Finishing Times by Hour
Times are elapsed race time from each runner's wave start. The 26-hour cut-off applies from the earliest wave (6:40am). The final bar shows total runners who did not finish, for scale comparison.
Where DNF Runners Retired
Of the 171 runners who retired, the vast majority stopped at Hexham (PS4, ~44mi) — the biggest make-or-break point of the race. Here's the full breakdown by checkpoint.
Hexham — The DNF Capital
101 of 171 retirements (59%) happened at Hexham PS4 at ~44 miles. This makes Hexham a genuine psychological crunch point — it's accessible by road, it feels like a natural "halfway" stopping point, and the cutoff window creates pressure. The advice from the community: decide before you arrive that Hexham is not your stopping point. You're there to change socks, eat, and leave.
The Sill — Quad Killers
33 runners (19% of DNFs) retired at The Sill PS3, the end of the hilliest section. This is where the Hadrian's Wall section ends and the terrain eases — but legs that aren't prepared for the wall section can be destroyed by this point. If you make it through The Sill, the worst of the climbing is behind you.
Newburn — So Close
22 runners retired at Newburn PS5 — just ~10 miles from the finish in Gateshead. This is the hardest DNF to accept. Typically these are cut-off retirements or runners whose bodies gave out in the darkest hours. The community wisdom: if you're at Newburn and still moving, you are finishing. Keep going.