Ultra Marathons

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flyingfinn Sep 2020 4:27pm, 30 Sep 2020 2,252 posts	0 flyingfinn No big hills Paul, lots of undulations. Most of the island is rough pasture or bog divided up by fences/hedges which are difficult/painful to cross. Unlike in England there is no network of public footpaths and though technically there are rights of access in Scotland exercising on Islay would in the main be as you say a ballache if you were trying to do something like a circumnavigation. I did find some nice running, particularly in the NE of to the island close to Loch Gruinart. If you want big hills then pop across to Jura, that is some of the best (albeit rough) mountain running in the UK. Both islands are terrific places to visit.
geordiegirl Oct 2020 11:07am, 1 Oct 2020 11,707 posts	0 geordiegirl Me again. I have been looking for a new back pack as the one I have currently is a bit small (esp with the 70m on my radar) Rat Race do a bag ratracestore.com which I ordered in the sale (£29.99) which ended yesterday and can be returned (back up to full price today 😬) From you guys with more experience is this an ok pack or is there better on the market? Thanks.
flanker Oct 2020 11:37am, 1 Oct 2020 19,462 posts	0 flanker gg, race vests are a very individual thing, but if that works for you at that price you've got a bargain as you can pay well over a £100 for one of the brand name ones. It'll come down to fit, and whether the pocket arrangement works for you and what you need to have to hand during an event. I'd recommend an approach that says you shouldn't need to open the pack off the event unless there's an emergency, and should only need to take it off to put on your jacket (which should ideally be accessible without opening the pack - eg. rear stuff pocket) or at "long-stay checkpoints". You want to make doing the event as simple as possible without distractions. I love the fit of the Salomon 12l but don't like using it for events as the pocket arrangement just doesn't work for what I want to keep to hand during an event, so use a UD for important races.
flanker Oct 2020 11:38am, 1 Oct 2020 19,463 posts	0 flanker ... open the pack during the event .... (oh for an edit button!)
geordiegirl Oct 2020 11:54am, 1 Oct 2020 11,709 posts	0 geordiegirl an edit button would be fantastic! I hate taking my pack off as I stress I cant get it back on as well, so what I've found in other marathons/long runs if my snacks are in the back (as I only have small pockets on the front) I don't eat. This appears to have decent pockets at the front. I will obviously try it for fit and at the sale price I thought it was worth trying as I can return. I think I had asked after my ultra last year and advice was good front pockets to keep snacks handy. Still very new to this thing appreciate the help.
K5 Gus Oct 2020 12:54pm, 1 Oct 2020 4,029 posts	0 K5 Gus What's your hydration plan normally, bladder or soft flasks ? Consider moving to soft flasks if you don't already use them, that would be another £20 if you don't already have them. 3 main benefits are :- a) you know how much fluid you have left b) you can have one with water and one with energy/isotonic drink c) you can remove to fill up at aid stations without taking your pack off. It does however use up 2 of your big front pockets, some packs have additional side pockets still reachable whilst wearing, but that one doesn't look like it does. A lot depends how far between aid stations, if they're every 7 or 8 miles say you don't need to carry that much food, but if they're over 20 miles apart say, then obviously need to carry more and good to have it accessible. What time of year is it ? Are you likely to be putting on, taking off, gloves and hats etc, or is it mid summer ? If needing to take these on and off you want enough reachable pocket space for them as well as nutrition. Do you use poles, if so will you want to use them in some parts and not others ? Some packs, eg UD ones, have clips on the front you can fix poles to, as opposed to others where the fixing points are on the back. What type of material is it - hard to tell from the photo ? You don't want an absorbent material that soaks up sweat/rain making it heavier. Looks good value for £30 if it fits well though
Paul N Oct 2020 1:12pm, 1 Oct 2020 1,694 posts	0 Paul N In addition to a backpack I find a bumbag a useful addition for grub out / rubbish in, and Under Armour shorts have a useful pocket in the waist (speed pocket) that is perfect for your phone. That set up means the backpack is really only needed for carrying a reservoir and waterproofs etc. On the subject of soft flasks. Part 1 - I use a Camelback handheld which I find a useful addition, if looking to travel light or save bag space. Part 2 - Has anyone experience of the Solomon XA filter? Doing a 35k skyline race in a few weeks (c.3,000m of climb so likely a 5.30 - 6.00 effort). Aid stations have been stripped right back, to the extent I think there is only one water station. Something that would allow a quick and safe refill at streams would be very useful.
geordiegirl Oct 2020 1:28pm, 1 Oct 2020 11,711 posts	0 geordiegirl I do have soft flasks one for water and one for active root (switched for Loch Ness last year) This says it has 2 large zipped pockets and expandable pockets which water would go in. I will check where the poles go I might take some with me depending on the route - a lot of it is road so may not be useful but I am intending to do more off road/trail events when we are allowed to play out again. I have a small bum bag that came with a soft flask so may use that as a rubbish bag - great tip. It is in June so it should be decent weather but up north you can never tell. We have to carry waterproof trousers and jackets hat and gloves my current one wouldn’t be big enough. I’ve discovered flanci leggings they have a fabulous thigh pocket for phone and a back zipped pocket so I have at least some extra space on me. I think there is something like 8 aid stations although some are small checkpoints with water and food at the others. I don’t eat much (an issue in itself) while I’ll carry stuff it will be nice to get a little bit on the road to top me up. Thanks all 😃
FenlandRunner Oct 2020 2:09pm, 1 Oct 2020 4,865 posts	0 FenlandRunner I bought the OMM bumbag as my rucksack simply wasn't sufficient to carry all the kit I need for the L100. Really impressed, seems to be comfortable and doesn't impact my lack of running style.
Snoot Oct 2020 5:29pm, 1 Oct 2020 495 posts	0 Snoot I looked at loads of race vests on line and thought one of the UD ones looked favourite but after trying different ones on in Kong I ended up with a Salomon 12l as the others just weren’t comfy so would agree with flanker that it’s very individual. £30 bargain though of it works!