Simon Roberts on his triumph at the Montane Cheviot Goat

December is a time to unwind, relax, and eat so much chocolate in front of the TV you feel sick. However, Welshman Simon Roberts thought he’d have another go at the Montane Cheviot Goat Winter Ultra, a feat he’s completed several times before. The Montane Cheviot Goat Winter Ultra is a 55-mile ultramarathon that takes racers through the last wilderness of England. Just below the Scottish Border in the Northumberland hills, runners will cross peat-covered hills and grassy banks along magnificent ridges. “It’s a really bleak place sometimes so it can be really depressing. But then, at the same time, it’s also stunning as well. It has really rough terrain; It’s famous for all the peat bogs. Generally, the whole ground is just a peat bog.” “The first time I got drawn to it; it was from Dragons back in 2019, and I just sat around eating food, and I was just hearing people talk about this race, the Cheviot Goat. I went for it in December of that same year and the bogs were extreme.” Since beginning his running journey ten years ago, Team Montane Athlete Simon has accomplished many excellent races, including the Lakeland50, Spine Challenger North, Race Across Snowdonia, Lakes Sky Ultra, Scafell Sky Race and Snowdon Skyrace. https://www.ultrarunnermagazine.co.uk