There will be a kit check before the race starts at 19:00 in Knighton. Competitors that don’t have the compulsory kit in their pack will NOT be permitted to start the race.
You will be in Wales in November! You MUST dress appropriately. You must use some commond sense on clothing and prepare for the wind, heavy rain and wintery conditions
Our kit partners “Up and Under” can advise and supply all items on the kit list - Email:info@upandunder.co.uk - Phone:02920 578579 - don’t forget to mention your doing an Up Hill Down Dale event!
* There is a £120 charge if you lose your GPS tracker during the event
When heading out for a run in the British hills, you could be heading out to experience every season in a matter of hours. Having an efficient way to maintain body temperature and keep the elements out is essential. Creating a ‘layering system’ to deal with this is what most runners aim to achieve before heading out into the wilds.
The first key thing to take into consideration is that soon after you start running, the outside temperature will feel roughly 10 degrees warmer than it actually is. For example, if the air temperature is 10 degrees Celsius, it will feel around 20 degrees Celsius once you have started running, so take this into consideration before heading out.
A layering system is a versatile way of dressing designed to keep you warm, dry and protected through varying conditions. It comprises three layers:
Depending on prevailing weather conditions and the level of your physical output, these layers can be added or removed to maintain your comfort. If all the items are lightweight and packable then they will easily fit in your pack.
When building a layering system, starting with the ideal base layer is essential. Running requires a level of comfort that needs to be maintained for the entire run, so having a base layer made of a comfortable material is ideal. Our Hamr merino wool base layer is the perfect base layer to build your system upon. Not only is merino wool incredibly soft, but it also has superior breathability and wicking capabilities that will maintain your body temperature throughout your run. Merino wool is also naturally anti-microbial so won’t leave you smelling terrible after even the harshest of adventures.
Another potential base layer to consider is our recently added Orindi merino wool base layer. It is heavier than the Hamr, so is ideal for when the weather starts to get colder, or if you know that your body temperature is naturally quite low.
The mid layer is built to be your insulating layer if the temperature drops, or if you’re having a break mid run and your body temperature begins to lower. Ideally you’ll want a garment that also has good breathability to pair with your baselayer, and something like our Magni fleece is ideal. Using Polartec™ Powerstretch Pro™, the Magni can really help to maintain a warmer temperature even when the outside temperature is low, and still offer a high level of breathability to maintain comfort throughout your run.
The expected temperature for the coldest part of your day or trip should guide your choice here. If the weather is looking to be considerably cooler, then something with a little more insulation like our Alfar jacket may be of interest. The Alfar perfectly marries Polartec™ Powerstretch Pro™ sleeves and hood with a synthetically insulated body and shoulders which offers more insulation where it counts. On top of that, the ripstop nylon outer is also windproof with a DWR finish so even if you’re caught in a rain shower, it won’t affect your performance.
Commonly referred to as ‘hard shells’ this layer’s primary focus is to keep the elements away from your body, whilst not compromising on breathability or comfort. For mountain running our Asmund hard shell jacket is the obvious choice due to its lightweight and tightly packable nature. It also uses our own SKJOLDR™ ultra-breathable and waterproof membrane which will work perfectly for any activities involving a high level of exertion.
If you know that the conditions are going to remain largely dry, and all you need is to keep the wind off you then also consider our Njord jacket. With fast moving mountain activities in mind this packable, ultralight hooded windbreaker is perfect to have on hand just in the case of an emergency. Capable of shrugging off light showers with ease, the Njord is another great shell option when running on the mountain.
Making sure that you are prepared for conditions that might not even occur is always a safe bet. Having a hat like our Mjolnir beanie is always a comforting addition to have to hand, just in case the temperature does drop or the wind picks up.