Raw Ultra kit details: what was worn, what was carried and what was eaten

For anyone interested in some notes on what I carried for the first 80km ultra, here’s my notes. I don’t believe I’ve missed anything however I’ll update if do notice something.

Gear kit:

Clothing

• North Face Ultra Endurance trail runners

• North Face trail shorts (similar to these)

• Under Armour t-shirt

• Berghaus base layer top (something like this, except mine is years older ;)

• Ultimate Direction Ultra V2 jacket

• Decathlon Kapteren Trail Running socks (have light compression on foot and ankle so great on long distance for myself)

• Berghaus hat (take your pick of relatively light hats)

• Alpkit Compact Ultra poles - brought due to ankle issue. Didn’t regret them after the amount of ascent that we covered.

Pack

• Decathlon 1 litre bladder

• Decathlon 10-litre trail running backpack

• Decathlon zip-up hoodie (I can’t find exact model but similar to this only not fleece) (requirement for the day)

• Silva compass (requirement for the day)

• OSI map sheet 56 (Great Outdoors Dublin have amazing stock here) (requirement for the day)

• Petzl Actik head torch as primary light source with the rechargeable battery

• Petzl Bindi as backup head torch (requirement for the day)

• Whistle (requirement for the day)

• Emergency blanket (requirement for the day)

• Waterproof dry bag (similar to these, about 1-2 litre in size before compressed) that contained the spare hoodie. (requirement for the day)

• iPhone 7 with this what turned out to be incredible battery extender - I’m writing on Sunday afternoon at 5pm. The iPhone battery was last charged from wall socket at 4am on Saturday morning and current battery life of iPhone is 85%! Note: this is after running Strava on the phone for half the run (human error paused it….)

• Hydrapak Speedcup - saves you using disposable cups at aid stations and opportunity for water from streams also.

• SIS Go hydration tablets - 2 of these tablets in every 1-litre of water in the bladder

• SIS Isotonic gels - 3 of these in pack at all times, refilled after every aid station

• SIS energy gel with caffeine - 1 of these at all times in the pack

• Nature Valley muesli bars - at least one put in at every stage

• Chia Charge bar - at least one at every stage

• Bag of random jellies

In each Aid Station

• 1 spare pair of trail running socks

• 1 spare pair of gloves

• 1 spare hat

• 1 bag of ‘heavy’ food with 2 rashers, 3-4 salad potatoes (cooked)

• 1 can of Red Bull

• 1 bag of jellies

• Two Replacement SIS Go hydration tablets to go with a refill in the bladder

• 2 Nature Valley bars for re-stock if needed.

• 1 banana

• 1 Chia Charge bar for re-stock if needed.

• 1 spare running t-shirt

• 1 spare long-sleeve base layer

  Note, at the final aid station I also left a replacement rain jacket (an old hiking jacket I had) and my other trail running shoes, North Face TR III.

What I ate

Taking the details above, here’s the overview of what was consumed on the day.

As we had to register between 4am and 5am, it meant for a tricky decision for me personally. It’s not a normal eating hour however it’s not a normal day either! So, a bowl of porridge and a coffee to kick off then. Note: I didn’t drink any coffee the week beforehand as I wanted to try and get the full effect of it on the day.

At registration, downed another coffee and on-route to the start line, at 7:30am, I had two small muesli bars just to top up.

During the event, I had in total:

Liquids

• 2.5 - 3 litres of water with the hydration mix above

• 1 can of red bull

• 1 cup of coke

Food

• 3 Nature Valley bars

• 2 Chia Charge bars

• 4 rashers

• 5 potatoes (2 at first aid station, 3 at the second)

• 2 bananas

• 3 SIS Isontonic gels

• 1 SIS Energy gels with caffiene

• 2 handfuls of jellies