Robert, 58, hadn’t set out to become an ultrarunner. Recovering from a knee replacement in 2022, his original goal was simply to walk 10,000 steps a day. But inspired by watching James tackle big challenges like the Bob Graham Round and the Paddy Buckley, his ambition grew. When James initially registered for the Full Winter Spine Race, and Robert signed up for the Challenger South, fate stepped in. 

Read on to find out about this inspired adventure, and the challenges the father, son duo faced along the way.

Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how you each got into ultrarunning?  

RN: I’m 58 years old, and I’ve always loved the hills and mountains but because I had a full time job and a small farm to work, I hadn't done a lot of walking for years! I had a knee replacement in 2022 and the consequent rehab led me to believe that my active life was not over. I set off with the aim of 10,000 steps a day and a subtle change in lifestyle in an attempt to lose weight and get healthier.  

I had been involved as back up in James Bob Graham and Paddy Buckley attempts and I have followed him throughout all of his various races. I was really inspired by the camaraderie within the running  community. As my fitness improved way beyond what my head had previously thought possible I started to think that I would look to see if there was a challenge that I might be able to take on – that's where it all started for me. 

JN: For me it started back in 2018 / 2019 with the Bob Graham Round. I’d supported a friend previously on his, and from that moment on, I knew that this was the sport for me. It provides an opportunity to push beyond the limits that you ever thought were possible, and to do so with a brilliant group of people.  

Was the Spine Race Challenger South your first big race together? If not, what others have you done side-by-side? 

RN: This was our first race together. It was my first official race! 

JN: Yep, this was our first event together – the first one ever for Dad – and who knows whether we will get the chance to do something like this again. It was just a case of right place, right time!  

What made you decide to take on this challenge together? 

RN: Doing the race together was mainly down to fate. I signed up for the Challenger South race and James for the Full Spine.  

James started the full Spine in 2024 reaching Hawes in just over 24 hours and I joked that my stretch challenge would be to get to Hawes before him with the 24 hour earlier start. 

James’s training did not go to plan and he asked whether I would mind if he joined me on the Challenger South which although changing the experience that I was mentally preparing for was too good an opportunity to miss. 

JN: I initially had my name down for the Full Spine, however a poor year of training and a lot of life stuff happening, meant that I would have struggled to be in the shape I needed in order to be competitive. Dad already had his name down for the Spine Challenger South at this point, and so I made the call to move from the Full Spine to the Challenger South, but my intention was still to race it. As time passed by, the idea of accompanying Dad grew legs, and before we knew it, we were on the start line together.   

What were the toughest moments on the trail, and how did you support each other through them? 

RN: There were a couple of low points for me which were mainly attributable to drops in energy when I was struggling to get the food in. These both came at either end of daylight on the second day. James encouraged my eating - The sweet tea served up at Malham Tarn House on Sunday evening to wash down a couple of what had previously been unpalatable humus, avocado and peanut butter wraps really fuelled me back up and got me back on track. 

JN: On the whole, this was an event without too many hiccups and hard times. Sleep was the main challenge for me, especially on the second night, but Dad is very used to having little sleep due to the farm, and so having him plodding on next to me definitely made it easier getting to dawn!  

Was there a point where one of you considered stopping—and what kept you going? 

RN: So long as my body held up stopping was never on my agenda even if it took me the full 60 hours. James’s mindset is very similar. I suppose that there was a small additional driver in not wanting to let him down too. 

JN: We’re both pretty similar in the determination department, so stopping wasn’t ever really on the cards. The only thing we’d agreed is that we’d consider it if one of us picked up a severe injury, but the other was still going to carry on. There were a lot of unknowns in this race given that Dad had never really gone much beyond 35 miles before, and we were conscious of this from the off. His body held up though, thanks to the training he’d put in, which made it possible to push through to the end!  

How did your dynamic as father and son play out during the race—were there any role reversals? 

RN: You can't beat experience and obviously James had been in these situations before so I readily accepted any advice that he felt he needed to give me. I think that the father and son dynamic was put on hold for 48 hours  and we just met the challenge together head on. 

JN: Ha, there might have been odd occasion when I was sharing a bit of advice, but unlike a teenager taking advice from a parent, I think he might have listened a bit! 

What surprised you most about each other during the race? 

RN: There were no surprises. 

JN: Nothing really. I knew that he could do it so long as his body held up. And it did just that!  

What did this race teach you about each other that you didn’t know before?  

RN: I don’t think that we learned anything new about each other but it was amazing for me to be able to share the experience with James. 

JN: We’re similar in a lot of ways when it comes to mindset. Once we put our mind to something, we’d do it come hell or highwater. And the Challenger South was just that. Dad signed up in the spring time, and since that point onwards, it was all he spoke about, almost.  

What role has your relationship played in your approach to endurance challenges—mentally and physically? 

RN: Had James not got in to this world then I think it highly unlikely that it is something that I would have done. His involvement gave me an insight and a taste for taking on a challenge like this and I tapped in to his experience for both my training and mental preparation for the race which all proved invaluable. 

JN: For the last 10 years, I’d lived over 150 miles away from my folks, so we hadn’t actually spent much time together during that period. So the Spine was a really rare and invaluable opportunity to do something epic together. 

Was there a particular piece of kit that became a game-changer during the race—for either of you? 

RN: Having not used the modern weatherproof clothing I could not get over how lightweight, comfortable and breathable the Montane clothing was. I do tend to overheat when working so the fact that the Montane waterproof jacket (which I wore for most of the race) helped me to maintain a fairly constant temperature was a real plus for me.  

JN: I was mega impressed by the Torren jacket. Unlike Gore-tex, the Torren is made of Petrichor, which among other things, means that it doesn’t make a sound when you move in it. This was a bit unnerving at first as that rustling of Gore-tex had become synonymous with “waterproof-ness” in my head. This is however an awesome jacket – really breathable, windproof, and – when buying true to size – has just enough room for base and mid layers. Highly recommend.  

If you could gift one piece of Montane gear to each other this Father’s Day, what would it be and why? 

RN: What do you give to the guy that has everything Montane? 

JN: Do you know what, I’d go for the Montane Gecko WP 1L waistbelt. Montane sent me one of these last summer to test out, and to be truthful, it isnt something that i would have ever considered getting. Only 1 litre capacity, what’s the point in that?! But, I literally use this waistbelt every single day. The 1L name does it a disservice. There is plenty room in this to stow a coat, food, head torch, phone, and keys. Think Hermione’s bag from the Deathly Hallows.  

What’s next—another challenge on the horizon? Will you race together again? 

RN: I am on the waiting list for the Spine Challenger North next January so hopefully will make that one. We have nothing planned together at the moment but if we can keep fit and well in to the future then I’m sure the opportunity will arise again some day. 

JN: Right now, I’ve not got anything else on the cards. We’re about to have another baby and that – alongside everything else in life – is enough for now. Dad however is just getting going, Tractor Boy will be back to a Spine event near you in 2026!  

Any advice for other fathers and sons thinking about taking on an endurance challenge together? 

RN: It was an amazing life experience that we shared, something I would recommend to any father/mother and their son or daughter. If the opportunity arises then go for it! 

JN: If you’ve got the opportunity to do it, do it. I would absolutely love to do something like this with my daughter when she’s able to, and I hope that she’d want to do it with me!  

If you're inspired by Robert & James' story, discover our Father's Day Gift Edit for dads who never take the easy trail!