Trying Again to Transfer Ahead – iRunFar

[Editor’s Note: Congratulations to iRunFar’s Bryon Powell for his course-record-setting win at the 2024 Ultra Gobi 400k in 68 hours, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds! The 2024 edition started Saturday, October 5, in western China.]

When this text is revealed, I’ll hopefully have completed the Extremely Gobi 400k (250 Mile) in China for the second time. I final ran it in 2015, when it was generally known as the Extremely-Path Gobi Race, whereas having failed makes an attempt to return in each 2016 and 2019. All races take varied ranges of preparation, however one just like the Extremely Gobi takes weeks of logistical preparation to associate with months of bodily coaching.

That’s why I’m all of the extra happy with my previous self for writing the practically 5,000-word article, “Extremely-Path Gobi Race 2015: Placing the Items Collectively,” on the logistical particulars of my 2015 run to associate with the extra narrative piece, “Extremely-Path Gobi Race 2015: Discovering the Spark Inside.” Very like the start of iRunFar as an info supply, that logistics article was primarily based alone notes that I then shared with others.

What I gave myself was a second-level crib sheet that supplemented my fundamental method to logistically and bodily getting ready for an ultramarathon. I suppose this text is extra of an utility of my 2016 article “Race, Repeated,” which extolled the benefits of returning to a race with information gained from a earlier run or runs of that race. Under is a have a look at how the assorted sections of the article “Placing the Items Collectively” helped inform my preparation for this 12 months’s Extremely Gobi.

On Gear

I assumed I’d be writing about how my 2015 gear write-up knowledgeable my 2024 decisions however that just about none of them would return for 2024. Nevertheless, in opposition to all odds, a minimum of 9 distinct objects (I’m skipping stuff like a medical equipment, emergency blanket, and race tracker) return with me to the desert:

• Montrail Bajada – Okay, I wore the Bajada II in 2015, and I’ll use what could also be my final recent pair of the Bajada III in 2024, however I see them as fungible.
• New Steadiness 1400 – Equally, I wore a pair of 1400 v3 in 2015 and have each a pair of v4 in measurement 9 and v6 in measurement 9.5 packed for 2024.
• Mountain Hardwear Way2Cool Quick Sleeve Shirts (unique model) – I’ve acquired two of those packed.
• Smartwool PhD Extremely Gentle Zip T – An age-old grey lengthy sleeve will make its return to the Gobi.
• Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hooded Jacket – That is nonetheless one of the best wind jacket ever made, for my part.
• Drymax Scorching Climate Socks – I actually have 12-plus pairs of those packed. I’d have packed some Max Execs once more, as effectively, however I don’t have any recent pairs left in my Drymax stash.
• The North Face Runners 1 Etip Gloves – I’ve acquired a few pairs of gloves packed and I’ll begin with a lighter pair within the low nation, however I think I’ll use these up within the greater altitudes.
• Windstopper Mitts – My solely pair of skinny mitts as an additional layer stashed in a better elevation drop bag.
• iPhone – Sure, I’ll carry an iPhone 16 Professional fairly than an iPhone 5 — gah, it’s been that lengthy?! — nevertheless it’s a software that can fill the identical roles.

That’s most likely some pointless element for this explicit article, nevertheless it actually stunned me that I’m bringing so lots of the identical items again to the Gobi. It’s a testomony to my perception that nice gear is nice gear and that the most recent and best isn’t at all times all that a lot better … if in any respect!

Extra broadly, my in depth notes on every bit of substances I delivered to the Gobi in 2015 and whether or not or not I used it closely knowledgeable my gear decisions. I’ve acquired fewer of some objects, like pairs of footwear (it helps that the majority of our drop luggage will go to 2 areas every), and extra of others, like shirts, so I don’t have to hold as many layers because the course slowly traverses from 4,000 toes to over 11,000 toes and again right down to 4,000 toes.

On Fueling

On this part of my 2015 report, I predicted I’d take much less meals to the desert if I ever returned. This isn’t the case. I most likely have an analogous quantity of sports activities diet, if not a bit of extra, in addition to lots of the identical snacks that labored for me in 2015. A couple of snacks did get lower, however I added peanut M&Ms, Snickers, bitter cola gummies, and Epic meat bars, the primary three of which I’ve added to my adventuring food plan over years since Extremely-Path Gobi Race, and the final as

I’d like a option to eat a bit of bit extra protein in addition to help with avoiding palate fatigue all through the race. I additionally packed 4 or 5 further tenting meals in case I wish to eat two at a given checkpoint, and even carry one for a “actual meal” on an extended stretch between main relaxation factors. The detailed calorie consumption chart I made after the 2015 race actually hammered dwelling what I did and didn’t truly eat throughout the race.

