The way to go – how I prepared for Borneo TMBT Ultra Trail Marathon - enjoy and won its 50km – good choice of equipment and details care
Before I will share my tips, want invite you to ULTRA Trail Running Seminar 行前分享會. Lets share experience of Taiwanese runners with racing in UTMB®, Leadville, TDG,...
event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/115849219133054/
BASIC EQUIPMENT
✔ SCOTT Running Taiwan Supertrac RC
This year best choice for races and some FKT up to 50km for me, fit well, good grip, fast,…
✔ Ultimate Direction Taiwan AK mountain vest 3.0
Already run 4 years with UD. AK has enough volume, good pockets, very smart vest
✔ Compressport Taiwan trail shorts
Already wear few yars, feels good, minimize chafing problems.
✔ GPS - Suunto Ambit Peak 3
Upload GPX of the course is very important. Use smart watch with good battery or smartphone. From our experience marking can easy to disappear, getting tired and not focus. Study course from description, elevation profile, important turns etc before race. (In TMBT I know will have to pass over 300 runners from 100km category, steep climbs, final stairs,…)
NUTRITION
✔ Runivore
Pack 4 bites of Runivore. Ate two, small pack of dry tomatoes and two mini bananas. Bought two drinks from locals.
✔ Tailwind Nutrition Asia
1.5L of light mixture of Tailwind in bladder on the start. Extra energy and electrolytes.
✔ RacingPro 運動達人能量補給站 Electrolytes tabs. I don`t cramp so much, but still race in Asia means lot sweating.
HEAT MANAGEMENT
✔ Taiwan Beast Runners （跑山獸) Jersey
Great material, don`t feel wet. Full zip, back pockets etc. Also Beast power for run in jungle.
✔ BEAST BUFF
This is crucial gear for my running. One on head protect from sun and let water vaporize and cool down. Second headband have ready to make wet in any water and make head and another part of body wet. Also It is very effective put wet buff or towel on neck, especially during long climbs.
✔ Soft bottle
I use 2L bladder and one 0.5L soft bottle. Flask use for drinking in CP and fill up with water to go and again use for my head. Tailwind in bladder.
IMPORTANT (NO) DETAILS
✔ JACKET
Did not use this time. But light jacket is important even in hot countries. TMBT2017 had heavy rain later in afternoons and temperature drop quickly.
✔ Gurney Goo Asia
SKIN CHAFING can be terrible. Apply Gurney Goo night and morning before long run is great prevention. Small tube pack with you.
✔ Fenix Worldwide HL26 headlamp
Even for 50km need pack good headlamp. Choose light and smart Fenix HL26. (if you go overnight don`t forget for secondary light)
✔ Mandatory Equipment
Follow mandatory equipment, never know if you or somebody around will need it. Especially jacket, headlamps and extra light. Space blanket. Phone with accessible number (write it on waiver). Whistle. Basic First Aid kit and adhesive tape. For me all this was just two small zip packs.
Some equipment can find in TBR eshop: http://www.shop.taiwanbeastrunners.com/
Runivore: http://www.runivore.com/
Scott Shoes in Taipei: 100台北市中正區南昌路二段112號 (discount for ULTRA Maokong participants)
By Petr
ps. did not talk about how to deal with technical trails, pacing, climbs etc. Maybe in next chapter. :)
