Running in a kilt

[elperrogrande]

Any runners here? I am running my first 160km trail race in October and I think I want to do it in a kilt.they don't make Sutherland tartan on the non wool fabric so I am thinking sport kilt in either black watch or Gordon because my grandad was in the Gordon highlanders

[kingandrew]

Wow! 160k sounds like a looong run. The most I've done is 10k.

I wear a kilt when I run races and I find it comfortable and convenient. I wear a Sport Kilt Comfy Kilt, since it is cotton, which will breathe well and is lighter weight than my wool kilts. Although many members on here are fans of poly-viscose, I don't "cotton" to non-natural fibres.

I find that if I'm wearing a kilt, no one notices how slow I am. They just say, "Hey, he's wearing a kilt!"

Although some members of the Rabble would not do so, I go ahead and make the rest of my race-day outfit kilt themed. So I have a sleeveless "ghillie" shirt, some cotton knee socks from Sock Dreams, and a cotton tam I made myself to complete the look. I admit that it's "costume-y," but since so many other runners are in tutus or superhero costumes, it looks just fine. And yes, I get lots of interesting questions from other runners and spectators.

Andrew

[cessna152towser]

160k is a long long way. I've done the Great North Run (13.1 miles - half marathon) in lightweight kilts a few times.

[Allan Thomson]

Are we talking a Fell race with some complex fast descents or 'just' a typical ultradistance trail race? Also what sort of climatic conditions and what terrain?

I've never actually raced in a kilt (though have toyed with it, especially as there's a new years day fell race which has a fancy dress competition with it) but one of the things that has made me think twice about it would be the risk of being unsupported on fast descents, so whilst I am a traditionalist there may be strong reasons for breaking that tradition, not including modesty (torsion of a certain part of the anatomy is not a good thing - any specialists care to give a more informed perspective on the risks of this?). I also think a proper pair of running shorts might help to protect your kilt from the sweat internally as well.

I guess you need something that could be easily cleaned if you're not sure if you're going to possibly fall over at any point or if you're going to get mud splashes of peat bogs and the like.

My one experience of what I would consider as a decent paced run wearing a kilt on the hills was after I'd been to a national event on (Old midsummers day 5th July) wearing my kilt, and then was assisting a friend with marshalling an event which took place on the hills. So I changed out of my formal wear into a close fitting wicking top, and had a waterproof over the top, put on kilt style hiking socks and boots. I was wearing an ex military Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders military box pleat phillabeg (traditionally if the question needs to be asked!), with a leather sporran and managed a decent pace over heather covered fell and peat bogs, without any issue. Obviously I wasn't racing, just getting to a point as quickly as I can so wasn't pushing it hard, but I wasn't aware of there being any issue with overheating even though it was a relatively warm sunny day. That of course may be different to a full distance true race where you're pushing as hard as you can sustain for as long as you can and could be different in other climates.

Re the top wear yes you could go down the themed wear route, I guess the risk with a ghillie style sleeveless vest is that some might assume you were doing a Mel Gibson impression? If you went down the 'fancy dress' route you could still just wear a running vest root and pretend you were either the Scot's Porridge Oat Guy or Geordie - indeed isn't kilt with a vest accepted as a form of Highland dress where physical activity is involved in the context of Hammer, Shot throwers and Caber Tossing?......

I'd stick with the long hose for leg protection, and I guess if you have a pair of greyish trail or fell shoes they will look just fine enough for the purpose?

[elperrogrande]

it is 160km of technical single track all in the mountains with 7000 meters of up and down. running shorts underneath would be a must. especially on those long steep climbs were someone would be basically looking up my kilt from behind for long periods of time

[Jumpmonkey]

The only thing I would suggest being aware of is that going kilted can add a few hot-spots. I find a pair of Under Armour compression boxers/shorts helps a lot, and a judicious application of body-glide to the remaining hot-spots really helps me keep from going to chaffy-town when I am active in my kilt, particularly in sweaty or humid (or worse both) conditions. Do a few practice runs in the kilt before committing for the big day, so you can find and treat any potential chaffing.

[Farmer Jones]

We have an annual Kilt Run not half an hours drive from here. The runners tend to wear lighter weight and PV kilts.

[elperrogrande]

I think it will be a sport kilt I will get.i was looking at the USA kilts but I would need it for October 5th and they have a long waiting period. Now it's just to decide on a tartan. I was thinking Gordon to honor my grampa who was a Gordon highlander in ww1 or the black watch. The black watch I could wear to highland games when it is too hot for my wool Sutherland kilt and still wear my clan Sutherland t shirt.with the Gordon not so much.

[Hirsty]

When I ran the Edinburgh Marathon for the second time I got chatting to a guy who was running in his military issue kilt (for charity). He wore 1/2 length running tights underneath but was suffering from rub points around his waist.

I would definitely give it a test run or two, particularly at a distance over 10 miles as this is when the rubbing really starts to make itself known.

[Wareyin]

I am considering getting a sport kilt for running, as well. I would think that any tank, or military issue, or even casual from USA Kilts or other PV would be far to heavy after a few miles. I'm actually pretty curious how lightweight the sport kilt is. I met one gentleman running a trail while he was kilted in a sport kilt, but I was going the other way and didn't have time to ask about it.