The best running tech for your first Ultra Marathon
-
Loading... - Maya Conte
- 26 Jul 2021
- 906 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
It used to be that anyone running a marathon was a fitness god. These days there are increasing numbers of us wanting to push beyond that.
Ultra running distances 30 miles or more sound ridiculous.
But every person who runs these distances started running just a few miles at a time.
In fact, I could only run for about 30 seconds before having to walk when I started.
Of course ultra running is not for everyone, and doesn’t have to be. I love it because I get to travel such long distances, walk and eat up the hills and not worry about how fast I’m going.
My latest ultra was last weekend’s Race To The Stones , a gloriously swealting (and thankfully really well organised) 100k trot through the Ridgeway from Oxfordshire to the Avebury stone circle.
Facing those kinds of miles in such high temperatures means you’ll take any help you can get. For me, along with the enthusiasm and good will of each pit stop crew, that means running technology - be that gadgets, clothing or other gear.
After suffering running watches not lasting the 12 or so hours these things take I was keen to try out Garmin’s latest Forerunner 935 watch.
I was a little sceptical of it’s reported 24 hour battery life before I set out, but even after 14 hours of running the Ridgeway it still had 45% battery left.
Along with the usual run tracking features, I also appreciated being able to download different Smartwatch gadgets to keep track of daylight, weather forecasts and notifications without having to get my phone out.
In fact, there were many moments where I thought I wasn’t going to make it and having a text or message ping up on my watch from family and friends kept me plodding onwards.
Keep hydrated during the heat was another challenge. As with other Threshold events I knew there would be good provision at each aid station, but I wanted to be able to keep my fluids topped up as I ran too.
The Nathan HPL 020 Hydration Pack , combined with Nuun’s hydration tablet science , kept me well watered. The pack carries 2 litres of water into which I dropped a couple of electrolyte tablets to keep my salts up.
Picking the right shoe technology for the race was tricky this year. It’s an off road course, but because it has been so dry I opted for road shoes.
My Nike Freerun Distance 2 shoes are based on the science of barefoot running.
While the biomechanical technology that make the shoes is impressive, it’s the resulting comfort and efficiency I really appreciate on the long runs.
The right shorts are also crucial as anyone who has had “chafing issues” will tell you. I went for New Balance Impact 5 Inch Shorts .
These use moisture-wicking fabric technology with breathable mesh side panels.
Underneath, the comfort brief was the perfect level of support for all the miles I faced.
Finally, the hot forecast head pressed me to investigate the technology and science behind running caps. It turns out that desert runners have discovered a white cap with dark underside to the peak is ideal. I went for the Headsweats Sports ProTech Hat.
This includes neck protection, breathable fabric and black base.
Keep this on when out of shade and popping it off to cool down when there was cloud or tree cover worked a treat to keep my temperature at a reasonable level.
Finally, I used Strava to track my run details after the event. Pawing over the minute miles and seeing how long I’d spent at each pit stop was eye opening.
More than that, though, it was a great way to connect with other runnings who had run the race and were connected with my online profile.
Using the Flyby feature on the website is a great way to find other runners who completed any event with you.
Getting to the finish at the Dixons Carphone sponsored race before the sun felt like a real achievement. My running technology, training, the angelic Threshold support teams and fellow runners got me through.
Like any race, whether it’s a Parkrun, Marathon or Ultra, I met some really amazing people. The event had participants from over 30 countries including Bolivia, Nepal, Nigeria, New Zealand and the Philippines. Better yet it raised £350,000 for charities (I ran for Special Effect).
If all this still sounds a little bonkers, I’d suggest investigating your local Parkrun. These are weekly 5k events that wellcome competitors of all abilities, shapes and sizes.
If you’ve run marathons and are looking for your next challenge then the three Threshold runs (Race to the King, Race to the Stones and Race to the Tower) are a great next step.
Their mantra is “More Is In You”. While that didn’t always feel like it was true over the 62 mile course, but the end I had to agree that something I didn’t know I had got me over the line - and I should probably admit, that some of this excellent running gear played a part as well.
