Gear, Cloths, Shoes, and More!

With all the available aid stations you can run a standard road marathon with just the shirt on your back, shorts on your tush, and shoes on your feet. Really the only must have on your body from a male’s perspective are the shorts. We see plenty of shirtless runners and barefoot running is common enough. In my experience, pavement was the easiest surface to run on barefoot. I will never forget my first marathon WAY back in 2004. Here I am a 23 year old athletic stud in the best shape of my life, ready to tackle my first marathon. The only people that are going to beat me are the star athletes, the leaders. Everyone else watch out. Well, that all changed once I hit the “wall” at mile 20 and was passed by the barefooted 70 year old wearing a trash bag, among many others. I finished that marathon, but really got an eye opening experience about what it takes to run marathons and beyond.

Now that I am transiting more into beyond category, it takes more then just a few basics to complete the routes. Many of the ultra marathons have limited aid stations and when you are on a 35 mile training run in the mountains on your own for 10 to 12 hours or more there are are no aid stations or drop bags. What you have is what you can carry and you want that to be as light as possible.

Most recently I completed the BFC 50K which ended up having more Aid stations then I expected, but in my opinion it is always good to be prepared in any ultra event to be on your own. Below is the gear I used for all my training leading up to the BFC and had on me during the event. I have put close to a thousand miles into most of this gear and I will share my opinion of each; what I will keep and what I will change going forward.

GEAR ON ME:

