Top Tips for the 2022 Montane Dragon’s Back Race®
We asked our Class of 2021 if they had any top tips for our 2022 dragons, and they came up with some excellent suggestions. If you’re preparing for your 2022 adventure, or thinking about signing up for 2023, here are some great tips for you:
1. Admin, admin, admin!
Making sure your kit is well-organised at camp was a common theme with our 2021 participants. One participant, Sophie Littlefair, recommended bringing a tote bag to carry things around camp to save going back and forth between tents. With so much kit to keep track of, it’s really important to know where everything is!
Having all your kit sorted will make your life much easier © No Limits Photography
2. Eat… a lot!
It’s often said that ultras are just as much eating competitions as they are running competitions, and the Montane Dragon’s Back Race® is no different. With so much food on offer at the overnight camps, there really is no excuse not to fill your boots!
Check out the catering page for more information about the delicious food available en route:
Refuel at the overnight camps © No Limits Photography
3. Recce the course
If you can get out to Wales to recce, it’s definitely worth it. RAW adventures organise some brilliant recce trips if you want to get a lay of the land.
Nothing beats knowing the terrain when it comes to racing, but if a recce isn’t possible, it’s a great idea to really study the route. You can get a good idea of what to expect which can help your pacing strategy.
It’s a spectacular route to recce © No Limits Photography
4. Train on mountains
You may be used to running on the flat, but nothing prepares you for a mountain run like running in the mountains. Long days out in the mountains, and even hill reps are all good preparation for the Montane Dragon’s Back Race®.
The mountains present some new challenges © No Limits Photography
5. Practise with your gear
This is one of the golden rules of running! It’s so important you get used to your kit before running in it for 6 days. You wouldn’t want to get blisters in your new shoes, which leads nicely onto the next point…
Feeling comfortable in your kit is important for a long adventure © No Limits Photography
6. Take care of your feet and prep them in advance
Montane Dragon’s Back Race® expert, Kate Worthington, says you should moisturise your feet all summer beforehand and make sure you look after your nails.
“Prevention is key,” said 2021 winner, Katie Mills, when it comes to blisters. Equally important is making sure that you look after your feet when you get into camp each night.
We recommend taking a look at our handy guidance article all about looking after your feet:
After 6 days of running, your feet may take a battering! © No Limits Photography
7. Start as early as you can
Early starts give you the best possible chance of being able to meet those dreaded cut-off times. Plus, there is something truly magical about early mornings in the Welsh mountains.
Are you an early morning person? © No Limits Photography
8. Save enough energy for Day 5
The penultimate day of the Montane Dragon’s Back Race® is a big day. The route takes you through the Brecon Beacons and is a mammoth day in the mountains. The good news is once you’ve completed Day 5, you’re almost there!
Day 5 is a big one, but it’s worth it for the views! © No Limits Photography
9. Don’t underestimate the challenges of a race this big!
“Leave any ego and expectations you have in Conwy,” says Sophie Littlefair. You may have an idea about how quickly you may want to complete it, but at the end of the day, the main focus is about keeping going! As the saying goes… slow and steady wins the race!
It’s an epic challenge like no other © No Limits Photography
10. Enjoy it!
“Try to keep smiling and enjoy the journey,” was Mark Whitworth’s sage advice. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself. After all, you are running through some spectacular scenery with some amazing, like-minded runners.
Enjoy your incredible journey © No Limits Photography