Merino wool is likely to be the fabric of of choice at this year’s Klondike Trail of ‘98 Road Relay. With rain in the forecast as remnants of tropical storm Lester makes its way to the West Coast, runners will be looking for ways to wick away whatever moisture they can, while still staying warm.

“People prepare for this race,” said Valerie Girard, who is running her fourth road relay. “I don’t think the weather is going to change it. We do it for fun.”

Girard is running leg 2, climbing 540 metres over the 9.3 kilometre grind out of Skagway and into the White Pass for the “Whitehorse Hash House Harriers.”

“The rain while running is quite fun,” she said. “I sweat anyway. being wet from inside or outside doesn’t matter.”

Girard will be helping run support for her team during the first legs and said that layering will be key to staying warm.

She offers a “big hug and big thank you to all the volunteers,” who will be out on the course, donating their time so that the race runs safely and smoothly.

“They take it in stride,” said Tracy Bilsky, Sport Yukon’s executive director.

“Their motto is: there’s not bad weather, just bad clothing choices.”

Even for the more competitive teams, the rain doesn’t seem to pose any issues.

“Everyone runs through the same conditions,” said Whitehorse’s Lindsay Carson, who will be running leg 10 for “Running Home to Yukon Brewing,” a Yukon mixed team that expects to be competitive among the field.

Carson said if it’s cold and rainy for the start of her leg, she might shift her warm-up to be closer to when she starts running to stay warm.

“Yukoners get up for the hard, adverse conditions,” she said. “It’s what we’re known for.”

With 199 teams participating, this is the KRR’s biggest year yet.

One hundred and seventy running teams will be joined by 13 youth teams, two ultra runners starting in Skagway, one starting from Carcross, and 13 walking teams.