• Ultimate Direction AK Mountain Vest 3.0
  • This is a great pack. I switched it out earlier this year for one that I was using that my wife had bought for me as a birthday gift years ago. This vest is light weight, tons of pockets (I even discovered a new pocket I hadn’t seen before when I was cleaning out after the BFC), has great space and overall fits my needs well. My only issue with it was they didn’t have a medium available, as Ultimate is really pushing the 4.0. I suspect they no longer manufacture the 3.0. When this one wears out then I will likely go with Ultimate again. I went with the small and it still fits well, I only had to extend the chest straps so that I could snap them closed.
• Hydration pack, 1 liter, Aonijie
  • If you read my BFC experience blog, then you know that this baby is a goner. I don’t even know where I got it from or when. It doesn’t come with the Ultimate vest. But I tell you that it is a complete pain to close anytime, let alone when you are feeling the clock ticking down on you in a race. You have to fold over the top, careful not to squeeze the liquid out and then slide a handle closer device between the folds to seal it tight. It doesn’t leak when you do it right, but whoever designed this thing clearly didn’t have time sensitive moments in mind. It got me through the BFC, but it will not be making the cut going forward.
• (2) Ultimate Soft Bottles, 16.9 oz each.
  • These came with the the Ultimate vest. Overall I like them and will continue to use them. I will note that they can difficult to pull out of vest pockets, but I discovered about a month after using them that you can just tip your head down and drink versus taking them in/out every time. The pressure created acts like a straw and you can really drink them dry. Again, if you read my BFC experience entry you will know that the squeeze top mouth apparatus popped off when I laid down and caused too much pressure in the flask. I don’t blame the flask for that. I shouldn’t be laying down on the job anyway. One final note, during my ascent through the briers at the BFC the flasks did get pulled out of the vest pocket a couple times, but I again blame myself for not properly securing them. I never had an issue with them during normal terrain traversing.
• Hat, Nike Tailwind Dri-Fit
  • As a hat it served its purpose for a quick buy. I wanted a hat to deal with sweat and sun. It did both those adequately. I personally am not a huge hat person and this was not my original hat. My original was Inov8 All Terrain Peak Running Cap. I lost it a couple weeks before the BFC and a new one would not arrive in time, so a quick trip to the running store produced the Nike. I really like the Invo8 and have a new one coming. The Nike will go into the dresser for an emergency again, but the brim is far too long giving me wicked tunnel vision on the trails. I ended up turning it backwards most of the time; just so I could be like one of the cool kids. I like to think of it has “high speed” mode.
• Shirt, Under Armour Heat Gear, Fitted
  • I love how this shirt fits my body and feels. It dries very quick, has UV protection, is well constructed, and has never left my nipples wishing I had remember my anti-chafe salve. I do hate the color. Way too bright blue and has dark camouflage front…why anyone would one would do that print is beyond me. It was a gift from my in-laws many Christmas’s ago and sat in my dresser for a long time. I finally actually wore it and LOVED it. (Thank you Cheryl and Clayton, I am sorry I questioned your judgment). I have since hunted near and far in local stores and on the far reaches of the web and it seems under armor no longer manufactures this shirt. They still have the Heat Gear, but none seem to be the “fitted” style. Their other sizes just don’t seem to fit exactly the same. I will continue my search in hopes of buying a few more before this one is worn out.
• Shorts, Salomon Trail Runner Twinskin
  • This shorts are the bomb. They have the compression underwear built right in and a short like material around. I will admit at first I questioned them when they arrived because the inner thighs and crotch area are all just the compression underwear material and the short like material does not continue in those sensitive areas, visually speaking. I was worried about giving anyone behind me on a climb a show they weren’t bargaining for. However, that material hides everything appropriately and it is not an issue. These are super comfortable, nice fitting and no worry about chafing in those same visually sensitive areas. They also have a nice pocket all the way around the waist band. Perfect for smart phone storage or gel packs, if you use those.
• Compression Calf Sleeves, CamdenGear
  • These are pretty standard and nothing much to add. You either find you get a benefit from them or not. I personally like wearing calf sleeves with a pair of high socks. It creates nice cover from getting your legs scratched and good protection from ticks. There is also plenty of science behind using them, but that is not why I do.
• Socks, Darn Tough Vertex Mirco Crew Ultra-Light Cushion
  • These socks are great and I highly recommend them. Lifetime warranty no questions asked policy for any holes. They are skin tight, light, and breathable, keep my feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Socks are not something I recommend messing around with. Find out what works for you and stick with them. Nothing can make a run harder than hot sweaty feet with bunched up socks giving you blisters.
• Shoes, Xero TerraFlex Trail Runners
