Guide for International Participants
“I had an amazing week, learned a lot about myself, made new friends along the way, and came home with stories to tell”
Kirsten enjoying her Welsh adventure ©Bib Number Photography
Welcome to our international participants
Every year, runners from around the world come to participate in the Dragon’s Back Race® - and enjoy discovering the UK’s unique running culture, including the tussocks, rocks, and the infamous bogs!
This guide will prepare our international participants for what to expect from their Welsh running adventure:
What makes the UK running scene unique?
The mountain running scene in the UK was born out of a tradition of Fell Running (or Hill Running as it’s known in Scotland).
Put simply, fell running is the sport of running up ‘fells’, a Northern English word for hills. It requires participants to run, usually off path, between checkpoints with only their map and compass to help them navigate. It also requires pretty sturdy ankles and nimble feet to negotiate some of the tricky descents found in the British hills and fells.
Where it all began
The sport emerged as part of community events, where shepherds and farmers would compete to prove their strength and speed. Often a race would be up and down a hill, but these grew to include longer distances. Some fell runners complete long distance challenges or ‘Rounds’ where they have to summit a set of hills in a set time period. The most famous of these is the Bob Graham Round, which Kilian Jornet famously completed in 2018.
An inspirational read
Fell running and mountain running saw a boom following the publication of ‘Feet in the Clouds’ a 2004 book by Richard Askwith. It’s definitely recommended reading if you’re interested in UK running culture. Plus, the first (1992) edition of the Dragon’s Back Race makes an appearance if you want to know more about the history of the race!
Helene Whitaker and Martin Stone winning the Dragon’s Back Race in 1992 ©Rob Howard
What kind of terrain should you expect in Wales?
The biggest difference to running abroad that our international participants often remark on is the terrain!
Unlike some of the big trail races in Europe, the Dragon’s Back Race® takes you on some gnarly terrain. You won’t always be able to stick to the easiest path – the route may require you to go off-piste.
Mark Griffith, from America, summed up the route very well. He said, “The course is brutal - take some of the toughest traverses (say the Ptarmigan) in Washington and remove the ice and snow and replace it with rocks, bog and grass.”
1) The rocks
On Days 1 and 2, the main opponent you will come up against is rock - the Dragon’s Back Race® requires you to do some easy scrambling. While it shouldn’t seem tricky to those with experience, if you’re used to running on the trails, practising on rocky ground is advised. You may need to factor into your timings that this terrain will be much slower.
It’s good to get to grips with the scrambling ©No Limits Photography
2) The grassy descents
Some of the grassy descents can become treacherous when wet (see below: Welsh Weather). Shoes play a big role here – having good grip is essential.
If in doubt, there is one technique that has truly stood the test of time. As Mark Griffith puts it following the 2022 event: “the easiest way down was to slide on your butt as it was too steep to gain purchase and you’d likely fall anyway.”
Good grip is essential ©No Limits Photography
3) The bogs
Perhaps the most famous obstacle is the bog.
Bogs are areas of wet, soft and muddy ground, that you will sink into some way if you walk or run over them.
The trick is to move quickly, stay light and look to avoid the wettest patches. The more weight you put on bogs, the further you will sink. Like most other things, bogs are more difficult to move through when it has rained a lot recently, so if you’ve been experiencing some typical Welsh weather, it’s worth being extra cautious.
And one more thing: if you were hoping to keep your feet dry for the duration of the event, it’s best to let go of that dream now.
However, they’re not all bad. Janne William Wetzel came to participate in the 2022 event from Switzerland. He said, “I really liked the bog running. At one point you realise how they work, and think ah that’s how I do it.”
While it may be new, the tricky terrain is part of the fun. It’s this difficult terrain that makes the Dragon’s Back Race so unique, and certainly one of the things that makes it the world’s toughest mountain race – after all, who doesn’t enjoy sliding downhill on their backside while soaking in (possibly quite literally) the Welsh landscape?
Your feet will get wet! ©No Limits Photography
What is typical Welsh weather?
(Spoiler: it can be very wet!)
The Dragon’s Back Race® takes place in September in Wales. If you’re not familiar with the climate of the UK, you might not know what this means.
Essentially, it means anything goes! It might be sweltering hot.. Alternatively, it could mean torrential rain and an icy wind, and trust us, when it rains in Wales, it pours. Depending on where you’re from, it’s likely that the weather is much wetter than you’re used to.
The temperature in Wales in September tends to vary from 10°c to 17°c (50°F - 63°F), but this can be much colder in the mountains and when you take the wind into account.
However, no matter what the weather decides to throw at you, if you’ve got the right kit then you should be fine. A famous British fellwalker and writer, Alfred Wainwright, once said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather – only unsuitable clothing.”
Overall, make sure you’ve got plenty of warm layers and waterproofs, but equally, don’t forget your suncream!
The weather is very changeable ©No Limits Photography
Navigation
(Important: you don’t need to be an expert!)
While many running events abroad are way-marked, with flags and marshals at every corner, part of the challenge of the Dragon’s Back Race® is the navigation.
Navigation is an integral part of fell running, and orienteering is more popular in the UK than in some countries (though it may be familiar to our Scandinavian participants).
However, if you’re not an expert with a map and compass, don’t panic! Dragons have exclusive access to GPX files of the route, which you can download onto your device and use to follow the route.
US-based runner, Mark Lattanzi, has a good tip for those worried about finding their way around an unfamiliar area. He said, “It's good to make friends as all the other more local racers are keen to help out in any way they can”
It’s a good idea to have your map to hand ©No Limits Photography
…A few more practical tips!
If you’re coming from abroad, it might be helpful to think about logistics ahead of time.
We’ve summed up some helpful info below:
The closest international airports to Conwy are Manchester and Liverpool, which are both a ~1.5 hour drive. There is also a train station in Conwy.
If you have luggage, we can transport a bag for you (max. weight 23kg and max. size 56x40x23cm) from Conwy to Cardiff if you have travelled by public transport.
Conwy is a small place, and accommodation gets booked up quickly! If you’re hoping to stay there before the event, it is worth booking early!
We hope to see you in Conwy for the journey of a lifetime ©No Limits Photography
Enjoy an epic adventure in Wales!
While the Dragon’s Back Race® may be different to what you you are used to if you’ve travelled from abroad, that’s what makes it so exciting.
“Racing abroad is great fun due to the new, varied terrain, the people, and the culture.”
The Dragon’s Back Race is an excellent way to explore Wales, as you cross the entire country on foot, so in spite of the tough terrain and fatigue, don’t forget to pause to appreciate it.