Arc of Attrition 50 mile ultra marathon - mandatory race kit, my extras & how to pack it all!

[@arleenm7367]

Nice kit Claire. However missing a few things if it gets really cold. I've done several events in the winter and I would strongly suggest hand-warmers - lots of handwarmers. Put one with your phone and with any batteries so the power doesn't drain out. Last year I DNF'd a 50-miler in February primarily because my waterbottles froze solid. I went almost 30 miles with no hydration (not recommended). It looks like your race will have better support than we did though. I don't know how cold it will get for you (especially in the night), but I'd wear double socks, a much warmer hat and glomitts if it's really cold. I hope your jacket will be warm enough and if there is any wind you might consider protective eyeglasses so you don't get frozen corneas. If you stop anywhere you’re going to be cold. When it's really cold it's difficult to do even simple things - tying your shoes, pulling out a gel, peeing, using your phone, etc. Handwarmers in a mitten will help and a mini flashlight for the night. Hopefully you wont have to deal with below freezing temperatures. Maybe it will be a lovely dry cool day instead? Good luck!!

[@wildgingerruns]

Ooh sounds like it gets really really cold over there Arleen, we aren't used to those temps in the south of the UK, Cornwall rarely gets snow, it's the least snowy place in the UK! Thanks for all the great tips, I will take some handwarmers for sure, and if it looks like the soft bottles are freezing I can put them beside them. I have my sunglasses too. The race finishes at midnight so only a bit of nighttime running rather than all the way through, phew!!!

[@hermeticallysealed]

i run with an extra buff wrapped around my wrist this helps with a little bit of warmth for my hand and the bonus is i have something to wipe my nose on

[@wildgingerruns]

Now that is a great tip! Thanks very much!

[@alanwetherelt7155]

I think a couple of the one use hand warmers would be a good add. small and light

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks great tip Alan!

[@Dylan-lt9eo]

Bout to do my first 200 mile race next weekend. 48 hour straight run. Hourly loop you must complete and start every hour so no sleeping. The anxiety has led me here lol. Thanks for the video!

[@wildgingerruns]

Oh my goodness! Good luck with that, it sounds absolutely amazing! Have a blast and see what you can do, it's only 48hrs then you can have a nice long kip!

[@kingsley6236]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I bought the same race vest at The National Running show, knowing I will need it for the 7Valleys (similar level of kit required). So glad to see this video showing how to pach BEHIND the zip pocket on the back. Great tip!

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks Kingsley, yes I really like this bag, there are pockets just everywhere! Great choice it will last you for a long time too :)

[@andreafluffkitten]

Nice kit Claire. Really hope you have a great run.

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks, you too! :)

[@johngardner1898]

Good luck this weekend Claire!

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks John! Great to hear from you! Hope all is good for you so far in 2024 too!

[@jime2504]

Best of luck the weather is looking perfect for you ☀️

[@wildgingerruns]

Amazing! Nice and muddy whooop! Thank you

[@joannaw3101]

Hi Claire, great video. I'd take a bit more food, the section from Zennor to St Ives will drain a lot of energy, and you need to be on top of your nutrition the whole race, but especially on that stretch (speaking from experience).

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks Joanna, that's very good to know, will pop a bit more in :)

[@TheNickynuna]

Saw you at the start looking fresh as a daisy. What a lovely day for it. I was there to cheer on the runners, long way to go before I could consider such a challenge 😅

[@wildgingerruns]

Ah that would be the start lol! I got timed out at Godevry but had a great day out!

[@pamela99]

So much kit! Thanks for sharing Claire, some friends of mine are running this. I haven't taken on an ultra yet but hoping to do one later this year. Good luck with the Arc!

[@wildgingerruns]

Good luck Pamela! Have a look at my film about training for an ultra here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKCbdKNsjLKUgrcsi=VjeTDjN7FFpC4Nf3

[@stemp1ar151]

Excellent job Claire! I will have to watch this again towards the end of this year. I actually signed up for the Tunnel Hill 100 Mile Race November 2024 😱 I have hopefully enough time to get ready 😂

[@wildgingerruns]

Oh good luck with that one, a 100, eeeek!!!!

