The Barefoot Running Book - Jason Robillard [38]
Keep your electrolyte intake balanced to your fluid intake. Consuming too much salt usually causes gastrointestinal distress, consuming too little can cause hyponatremia (possibly fatal). I prefer an electrolyte supplement like Succeed S! Caps.
Any area of your body that protrudes or experiences some friction can chafe. This includes thighs, groin, toes, armpits, nipples, etc. Chafing can be difficult because you may not recognize it until it has already developed. Find a good anti-chafing product such as Sportslick, BodyGlide, or SportWax. If you do develop chafing, baby diaper rash cream can be an effective remedy.
Running ultras usually involves some degree of pain. Learn to manage it without drugs. Both ibuprofen and acetaminophen can result in acute health troubles if misused. Consult your physician.
Repeating a positive mantra, like “I feel great!” can be a very effective distracter.
Plan for potential problems based on your experiences while training (blisters, chafing, cuts/bruises, bugs, rain, nausea, diarrhea, etc.) Having a plan going into a race may help prevent a DNF (Did Not Finish).
Taper! Tapering is the progressive cessation of activities to allow your body to heal. Give your body at least a few days off prior to your race. I start decreasing the intensity of my workouts at least two weeks prior to 50-milers and up to three weeks before 100-milers including one week of near-zero mileage immediately prior to the race. This assures that I am healthy and injury-free at the start of the race.
Don’t forget to smile, no explanation is needed.
Gear
Test all of your gear prior to the race. This includes clothing, anti-chafing measures, anti-blister measures, shoes (for you Luddites that insist on wearing them … ), hydration systems, food, etc. Everything you rely upon for a race is a potential problem. The more familiar you are with each variable, the less likely it will become a problem.
Be prepared if gear breaks, gets lost or is ineffective. Have a contingency plan for everything. If you are using a crew, make sure your crew is aware of your contingency plan.
One of the best ways to prepare for running ultramarathons is to volunteer at races. Watching other runners can be an invaluable teaching experience.
Serving as a crew member or pacer can also be beneficial. Crew members meet runners at various points during the run. Their job is to resupply their runners and help solve problems that may arise. Pacers actually run with their runner for parts of the race. It is their job to keep the runner on pace to finish, provide motivation, find the trail, or any other task the runner is incapable of doing on their own.
Other Topics
Dealing with “Hecklers” and Common Comebacks
One concern many new barefoot runners have is the fear of being a social outcast. It is a legitimate fear because some of the lay-public see barefoot running as absolutely crazy. Despite the increased popularity in recent years, we are still a minority. For years the public has been fed by shoe company propaganda and little, if any, working knowledge about the benefits of barefoot running.
Other runners present a different problem. In my experiences, they fit into one of four categories: the non-running lay-public and, inquisitive, amazed, or hostile runners. Each group is unique and requires a slightly different approach.
• The non-running lay-public—This is the fun group because they see barefoot running as super-human. To them running itself is a Herculean task and running barefoot is even more so. They are likely to exclaim, “Look, that guy has no shoes.” A simply way to respond is with a humorous reply like, “I woke up late and forgot them at home!” Be careful and courteous with this group because if they are watching you run, they have some interest in running and with encouragement could become runners one day.
• The inquisitive running peers—This is the group that could be future converts. These are