Race Day Guide

Based on our tally of the community: about 17 unique runners chose road shoes throughout, roughly 8 did trail to Hexham then switched to road, and only about 4 wore trail all the way.

Road shoes are a perfectly valid — and popular — choice for the whole race. The route is mixed terrain but much of it is runnable path and road, especially in the second half. Many runners find road shoes more comfortable for the long miles and switch to them at Hexham. The group admin recommends the Nike Vomero Plus and the Salomon Aero Glide 3 Grvl specifically for The Wall.

The most important thing: wear shoes you've run long distances in before. Don't debut new shoes at The Wall.

Poles are popular but not universal. They're genuinely useful for the hillier first half from Carlisle to Hexham and can save your quads significantly on climbs. The community's clear favourite is the Helvellyn Carbon Z-Poles from harrierrunfree.co.uk — ultralight and foldable so you can stow them when running.

If you do use poles, practise with them in training. Using poles for the first time at a 70-mile race is not a recipe for success.

Most runners will be out on The Wall through the night, especially those aiming for 20–24 hours. The night section is where many runners struggle most — mentally more than physically. Key things to know:

Stay warm. The race admin's famous advice — "Chase the sun, when it goes down stay warm or the grim reaper will come and get you" — is not hyperbole. Body temperature drops quickly when you slow down at night. Have layers in your Hexham bag.

Do night training runs before the race. Multiple experienced runners specifically recommend this. Running in the dark feels different to daytime running — your pace drops, your mood drops, and you need to be mentally prepared for it.

Headtorch in your kit — carried from the start. Your headtorch is mandatory kit and must be carried from the very start of the race. Do not put it in your Hexham drop bag. The official race guide is explicit on this point. If you are spot-checked at a pit stop without your headtorch, you will not be allowed to continue.

Hexham is at approximately mile 44 (71km) — around two-thirds of the way through — and is the location of your drop bag. It's a significant pit stop — the Hexham soup gets mentioned by multiple runners as one of the highlights of the whole race.

What happens at Hexham: you collect your drop bag, you have access to food and the famous soup, you can change clothes, shoes and socks, and you get a genuine psychological boost knowing roughly 26 miles remain to the finish. Then the mental battle really starts — the final section to Newcastle can feel very different to everything that came before.

Experienced runners consistently say the same thing: a full kit change at Hexham does wonders mentally. Being in fresh gear with clean, dry feet is a genuine psychological reset. After Hexham, the mental battle starts — start it in the best possible shape.

Cultural note: Sam Fender is reportedly played at Hexham, which means you'll likely be dancing in fresh shoes to "Seventeen Going Under" at 3am. This has been described as a genuine race highlight.

Yes, kit checks are strict — spot checks are carried out throughout the event and you will not be able to continue if you're found without requisite items. The list below is from the official 2026 race guide — always verify for your year at ratrace.com.

Mandatory kit: Running shoes or walking boots (road shoes recommended) · Running pack/vest · Hydration bladder or bottles (2L capacity minimum) · Basic first aid kit: triangular or conformable roller bandage, assorted adhesive dressings (including one at least 100mm × 100mm), gauze or gauze bandage, paracetamol · Spare food · Survival bag (NOT a blanket — must be a bag) · Whistle · Reusable cup suitable for hot drinks at pit stops · Insulating mid layer (merino or synthetic) · Full waterproof body cover: long-sleeve jacket and full-length trousers with taped seams · Additional full-length leg cover if running in shorts (e.g. a pair of leggings) · Fully charged phone · Method of payment (card/cash/Apple Pay) · Hat or buff and gloves · Headtorch · Rear red light or reflective/hi-vis patch (10cm × 2cm minimum) · Spare batteries or back-up light source

Recommended (not mandatory): Insulated jacket (especially if you might still be going in the early hours — the most common reason for retirement is getting too cold) · Suncream/sunglasses · Blister treatment kit · Anti-chafe lubricant · Spare socks · Trekking poles · Headphones (non noise-cancelling so you can hear traffic)

Practice with your full mandatory kit in training. Wear your vest loaded with everything you'll carry on race day — know where it all is before race morning.

The pit stops are consistently described as one of the best things about The Wall — it's one of the most-agreed-with statements in the community. The food is genuinely incredible and you'll look forward to each stop.

You'll find sweet treats, savoury snacks, hot food at some stops (pasta and bolognese at Vindalanda, soup at Hexham) and full fat drinks. You don't need to carry a huge amount of food — top up at every stop and you'll be fine. Bring a small ziplock bag you can fill to eat on the move between stations.

Prevention is everything. Use Squirrel's Nut Butter or Body Glide on your feet before the start. Wear Injinji toe socks (the community's most-recommended sock by a wide margin). Change socks when they get wet — several runners recommend every 20 miles as a guide.

A critical piece of community advice: if something doesn't feel right with your feet, stop and check straight away — don't wait for a checkpoint. A hot spot dealt with at mile 15 stays a hot spot. Ignored until mile 25, it becomes a race-ending blister.

Pack blister kit in your Hexham drop bag: Compeed plasters, needle, tape. Multiple runners mention a mini Theragun as a game-changer for muscle recovery at Hexham too.

The Wall has a significant DNF rate — this is a 70-mile ultramarathon with a 26-hour cutoff and it takes everything you've got. But the community is overwhelmingly positive about completion rates when you're properly prepared.

This sentiment resonates widely in the community: you're a legend for getting to the start line. The preparation, the training, the commitment — that already sets you apart.

The most common reasons for DNF based on community conversations: blisters (prevention is everything), going out too fast, not eating enough early on, and the cold night section. All of these are addressable with proper preparation.

Pacers are not permitted on The Wall. You run the whole thing yourself. This is important — do not plan your race around having someone run with you.

Crew (supporters) are allowed, but only at designated pit stop locations — not at the checkpoints (CPs). Supporters must follow the official Rat Race guidance notes to avoid being turned away at key locations; these are issued in the Essential Event Information. Having someone meet you at Hexham is hugely motivating — a familiar face, some home-cooked food, a fresh pair of gloves. Small things matter enormously at that point in the race.

If you're running solo, use the Buddy Up Stations at Hexham and Newburn exits to find other runners heading out at the same time. You'll naturally fall into step with people at a similar pace, and those mid-night connections make a real difference.

All mandatory kit must be carried at all times throughout the race — it cannot be stored in your drop bag or handed to a supporter mid-race. See the mandatory kit FAQ above for the full list.

On top of mandatory kit, community essentials include: soft flasks (2 × 500ml minimum), Squirrel's Nut Butter, jelly babies, salt tablets, a small amount of food for between pit stops, and a ziplock bag to fill at pit stops so you can eat on the move.

Your vest needs to be at least 12L — the community is clear that anything smaller is insufficient when carrying the full mandatory kit list. The Salomon ADV Skin 12 and Rat Race Great Glen vest are the two most popular choices.