northern section of the Kungsleden Trail, Ed made the exceptionally difficult choice to keep moving when his teammates couldn’t. The tenacity required to step out of that warm refuge hut alone and into a rising blizzard is colossal and was one of the turning points of Ed’s race.
Even then, the word from the course was that Ed was certain he wouldn’t go beyond CP1, that he’d feel immense pride at getting that far but didn’t feel he could go further. But he reached Stora Sjofallet Mountain Lodge in great condition; Sharp, lucid and physically fit. There was no arm-bending required from our team to motivate him to carry on, Ed had begun to believe.
Next came an unplanned stop as tiredness set in just a few kilometres along the road from that checkpoint. When he woke the next morning you’d be forgiven for thinking that he’d be tempted to ski the short distance back to the luxury of the mountain lodge, but the Ed who emerged from that tent was confident. He’d proven to himself that he could manage on his own. Now he really believed.
From that point, it was an exercise in endurance for Ed and a waiting game for us. Our roving team on the course was circling and protecting our athletes, and those of us on the road and at the checkpoint at Kvikkjokk were just waiting for our runners to reach us, not really doubting that they would. We believed in Ed too.
Massive congratulations to Ed from everyone at the Montane Spine Race. And Thank You. We’ve all been in this adventure together and it’s been an absolute pleasure.
Learn more about the Arctic Spine Race, and follow the 2024 event live here: bit.ly/ArcticS...

[@stef-rincon]

Well done Ed!! absolutely impressive!

[@jamessellon3736]

So proud of you bro.. Forever in your wake

[@davebrown1100]

Well done Ed, paving the way for us all to attempt to follow

[@dominicrowsell]

Congratulations Ed! Truly impressive. Did this bug catch you at the Mont Blanc 80km back in 2013?

[@amszephyr]

Congratulations, Ed - what an achievement! 🎉

[@user-wz8dn3fh1l]

Truly awesome. Also wins word of the day with pluckiness!

[@Rustyfox46]

Congratulations Ed 🎉

[@davidhume2883]

In Arduis Fidelis

[@davidberridge7675]

Well Done Ed, intrigued about the errors early on? Navigation was that the main difficulty?