• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 804 0

needs to do to avoid a “leaning condition” is to stay on top of hydration and energy replenishment from the very beginning of the race to the bitter end. This is obviously important for many other conditions that can adversely affect ultra runners, so The Lean is just another reason to work very diligently in training and race day to avoid energy depletion and exhaustion. If at any time in an ultra you feel yourself starting to lose balance and leaning is becoming a concern, my recommendation would be to slow down and force yourself to take on as much fluid and glycogen replacement as your stomach can handle. The thing you should not try to do is to keep going without addressing energy needs, as The Lean will progressively worsen and may result in an inability to stay upright on the trail. Another reason to avoid The Lean: Your finish line finish photo will not be your proudest of prizes.

Scott “Scotty” Mills has earned 15 silver buckles by running all 15 of his Western States 100s in less than 24 hours, despite finishing with a bout of leaning in 2006. As a race director and prominent member of the ultrarunning community, he’s been an ultrarunning mentor to many, including the author of this book.

----------------------------

11

GEAR UP

Ultrarunning requires more gear than other running events. This chapter will familiarize you with gear options for running on trails, running in the dark, carrying your food, water, and other supplies, as well as navigating treacherous terrain.

Treat Your Feet Right

The one piece of equipment that nearly everyone uses during an ultramarathon is shoes. Everyone’s feet and running gait differ, so generalized advice on shoe choice is hard to offer. Therefore, the best advice is to experiment and find what works for you. To the best of your ability, test your chosen model of race shoes on terrain and in conditions similar to those of race day, preferably during a long run. Even if you’ve worn the same model of shoes for a decade, log at least a few runs in your race day pair ahead of time to make sure the footbed position feels good and there are no unusual chafing points.

One thing to keep in mind is that feet often swell during ultras, particularly those beyond 50 miles. So, while it’s important to find a shoe that fits securely to minimize blistering, it’s also important that your shoe can accommodate a swollen foot. To test your shoes, run in your race shoes with a thicker-than-usual pair of socks to simulate swollen feet. A toebox that is roomier than normal also gives your foot room to expand.

If you’ll be racing a trail ultra, decide whether to wear road or trail shoes. Know this: You don’t need a trail shoe to run on trails. There is absolutely no reason a road shoe cannot be worn off-road.

In fact, many trail runners wear road shoes while competing in events as grueling as the Western States 100-mile run. That said, when you run off-road, trail shoes offer three primary advantages over road shoes: stability, traction, and protection.

--------------------------------------

Benefits of Trail Shoes

Stability

The rocks, roots, and uneven surfaces encountered on trail runs require more stability than runs on pavement. While road shoes are available in “stability” models, trail shoes provide a different sort of stability. Like road shoes, trail shoes can deliver stability via heel counters, supportive uppers, and variable-density midsoles; however, trail shoes have a few more tricks for the trail.

For instance, trail shoes tend to have thinner, denser mid-soles for a lower-to-the-ground feel. This reduces the chance of turning an ankle and provides better responsiveness. The occasional trail shoe also throws in an outrigger flap on the rear or outside of the shoe that creates a wider platform for additional stability.

Traction

Road shoes achieve most of their traction through a large contact area with the ground. A flat outsole pattern also works well for trail shoes when worn on slickrock like that in Moab, Utah. Rock grip is enhanced when