Spine racers cover 268 miles in snow and ice to reach Scotland

He completed the race for the first time at the fourth attempt and was able to savour his victory in the closing stages.

“It felt like I was kind of floating on a cloud for probably the last two hours not a couple of miles,” he said.

“It was just all smiles – four years of delayed gratification all coming out in that one moment.

“Running into the crowds and seeing the wall was particularly special.”

The women’s race was won by Lucy Gossage in a time of 87 hours, 41minutes and 38 seconds – she had to draw in and overtake early leader Robyn Cassidy.

“When I caught Robyn I knew I had her, we were both running my race,” she said.

It was an improvement from her third place finish in the same event last year.