[@jaynequoiani9518]

Great video. So good to see all the stuff you have to carry and the tip about getting a bigger rain jacket!! Massive good luck 🤞🏼

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks Jayne yes the bigger jacket really does help, also you can take your arms out of the waterproof jacket or insulating jacket off when it's under your pack and just leave it there trapped between your back and the pack. Your back gets sweaty anyway with the bag on it so no real difference, but you get nice and vented not having arms on. Then it's a lot easier to get back on again when needed and no need to stop to faff with taking pack on and off. Hope that also helps! Claire

[@Chrisagnew1988]

Handy video. They will also be giving us some free precision fuel gels etc at registration including the 90g gel pouch. Not sure if you have recced pendeen to st ives section but my tip would be keep the 90g gel pouch for that section as it’s the toughest section. See you on start line 💪🏼

[@wildgingerruns]

Ah nice, no I haven't done any recces as Cornwall is about 5hrs away from me! So this is super useful advice thanks so much, I will keep an extra bit for the Pendeen to St Ives stretch :)

[@stuartnorman5209]

Consider putting your nutrition in your side pockets of your vest in a small plastic ziplock sandwich bag(s)so you just pull the bag out and identify what you need... rather than digging your hands into the vest and fishing out the various items which can be a real lucky dip. It keeps all the food conveniently packaged and easy to Identify plus a bulkier package cold hand are less likely to drop in the dark.

[@wildgingerruns]

OOh nice tip thanks Stu!

[@kingsley6236]

A related comment to mandatory kit - Just an idea for a video, what happens when you have to get your kit checked at registration, and all the other things you have to do. I am doing two races this year where my kit is checked, and I have no idea what to do!

[@wildgingerruns]

Hey Kingsley, each race is slightly different but if you watch some of my race films like UTS50k, ML50, Arc 50 you will get an idea of what goes on - most you get asked to show 2-4 items of your mandatory kit, so many people choose to attend kit check with kit in a plastic box so it's easy to fish out the desired item, then pack it all into your running pack after without losing anything. Hope that helps! Claire

[@irunoffroad]

Very interesting, good luck Claire

[@wildgingerruns]

Thank you! You too!

[@tomharvey-run]

Useful video, will be there. Hope last few weeks training going well.

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks Tom! Tapering now...from...er...not very hardcore training doh!

[@tomharvey-run]

@@wildgingerruns super fresh legs at the start 🙂

[@matth1586]

Salomon pulse belt for your poles, hope you test the jacket before the day. Good luck, see you at the minack.

[@wildgingerruns]

Good call! I do have a nice running belt but haven’t ever used it for carrying poles for… I’ll give it a go on my next long run as I don’t usually get on with wearing a belt

[@jaminlonghurst7382]

Ever thought about putting the food etc in a belt? speads the weight out in the pack.

[@wildgingerruns]

Ooh nice idea, I just don’t get on that well with belts they tend to ride up, I’ll try it on a training run tho cos might also be a good way to carry the poles

[@tinman221]

@@wildgingerrunsthe Naked Running Belt from Centurian is brilliant and won’t ride up if you size it correctly

[@TheUnicornPacer]

Hope weather holds out for u hun I will be doing the arc or the spine next yr I think x

[@wildgingerruns]

Nice! Good luck with it!

[@TheUnicornPacer]

U too u will smash it hun x

[@vic6820]

Outdoor Research do gloves with a zipped pocket which contain waterproof outers. Versaliner. Not cheap though. The Swedish army collapsible cups are good. Your cup is strong but bulky. With the collapsible, you can attach it to a lanyard and clip it to a loop on the side with a small dog clip and slot it in the side pocket. It won't get lost and you don't have to remove your pack. Personally, I think that's way too much sugar in those bars and gels and too much in all. We're all different but I think too many gels and sugar is what causes so many people to have stomach problems. Eat as much normal food as possible, like you say, sandwiches and crisps, fruit at the checkpoints etc. Water is important, even in the winter. I am not trying to criticise, I think you have too many loose, separate items. These could drop out and get lost. Try to have fewer packages with maybe three categories max. Practice changing head torch batteries blind folded. Good luck and good luck with the next one that you'll be registering for a few weeks after this one😉.