  • I am a big fan of Xero shoes and sandals. Over the years I have gone from the most built up padded shoes (Hoka’s), to bare feet, to sandals and finally settling on the minimalist shoes from Xero. I will not go into what I think of the shoe industry and what it has done to our feet, maybe I will do a separate post on that, but now a days if you look at my feet I usually have Xero’s on. The ones I wear for rough terrain Trail running are the TerraFlex. They are a great minimalist shoe, provide fantastic traction even on wet rocky surfaces or sandy inclines, a 5,000 mile warranty on the soles, and don’t retain water for those puddle hoping days (or when your trudging through a swamp). I did swap out the standard laces with quick tighten/release style. There was nothing wrong with the standard laces, just a personal preference to be able to re-tighten a shoe quickly while on the run. I have had a few issues with Xero’s over the years with with the front of the shoe separating from the sole and the lace straps breaking, but their customer service has been top notch, super responsive and have replaced them when needed. A lot of their reviews complain about sizing issues, but I have never had that issue. They are tight, but meant to mimic bare feet and you can wear them without socks without risk of blistering. Generally, if you follow their instructions online on proper sizing then one shouldn’t have an issue. My last note on them would be that I absolutely felt every rock on the BFC gravel roads. I may consider a padded insert to help with that next time, but otherwise I plan on sticking to my Xero’s.
• Sunscreen, Riemann P20
  • I purchased this product after doing some google searches for what ultra runners use for sun block. I am not a huge fan of sun block in general as I do not feel they prevent skin cancer and there is now lots of science coming out about it blocking your body from receiving vitamin D. However, since I am unwilling to avoid the sun, or wear full long sleeved shirts and pants in the summer and I don’t really want to get a sun burn, due to my very white and very burn susceptible skin, sun screen it is. I have yet to find a USA location that carriers it, but I order on Amazon from the UK and it takes a few weeks to come in. Overall, it is a great sun screen that lasts all day or at least past the point of worrying about the sun. It is spray applied, and doesn’t leave me skin feeling too oily or sticky after application. It does exactly as described on Amazon and I would recommend it to anyone who asked. I used it all summer in the heat of day blazing sun and never once got a sun burn. I even successfully tested it out a few times at water parks with the kids and only had to apply it to them once in the beginning of the day and no sun burns at the end of the day. My sister did get a sunburn on a part of her arm “using it” on a beach/kayak day, but that is her own fault from improper application. You could literally see where she applied it and where she hadn’t on her arm.
• Water Filter, LifeStraw
  • I carried this with me during the BFC, but did not have use it. I would leave the filter at home on the next BFC. There wasn’t a lot of water to pick from anyway. I have used it many times on my training runs and it works exactly as intended. You can drink directly from any body of water and it successfully filters out the bad microorganisms. There is something pretty cool about drinking from a nice cold mountain stream. Most of my training runs had easy water access so I could stop anytime I wanted a drink. However, I am going to be doing more research on compact filters that I could carry with me that have the ability to filter as you pump into a hydration pack or bottle. With the life straw you either have to drink direct from the source or put the dirty water in a bottle and then drink it through the straw. I don’t always want to stop every time I want a drink. If I was doing a training run or race that I am confident had plenty of water access then I would consider leaving the hydration back at home and carrying the Lifestraw instead. It would certainly reduce the overall weight of my pack.
• Miscellaneous Gear I carried:
  • Gloves, flex impact, firm grip- Great to protect the hands from bear crawling up steep inclines surrounded by briars.
  • Bandanna, nondescript – great item to have to wipe sweat from the face or to put under your hat to protect your ears and back of neck.
  • Watch- I am not a huge gadget person. No GPS was allowed at the BFC and I generally don’t wear one anyway. I had a cheap $ 8.88 one from wal-mart with a canvas like strap, I don’t like rubber ones particularly when on the cheap side. Just something to keep track of overall time.
  • First Aid kit- ace bandage, band aids, gauze, mole skin, chap stick, sharp knife, ibuprofen, and extra batteries All important items to carry in case of emergency in my opinion.
  • Head Lamp, L.L. Bean: great head lamp, use it on all my dark runs and has a nice red light feature that is easier on the eyes at night, but still allow plenty of visibility and doesn’t ruin your night vision.
  • (3) YELLOW/GREEN BOTTLES (9 0z) for drink mix. For my main calorie source. I’ll talk about this in a separate blog.
  • (1) clear 4 oz bottle. For my lime juice.
  • Whistle- standard for safety
  • Map: at the BFC I carried the trail map with me, but didn’t have to use it; Benefits of a great short term memory. GPS is not allowed at BFC, so I kept my phone in the car. Generally, I plan long training routes on the AllTrails application on my iphone. I can download the area map and the gps on my phone keeps my positioning where I am at. I keep my phone in airplane mood, don’t use it to track my pace or anything like that in order to save battery and allow it to last all day. My use is really just limited to where I am at. Before the smart phone I carried maps of the area I was in with me. I have yet to get lost so I must be doing something right.
  • Compass: I carried the BFC issued compass with me, but it really is a questionable one, and I didn’t use it. It takes a long time to adjust to the proper direction. Otherwise, I don’t carry one with me, as I am adept enough to know my general direction based on the suns positioning and my AllTrails map gets me true to my intended route during training. .
• Total Carried Pack Weight including gear, food, and fluids: 9 lbs.