On Hydration

This part didn’t assist an excessive amount of with my logistics prep, however shall be a very good reminder come the race. I’ll attempt to drink 20 ounces or so within the 5 to 10 miles between checkpoints, have a 600-milliliter Coke at every of the ten main relaxation factors, and drink a bit of bit extra as climate and distance between checkpoints in addition to my thirst and hydration standing (i.e., pee) counsel.

On Sleep

This part was an excellent reminder of how I slept 16 hours throughout the 2015 race, principally from two full nights of sleep to start out issues off, in addition to spending a full 24-hour day in whole on the three checkpoints the place I attempted to sleep.

What I Would Do In another way

This part was pure gold for my preparation! Under, I tackle every of the bullet factors from that 2015 article.

Sleep Much less

A extra particular reminder that I might attempt to sleep a complete lot much less on any return to Extremely Gobi. Certainly, I talked to some journey racers on this facet after I deliberate to go again to the race in 2019. Whereas I don’t wish to be fully depressing on the market, I’m additionally intrigued by experimentation, so we’ll see what occurs: hopefully, not fairly as a lot sleep.

Prepare Extra

I ran 175 miles within the 11 weeks earlier than Extremely Gobi in 2015, for a whopping 16 miles per week with no lengthy runs. This time I ran 730-plus miles (greater than 4 instances the mileage and a excessive a number of when it comes to coaching time) and there was a single 237-mile week within the mountains for a concentrated coaching bout.

Funnily sufficient, I nonetheless don’t assume I’m as match as I used to be going into the 2015 race. I’m 9 years older and didn’t have nice coaching within the spring and early summer time as I did earlier than my first Hardrock 100 earlier in 2015. Nonetheless, I did get in a bunch of stable coaching over these previous few months.

Rehab the Calves

May I’ve been higher about this? Certain! However, beginning in late winter, I reintroduced eccentric calf drops to my life and someday this spring I began including weight to these eccentric drops. I even acquired some remedy on them within the spring as I used to be including hill exercises, doing these drops, and including coaching quantity. Put collectively, my calves felt stronger and my Achilles higher for a lot of the summer time than that they had in years.

However a later summer time lapse in doing eccentric drops had my Achilles worsening and, then, I overweighted some drops late in September, which made issues worse. So the place do I stand? I feel I’ll be capable to run extra inclines than I did in 2015; nevertheless, I do know that I’ll must take care of some important Achilles ache alongside the identical. I simply hope it’s later fairly than sooner into the race!

Prepare With a Pack

I didn’t practice as a lot with a pack as I’d thought, however I feel I’m in a great place with my pack and its results. I’d deliberate to run with a weighted pack a number of instances every week beginning after I entered the race in early Might. I did a number of instances early on and naturally did a few of it on some early summer time run/fish adventures, however usually with weight lower than my race pack’s weight.

Within the second half of August, I acquired critical and in two weeks logged round 300 miles of operating with a 13- to 19-pound pack, which is way heavier than my race pack and issues went effectively sufficient. All through September, I did the overwhelming majority of my runs with my race-weight pack. Am I quick with it on? No, however I’m fully snug with that pack, and my stride doesn’t really feel altered.

Lighten the Load

We’re speaking gear right here. In 2015, I had a 10-pound pack earlier than water. Will probably be extra like seven kilos this 12 months. I received’t miss carrying these three further kilos for 250 miles.

Lighten Me

I went into the 2015 Extremely Gobi weighing round 165 kilos and hoped I’d be lighter this time, as I shall be. I actually trimmed up throughout my two largest coaching weeks in late August and sat at 154 kilos the morning I left dwelling for China. Meaning my pack and I mixed will weigh 4 kilos lower than I alone did at Extremely Gobi 2015 and my mixed private and pack weight shall be 14 kilos much less. Goodness gracious, that looks like lots much less!

Pack Much less Meals

Nicely, I failed right here, as I might really feel as I lugged my duffel to China.

Defend the Ft

Oh, how my toes had been a scorching mess at Extremely Gobi 2015! I’ll skip the main points, however I’m ready with a sock change for all 10 main relaxation factors, a dry pair of socks for the sections the place I’ll have water crossings, a rag in every drop bag to assist clear my toes at every relaxation level, a roll of athletic tape at every relaxation level, and a change of footwear accessible at every relaxation level. I’m additionally working arduous to take away my heel callouses as heel rim blisters are at all times a big problem for me throughout lengthy ultras.

Research Extra

I’ve hung out learning every part of this 12 months’s course, which is in the identical common space because the 2015, however on a totally new course. I’ve looked for the 2 most tough terrains from 2015 — sand dunes and alkali flats with grass tussock, and might’t discover both on this really useful route.

I’ve additionally discovered a number of segments the place I can run considerably shorter routes than the really useful route on this open course. Some may become duds, however I’ll see! I’ll actually be prepared to observe what the terrain and my instincts inform me on the market.

Name for Feedback

• The place and the way have you ever used previous race expertise to assist in enhancing your preparations for a similar race?