Doing my recent self-supported FKT attempt of La Cloche in Killarney Provincial Park out in the middle of nowhere means being super prepared with all the safety gear and what I needed to run for 50 miles, including enough food plus a way to filter water. Even though I missed the FKT by 2 minutes, I think I did alright! So, what what did I wear, and what did I bring?
What I wore:
- Tracksmith Session Shorts: These shorts have been my go-to for a couple of years now. Great fit, really lightweight and breathable, and very comfortable. (Note: I only race in these for sub-12 hours, and even that’s a stretch. In this case, I wanted the ease of a brief in the shorts so I could pee fast and not have to readjust underwear under my lululemon align 6” shorts that I wear for longer efforts, and luckily, I avoided any chafing.)
- Since even the best shorts can lead to a bit of chafing, so anytime I wear shorts, I use Body Glide’s Anti-Chafe Stick. It’s a gamechanger when it comes to comfort.
- Arc’teryx Norvan Long Sleeve: I love how lightweight this long sleeve is, since I try to wear longsleeve all year to avoid too much sun exposure
- Avia Socks: Shockingly good quality for cheap socks ($20 for 10!), I basically buy a pack every couple years and have zero blister issues.
- Norda 005 sneakers—when I tell you these lightweight trail racing shoes stick like velcro to rock, I’m not kidding. And the upper is so light and soft, and really is just rock solid even for long events.
- Osprey Dyna pack—I have yet to meet another pack I like as much. Even though this one doesn’t have a ton of space, it’s still my fave.
- Buff: Last minute call to switch from a cap to a buff, because I had to debate whether the risk of sun in my eyes outweighed better visuals and trail sighting. I’m SO glad I opted for the buff!
In my Osprey Dyna Pack:
- Katadyn water filter – cannot recommend enough… but I do wish I had bought a new one, I used an older one and the filter was slow by the end. Like any water filter, it doesn’t last forever!
- Emergency bivvy sack (like an emergency blanket but a full sleeping bag size!)
- Tiny battery powered headlamp – like the bivvy, we were weighing the importance of having stuff in case I ended up getting hurt, or just going really slow and getting stuck out there. Luckily, I didn’t, but I felt a lot better knowing I had it in case things really went sideways.
- Tailwind Naked fuel (1000 cal in the 1.5L bladder + a 1000 cal baggie for refills. I would have liked to have more, honestly, but I had no room for more.)
- I did start with a quarter of a bagel jammed in, since we knew from past experience that if I had heartburn issues, that plus pepto bismol could help calm it down
- Spot Tracker for emergencies – pricey, but it gave Peter a lot of peace of mind. PLUS, almost more important than the tracking element, when you have a subscription, that covers the wilderness rescue, which often isn’t covered by insurance or the park if you’re doing something dumb like this!
- Little extras: a safety pin and piece of moleskin in case of blisters that needed emergency dealing-with, kin tape in case my pack had an issue or my knee acted up, and pepto bismol + tylenol for emergencies.
I may have missed the FKT by 2 minutes, but at least the entire 12 hrs I was out, I felt comfortably prepared for anything, like any good Girl Scout!