DROP BAR GEAR

Below is the items I packed in my drop bag that was allowed at the BFC. Overall, I think I would keep my drop bag the same. Whereas most of it was unnecessary, you never know when a shoe or clothing will rip out on you on an event like this.

• Drop Bag- Barkley Bag (purchased at the BFC)
  • This is a great bag. It is small with plenty of room, lots of pockets, weather resistant and meets the dimension restrictions set by the most popular ultras . It even comes with a small remote activated LED light display that allows you to locate your bag very quickly. The BFC is the 2nd ultra race I have done where a drop bag was/could be utilized and I was very pleased with this bag purchase.
• Hiking Poles, Black Diamond
  • I am not a hiking pole person. I borrowed these from one of my best friends (Thank-you Jody). The BFC is the first event that I have done where I even considered to use them due to all the elevation and you are only allowed to pick them up at your drop back for the last 10 miles or so, which typically allows you to use them on the last large climb of the day. I did not regret packing them and I put them to good use. I would have finished the BFC with or without them, but they certainly made my last 10 miles easier. I will be adding Hiking Poles to my standard gear, as the more mountainous races I do, particularly 100 milers. These particular poles were light weight, easy to use/adjust and served their purpose well. They don’t collapse down as much as I would like; Collapsible and weight are the main features I will be looking for when I purchase my first set.
• Snacks, extra waffle bar and cliff bar
  • I did not eat them, because I didn’t feel the need. I will get more into food as a separate entry.
• Frozen Orange Carbonated Drink
  • I did drink 1/2 of it during my last event and it was a much need refresher.
• Squirrel Nut Butter
  • This is a great product that I picked up at the the local running store to apply to the sensitive areas (nipples and inner thighs) to avoid chafing, rashes, or blisters. It is comprised of coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax and vitamin E oil. My shirt and shorts above fit me well, so probably didn’t even need to worry about chafing, but better be safe then sorry. I did not apply any more beyond the first application prior to the start of my day, but I packed it in my drop. Again, better to be safe then sorry.
• Extra Cloths and Shoes
  • I packed a change of shorts, shirt, and shoes (all broken in) in my drop bag. Never know when a change of outfit will be needed, or a shoe might blow out, or tearing your shorts during a butt slide. Once again, better be prepared. If a drop bag is allowed at an event, then why not be prepared?
• Extra Sun Screen
  • Had it just in case, but didn’t need to reapply…..I pack a lot of just in case stuff. Maybe I was a boy scout in a previous life.

GEAR MISSING

Below is the list of gear that I am missing from my pack that I will adding in as I progress to different and longer races, as not all of them will be sunny and 92 degrees like the BFC. Always be prepared to be self-sufficient, right? (broken record much)

• Portable Collapsible Cup
  • Many Ultra’s don’t have cups at the aid stations as they can be remote and they don’t want to deal with the trash. I am looking at reducing the amount of water I carry (see final comments below) and this would be a great add to quickly consume fluids at aid stations.
• Survival Blanket
  • small, light weight and compact. Could make the difference in surviving when you need to bring your temp back up, caught in a storm, etc. I always carry one during longer training events. I didn’t carry it with me during the BFC as there was always plenty of people around and the course loops around a lot. You would have to try very hard to need a survival blanket at the BFC.
• Water Proof Jacket and Pants
  • These are two items I need to purchase, as it makes sense to have them. The weather can go through some pretty good extremes when your out on a trail for 20 to 30 hours at a time. I will be looking for light weight, and able to compact as small as possible.
• Long Sleeve Shirt, Full Length Pants, and Warm Hat
  • I add these items into my pack depending on what trail I am doing, if there is a drop bag allow, how frequently you will see your drop bag, how will the temperatures be throughout the training or event. I do warm, tight fitting, light weight and compact.

That is it. I know it seems like a lot, but when it comes all together it really isn’t. For me it is all about weight. A five pound difference in pack weight can really make a difference over the course of an event. With that in mind, the biggest change I need to make personally is water. I will talk more about this in my food and hydration blog entry, but I am carrying close to 3 liters of liquid on me. That is 6.5 lbs alone and accounts for most of my total pack weight. My gear by itself,including the stuff I didn’t carry at the BFC, is around 4.5 lbs. For the BFC it was only 2.5 lbs. I think I am good on gear weight and I don’t think I could get much lighter in that department. What I need to drop is liquid weight, I think I could lose 2.5 lbs easily and take more advantage of a filter system or aid stations. That could potentially drop me to 7 lbs or under. Definitely something for me to start considering and testing during training. Of course, how much liquid I carry will greatly depend on aid stations and/or available water sources. I just need to get better at adjusting based on the planned route/event and not just sticking to the maximum, you know, JUST IN CASE.