[@wildgingerruns]

OOh thanks Vic great tips here!

[@NewSkiwi]

Thanks for a really practical video Claire. how do you manage your electrolytes though?

[@wildgingerruns]

Lol that's a great Q, I just, er, don't? I don't sweat that much especially in the cold, so I find that eating some crisps and munching on the usual energy bar type stuff that has a few in it, plus the odd cheese sarnie keeps me ticking over. I think you can tell from this that I'm far from an elite athlete and this is one of the many reasons why ;) !

[@lisagreenhalgh5977]

If you’re looking for waterproof gloves Sealskins are good!

[@wildgingerruns]

Awesome, I'm sure I have a pair of them somewhere... will root them out...

[@petervedder4848]

Hi Claire, interesting video, thanks for sharing. I am always wondering with the winter runs, what happens if it goes quite a bit below zero with the water bottles? Don't the nozzles and maybe the water in the bottle freeze ?

[@wildgingerruns]

Good question! We shall see!!!

[@Gardenkeeper_247]

I'm in Scotland, have ran for a few hours in around - 14, if wearing a vest, your body heat tends to keep the actual bottles from freezing but I have had the drink nipple part freeze up, also with a bladder the straw part will completey freeze and at that point it's useless so bottles in front are a better option in the cold.

[@peterichards6037]

@@Gardenkeeper_247 a tip I've heard is when you have had a drink, blow a little air back into the bottle to clear the nipple, nothing to freeze up then!

[@wimseffelaar8950]

I have a question! Did you train with your vest and all your gear in it? I’ve got an ultra coming up and I underestimated the strain of the extra weight! What do you think?

[@wildgingerruns]

Hello, yes all the long training runs should be done with all the gear and nutrition you're planning to use, I talk about it more in this film here full of ultra tips, hope it helps you and good luck with your upcoming ultra, let us know how it goes! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iV7XqYuEa72ieZI

[@michaelrooney5683]

Thanks for the video. You should be able to swap the battery out on the swift rl?

[@wildgingerruns]

Oh really? Now that is an exciting proposition, I just thought it was sealed in there! Going to have a look now...

[@wildgingerruns]

omg just found that! Thanks so much! It's not like the Petzl Core that I'm used to. I don't have a spare tho so I'll still take the Bindi - and the Bindi is also the light on my GoPro to film in the dark.

[@pepesilvia3394]

Thanks for the video! Interested in testing Soar gear after watching your videos. Is there a working promo code we can use?

[@wildgingerruns]

They Pepe sorry they stopped the discount code as agregators were finding it and buying it up cheap to sell on. They do do a good guarantee of satisfaction tho so - If you aren’t satisfied after a month of running in a SOAR garment you can return it to us for a full no-quibble refund. www.soarrunning.com/pages/1-month-guarantee

[@DawnNunes]

Thanks so much!

[@wildgingerruns]

See you there Dawn!

[@peterdeboer5773]

Poles! 👍 But it would not be enough food for me ...

[@wildgingerruns]

Yes defo taking poles, what extra food would you take? More than a tuna sarnie and a packet of crisps with all that sports nutrition, and filling up at St Ives? I find I can't eat too much when I run, despite practicing to!

[@peterdeboer5773]

@@wildgingerruns personally I just eat a lot of gels and bars, I can handle them quite well, am just always hungry 😋

[@JennyDefriez]

If you need someone to meet you en-route with a second supply of food let me know. I live in the area 😊

[@wildgingerruns]

Oh amazing that is so kind of you! I am relying on the angels I think they have food…!!!

[@JennyDefriez]

No problem at all, I'm happy to help. I'll be out cheering you on anyway.