Spine Poetry - A Collection of Verses for the Family on the Way

There are lots of times where you question your will and things feel like they are going wrong when doing the Spine Race. It's just so damn long. You end up lowering yourself into the hurt locker and accepting the discomfort from then on, but it's so hard to get to the that point, and for me, it happens quite early.  I hate this race. I love this race. __________________________________________ Too Many Devils That time, that place Where this can be no other race Enough has been endured so far The surface, barely scratched   This is the Spine alright Somewhere on that second night Halfway, marathons distant Yetholm a world away   Miles done in the dozens Yet the maths says this is early  The legs would beg to differ The mind especially so   It’s the perfect time for quitting Aches turning into fear With too many devils advocating Anywhere’s better than here   It’s a dangerous time Niggles nurturing the doubts How can I be moving north Wh...

This poem is dedicated to the magnificent Spine family of volunteers and race organisers. I wrote this after an amazing volunteer saw how shattered I was (having been awake herself for umpteen hours) and just dived in and took off my shoes and socks as I stared into the middle distance...to her, and to you all my profound thanks. ____________________________________ Double Knot 20 hours in and your eyes start to go But none of them know, how could they? They’ve been busy out there, getting to know themselves Their trances interrupted by your devotion Nothing is too much, you say Imploring them to understand that their race is your race too   Such nice heroes, they don’t like to ask Their manners won’t comfortably task you So we get straight in, we take a knee Fingers through the mud and shit Into that double knot and peel off the socks With that, they get the picture   They get that we are relentless, Tailwinds with hands and feet Toiling so you’ll sleep and eat...