Packing for a 100 mile race can be a daunting task. I’ve included my list of essentials below and have listed them in my order of priority.
Shoes – Arguably the most important gear for a 100 mile race. I’ve run in the Brooks Cascadia for the last three years with good results. Many runners will change their shoes during a 100 miler however I don’t. I prefer to change my socks two or three times over the course of the race.
Hydration vest – I’ve run with Salomon hydration vests over the last few years and have been very happy with their performance. I’ve done most races with the equivalent of an S/Lab Sense Ultra 5 – a 5L pack which has two, 500 mL soft flasks carried in front. For hotter races, I’ll often carry a hydration bladder in my back pouch. I’ve recently purchased the Adv Skin 12, which as a 12L back pouch, for self-supported efforts like fastest known time attempts.
Headlamp – I run with the Petzl Tikka+ which is a decent headlamp. It has an 8 hour battery life and is relatively light weight. A good headlamp is definitely an essential piece of gear for 100 mile races. I have enough to worry about while running through the woods in the middle of the night – I want to know that my headlamp won’t let me down.
Salt pills – My secret weapon for running ultra distances. I discovered salt pills after getting severely dehydrated in my first official ultra marathon. I haven’t experienced any major problems with dehydration since. I take 1-2 Saltstick brand salt pills every hour during a 100 mile race.
Energy gels – Clif is my brand of choice for gels and I typically eat one gel every hour during a 100 mile race. I’ll buy an equal amount of each flavour so that I can get some variety. Although I eat a lot of gels, I don’t actually enjoy consuming them. The first few gels taste okay however I am forcing down this super sweet, sticky goo at the end of races.
Watch – The Garmin Forerunner 935 has been my watch for the last two years. It can track GPS for 24 hours and even longer in ultrac mode. I used ultrac mode for my last 100 mile race which took me 30 hours to complete.
Nip Strips – These small plastic discs somehow stay stuck for over 24 hours, providing nipple protection for the whole 100 miler.
Food – Home made oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies are one my favourite racing foods. I’ll include a dozen, large cookies in my drop bags and will eat all of them over the course of the race. Peanut butter and jam in a wrap is another racing favourite and I’ll eat 2-3 of these over the course of a race.
Poles – I run with the Black Diamond Distance FLZ poles. These carbon fiber poles are ultra light, strong and collapsible. In the two long races that I’ve run with poles, I’ve been very glad that I brought them. Poles are great for climbing hills and for giving your legs in the break in the later stages of a race.
Squirrel’s Nut Butter – This all natural coconut oil based product is great for lubricating all of your parts that are prone to chafing.
Calf compression sleeves – I use calf sleeves to protect my skin from irritation from the growth on the trail. The long grass and weeds brushing against my lower legs often makes my skin itchy and angry. I’ve worn a number of different calf sleeve brands with good results.
