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Ultra Marathon....a distant dream?
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Take a look at getting yourself a small running daysack. A couple of good companies to start your search with are OMM, Raidlight and Inov8. Almost all of them will take a bladder in them so you can either get a bladder to put in it or a few of them have bottle carrying pockets. So which ever suits you really. If you are for a day then 15 litres will be plenty. I used a 15l OMM sac on a 3 day trip to the lakes with no issues
With regards what to take. Well you are out all day so a good start would be drink, food, waterproof layer (ok its June but still you never know!), mobile phone and some cash (for extra food or train/taxi if it all goes wrong).
Food is a personal preference really but if you are on the move you will want food that is easy to eat. Common foods are flapjack, malt loaf, crisps, jam sarnies, rice pudding, choccy bars, energy gels.
Drink wise is the same again... personal choice. I am happy with just water but put some elete electrolyte in it for long days out.
Probably worth throwing a basic medical kit in... vaseline and a roll of tape normally does the job! I cant think of a way of telling you to pack vaseline and tape that doesn't make it sounds like a pests day out. sorry.
Sounds like a sensible starting point.
You'll probably get as many opinions as there are people, but...
I'm using a 5 litre pack containing a 1 litre drinks bladder. As well as water, I carry food (malt loaf, fig rolls, jelly beans, Kendal mint cake), tissues, mobile phone, keys, emergency money, space blanket, lightweight emergency warm top, lightweight breathable waterproof coat, lightweight windproof trousers, one blister plaster, one ordinary plaster. I also wear/carry hat, gloves, windproof running jacket.
I'm intending to get a 10 litre or possible up to 15 litre pack, because the present load fills my pack and I'm going to need to be able to carry two litres of fluid on 4-5 hour long training runs on the NDW in the summer. I'll also be adding a compass and whistle (and map).
Before I got the jacket (Montane Minimus) I carried one of those "single use" emergency ponchos - totally waterproof, very light, and useful to avoid getting soaked and cold if e.g. you've turned an ankle and are waiting for someone to come get you.
Note: I carry this stuff on practically all my runs (not for e.g. parkrun) so I barely notice it now. You don't want to wait until the day of your long run then set off with a pack on for the first time. I got used to carrying it from when my long run was under 10 miles.
Your a star. Thats exactly what I needed. You think 15l is needed? I were thinking 6 lol. Ill take that on board if I never asked see......
Last thing whilst on the subject got a couple of HM and then the above jolly. I dont like wearing shorts I prefer the whole compression leggings thing. Is it a matter of what you find comfortable or am I going to come unstuck on a longer run with being too hot etc?
It's what you find comfortable. If you like the compression tights then wear them.
Also see above regarding waht I'm fitting into a 5 litre pack - should help you decide. Six litre might be enough, 10 litre probably ample.
Try the pack on before you buy - check the straps are comfortable for you with some weight in the backpack.
Yeah 15 litres is a bit much really but I don't have different sizes for different events I just use my 15l for everything
but yes... like Debra has shown you can get a lot into the smaller ones no problem.
Yes some people use compression tights all year round for long runs and races. If it is what is comfy then go with it.
Oh dear I've been a plank. Just re-read what was said. I thought 15l of water lol. Its been a long ol day. 15l bag space i geddit
So what about water? if i get a 2l bladder then would another 3-4L bottle be enough?
Hwo long do you intend to be out for? 2l of water will get you a long way... 6l of water and you might need a yak as well
Seriously though, 2 litres should be plenty for a run out without being too heavy.
I drank 1.25 litres over 32 miles and five hours on Sunday at the London Ultra, and probably should have drunk a bit more, thinking how much I drank in the first hour afterwards.
Take the 2-litre water bladder. If it's very hot, maybe carry an additional 500 mL bottle or platypus in your hand to start with.
Its also worth adding that most of the posts on the whole forum are from folks who have gravitated towards Ultras from a running /racing background.( the focusing on PB,s and minute miles is still important) The reality of running in ultras is that racing is not what it is about for most of the field. You need to find your comfortable sustainable pace rather than your fastest sustainable pace. This pace will also be effected by how you eat drink and in longer Ultras even sleep. Getting to the end of a race and the friends you will have made on the way will seem far more important than your time. This is especially true for fell/mountain ultras. If you do get hooked (as most do if they can spare the time) you may find yourself running along a mountain ridge as dawn breaks more tired in body than you could imagine but with your soul more alive and receptive to the wonder of the world than ever before. Perhaps its this that keeps me going and I hope that you will experience this running ultras.