From owner-ultra@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU Mon Jul 21 08:47:13 1997 From: Jason P Hodde Subject: Re: hardrock and beyond To: richard.stonebraker1@jsc.nasa.gov (STONEBRAKER, RICHARD) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 10:44:02 -0500 (EST) Cc: ultra@caligari.dartmouth.edu (ultra) > Rick asks many questions (below). I don't want to make this message "the way to do it", because success in 100 mile events is tenuous, depends on many different things, and what works for me won't work for others. Here are the answers to Rick's questions, based on how I have worked things out for myself. > (1) What type of shoes - strictly trail shoes? Use what you are familiar with. Even that doesn't always work. At Old Dominion this year, I used my "road shoes", the shoes I train in almost every day (but never 100 at a time). Worst blisters ever. At Hardrock, a lugged outsole would be very beneficial to have (same for Western and Angeles Crest), but I wouldn't say that it mandatory equipment. > (2) What do you eat or is all that supplied at aid stations? Eat as much and as often as you can. You will never replace the calories that you are expending, so it is important. I drink much of my caloric intake through SUCCEED! Amino, but I ALWAYS grab food at the aid stations. The few seconds it takes to grab a sandwich and begin walking pays off in the long run. If I have crew with fast food access, I'll send them for a burger or two for lunch and dinner. I like "solid food", so the standard aid station fare gets old really fast. > (3) What do you carry with you during the run? I am speaking about > middle to back of the pack people. While running all nght in the > mountains, will you be carrying a back pack, with some type of clothing > or jacket? I made the mistake of not carrying a light jacket at Vermont last weekend, and ended up with freezing hands, head, and body. It was not fun. At least I didn't have to stay up all night. I would definitely have a jacket ready for the night -- after 15 hours of running, your body is not as efficient at generating heat -- the jacket does this for you. Other things I carry: Toilet paper, flashlight & batteries, Chapstick, Aleve, SUCCEED! buffered electrolyte capsules, SUCCEED! Animo (powder), band-aids, compeed, fluid. At night I add: Light jacket, extra flashlight and bulb, hat & gloves, light jacket (appropriate for the terrain. The "mountain Jacket" is different from the "flatland jacket"). And light jacket. > (4) Flashlights - what kind is best, the cost, how many, etc? No "best" kind, IMHO. I use a mini Q40 diving lamp made by Underwater Kinetics. I carry one of them for the duration of the event, and pick up a second one in the evening. One spare bulb, and one spare set of batteries. The light is $20-25 and includes batteries. Replacement bulbs are $9. > (5) Are the trail adequaltely marked and do yu carry a map? Depends on the course. Hardrock markings are scarce. Vermont was mindless travel due to the great course markings. I carry a map if I don't know where I am going, because even though a course is marked CORRECTLY, vandals seem to always be at work. > (6) Is there some type of briefing for reading trails, etc? The best briefing is to visit the course before hand and find out where you are going. Or help mark the course. Most RD's would welcome the help! > (7) In the case of Leadville and Hardrock: if I am a flatlander, how > must I train for altitude runs? How much ahead of time do I need to > come to this race to get properly aclimated? I allow 7 days for both events, but physiologically speaking, the best times are 1) to be there for AT LEAST 14 days prior to the run, or, in the event that the two weeks is impossible, 2) arriving and beginning the run within 72 hours. Anecdotally, I can't see the 72 hours working very well, based on my response to altitude. > If you have any further recommendations, I would really appreciate it. Don't make Hardrock your first 100 miler. Jay Hodde jhodde@ecn.purdue.edu (Check out Kevin Sayers's web page for more really good information!)