Like Travs, my first AL was in Wheeze-land (SE Wales): Llanbedr-Blaenavon. Unlike Travs, the weather conditions were among the worst I have encountered in a fell race. I dressed no differently from if I had been going for a ramble in the same conditions, but managed to get round despite the weight of clothing.

I don't think there was anything "illegal" about it. Even if they had asked about previous experience, I could have mentioned several long-distance orienteering events that I had done, as well as two completions of the Kentmere Horseshoe (which is towards the long end of AM).

Two weeks after that first AL, I did Edale Skyline, and suffered far more despite the better weather.