Night Runners An Interview With Matt Roskilly & Soar's AW23 Collection

Committed to producing elite running apparel, SOAR running was established in Hackney, London in 2015 by runner Tim Soar. Developing key products using pioneering technology and sports science, and blending this with experience from runners, SOAR aims to deliver pieces that can be appreciated by athletes globally. 

For this campaign, we wanted to capture the new Autumn-Winter pieces in a setting that felt very Urban Industry. So we went out to the South Downs, after sunset and photographed one of our brilliant employees Matt Roskilly - who tested the performance of the collection.

Firstly, why did you decide to run the marathons?

Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list of things to do. I think it comes from my interest in people pushing their limits and achieving great things, and marathons are probably one of the more accessible routes to doing a hard thing. I’d been running fairly consistently for a couple of years and had always told myself that one day I would give a marathon a go. I decided to throw myself into the deep end in 2021 by signing up for my local race, the Beachy Head Trail marathon which is notoriously tough but I figured i'd get the hardest one out of the way first and then they would all be easy after that, turns out that was pretty naive and they are never an easy undertaking.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of running a marathon?

Definitely do it. But be prepared to put in the work - 26.2 miles is no joke, and to get it right takes a lot of commitment and training. It's possible to wing it, but with a higher chance of having a terrible time and potentially picking up an injury. I’ve heard people say that the race is a celebration of all the hard work you put in
during the months leading up to it, and I couldn’t agree more. It makes that moment you cross the finish line so much better when you know you have given it the best you could.

What do you look for in running garments?

Honestly, I’m not particularly fussy. Depending on the training, I run in anything from old cotton t-shirts to more technical clothing. For longer mileage runs, I make sure to wear something that keeps me at a comfortable temperature.

How did the SOAR Pieces hold up?

They felt great, really comfortable. The jackets and Run Trousers struck a good balance of keeping the wind off without getting too warm. Usually, I run in shorts, but I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort and fit of the trousers. The Ultra Jacket is my favourite piece from the collection, it can be tough to get a running jacket that ticks all the boxes. Lightweight, breathable and enough weather protection to keep you covered for most situations. Also, the zipped rear pocket would be perfect for gels or whatever fuel you’d need for those longer runs.

Content by Urban Industry.