Ultra Marathons

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♪♫ Synge ♪♫ Jan 2024 4:14pm, 23 Jan 2024 51,749 posts	0 ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ After last year's LL50, I'm now carrying a whole spare headtorch everywhere rather than just spare batteries. It became horribly clear to me that headtorches can fail for reasons other than the batteries running out. I'm also carrying a battery pack, of course. This means that, on our 100k walk in June, my daughter and I will be carrying four identical headtorches between us!
cackleberry Jan 2024 4:15pm, 23 Jan 2024 3,493 posts	0 cackleberry As much as I hate carrying a heavy pack, I'd still rather carry something I didn't use rather than forfeit my race (or worse!) for the sake of a better jumper or something daft. Doesn't take much to put you at a stand still and it's amazing how quickly you get cold.
paulcook Jan 2024 4:23pm, 23 Jan 2024 4,163 posts	0 paulcook You're spot on there
paulcook Jan 2024 4:25pm, 23 Jan 2024 4,164 posts	0 paulcook You're spot on there cackleberry but I suppose that can also depend what your goals are. If you're after wins / trophies / records, then you sacrifice something knowing that you might DNF. If you're after completing, you carry more to both stay alive / healthy and finish.
cackleberry Jan 2024 4:31pm, 23 Jan 2024 3,495 posts	0 cackleberry ha ha, completion! I am so far away from the pointy end...
flanker Jan 2024 5:23pm, 23 Jan 2024 21,132 posts	0 flanker what you've really illustrated is that to do the Spine with adequate kit makes the entry fee insignificant 😉 I'd hope that most people who are considering a Winter Spine would have the bulk of the kit already, otherwise I'd question whether they have the experience to undertake it. (generalising somewhat to make a point, I know). Other than a truck load of torches I think the only things I'd need to get are a new bivvy and goggles (which I could easily borrow). Of course I could spend a fortune to shave off a few grams, but I'd be better going on a diet for a month!
flanker Jan 2024 5:24pm, 23 Jan 2024 21,133 posts	0 flanker For "sensible" overnight ultras, I work on 2 torches, with spare batteries for both in the drop bag. If I'm really unlucky and both fail I've got a tiny petzl eLite torch that runs off watch batteries. Couldn't run with it, but its enough to get me slowly off the hill in an emergency (or to fiddle with the duff two torches in the dark!). And the phone is at the bottom of the bag, in low power mode, with all data, wifi, GPS etc off. It'll last a week like that. Best way for a phone to be
paulcook Jan 2024 5:48pm, 23 Jan 2024 4,165 posts	0 paulcook This won’t apply to the Spine Race, but if race rules allow you probably don’t need to always carry spare head torches and batteries if you’re able to make use of dropbags or crew. I suppose especially for Escape from Meriden, potentially discard kit at dawn to pick up later on from crew. 2+ day races might easily allow for extra batteries in drop bags.
flyingfinn Jan 2024 5:48pm, 23 Jan 2024 3,700 posts	0 flyingfinn what you've really illustrated is that to do the Spine with adequate kit makes the entry fee insignificant 😉 I'd hope that most people who are considering a Winter Spine would have the bulk of the kit already, otherwise I'd question whether they have the experience to undertake it. (generalising somewhat to make a point, I know). Other than a truck load of torches I think the only things I'd need to get are a new bivvy and goggles (which I could easily borrow). Of course I could spend a fortune to shave off a few grams, but I'd be better going on a diet for a month! Ironically because I have the experience and can actually navigate using a map and compass (unlike many who do the race) the first thing I'd have to shell out for is a handheld gps with mapping... I find it rather laughable that at kit check you have to show you can use your handheld gps unit and obtain a grid reference from it but at no point do you have to provide any evidence that you can navigate with the mandatory map.
jacdaw Jan 2024 6:06pm, 23 Jan 2024 4,248 posts	0 jacdaw OMM chest pack, cackleberry ? theomm.com