For those of you who would like to send emails to the field please follow the instructions on the MDS web site here.
My competitor number is 0897 - Garth Reader. My brother Dirk is 0898. Additionally there will be posts here relating to our progress.
We would love to hear from you all!
Monday, March 16, 2015
2015 Final Packing List
Time is running short! The 98% packing list for 2015 is as follows.
| 2015 MDS Packing List | ||
| Item | Weight (oz) | Notes/Brand |
| Administrative | ||
| 200 euros equiv. | 0.5 | required emergency funds |
| Credit Card(s) | 0.5 | |
| Passport | 0.8 | |
| Route book | 3.0 | |
| Medical | - | |
| ECG/EKG | - | |
| Equipment | ||
| Pack | 24.0 | Raidlight Evolution 2 |
| Sleeping Bag | 16.0 | Western Mountaineering Highlight |
| Pad | 8.0 | Thermarest Neo air Xlite small |
| Water Bottles | 12.0 | Raidlight with holders (2 ea @750 ml) |
| Headlamp/batteries | 3.1 | Petzl Tekka XP 2 with lithium batteries |
| Lithium Batteries (4) | 0.8 | Energizer AAA |
| Safety pins | 0.2 | Two large and eight small |
| Compass | 1.0 | Silva basic |
| Lighter | 0.5 | Small - get in country |
| Knife | 0.8 | Leatherman "Style" and/or Baladeo ECO131 |
| AB ointment | 0.5 | 0.5 oz tube |
| Venom pump | 1.1 | Sawyer Extractor and one tip. Dump the case |
| Mirror | 0.9 | Ultimate survival tech microflash |
| Whistle | 0.0 | Built into pack and headlamp |
| Survival sheet | 1.9 | Space brand small |
| Spot PLB | 4.0 | Provided. Estimated weight |
| Salt Tablets | 5.0 | Bring SaltSticks or Ecaps (100 ea) |
| Light Sticks | - | |
| Stove/windscreen | 0.9 | Esbit Titanium Wing plus DIY windscreen |
| Stove fuel | 4.0 | Order for delivery to race. 12 ea |
| Spork | 0.3 | Sea to Summit Alpha lite |
| Cup | 1.9 | MSR Titan Titanium |
| AL foil | 0.2 | |
| First Aid/Medications | 2.0 | 4 Band-Aids, gauze pad, suture strips, 2 alcohol wipes, 6 vitamins, 5 Alive, 6 Cipro, 2 Imonium, 4 Sudafed, 2 Tylanol, 2 Benadryl, 2 Ibuprofin, 2 Petos, 6 sleep aids |
| Blister kit | 2.0 | 5 ea blister shield packets, Rock Tape (1", 2" and 4"; various lenghts), 2 ea needles/hypodermic, Tinc of bensoate ampoles (6 ea), 2 un-solve, super glue. |
| Sunscreen | 0.7 | |
| Lip balm | 0.4 | Badwater brand |
| EZ towels | 0.9 | Compressed wipes (10 ea) |
| TP | 1.7 | lots with tube removed |
| Hand Sanitizer | 1.3 | 1 oz bottle half full |
| Cord | 0.1 | 3 feet very light bungie cord |
| Zip Ties | 0.1 | 4 small ones |
| Duct Tape | 0.5 | 3 yds wraped around venom pump |
| Ear plugs | 0.1 | 2 pairs |
| Wisps toothbrushes (6) | 0.6 | six ea |
| Q-tips (12) | 0.2 | 12 ea |
| Camera/extra battery/extra card | 8.2 | Nikon coolpix |
| pen/notebook | 1.5 | Moleskin 3.5 x 5.25, 64 pages and inka pen |
| soap | 0.2 | small piece |
| Sportslick | 0.9 | small container of |
| Flags/patches | 0.3 | |
| Sew kit | 0.1 | needels/thread |
| Tenacius Repair tape | 0.1 | 2x2 inch |
| Alocksaks/ziplocs | 1.5 | various sizes |
| Garmin Forerunner 101 | with new batteries | |
| Clothing | ||
| Shorts, compression | 5.6 | CWX (2 ea) |
| Shirt, race | 4.8 | 2XU Tech Speed X Run Top |
| Shirt, long sleeve | 2.0 | Raidlight Desert |
| Buff | 1.4 | |
| Goggles | 1.7 | |
| Hat | - | Salomon XA+, white |
| Socks (3 extra pair, 4 total) | 2.5 | Wrightsocks (2) and Injinji (2) |
| montbell tacyon jacket | 1.5 | |
| Running shoes | - | |
| Gaiters | 2.0 | DIY |
| Comprsn shin sleeves | 1.0 | |
| Cooling sleeves | 1.0 | |
| Food | ||
| Food (competition) | 160.0 | est 6.5 days @ 2900 kcal/day @ 1.5 lbs/day |
| Totals | 286.8 | oz |
| 17.9 | lb | |
| 8.1 | kg | |
| Note: running clothes not counted in totals |
Monday, February 23, 2015
Antelope Canyon
Making new friends is always a benefit of stage racing and at the Grand-to-Grand Ultra last year I made many. Several were interested in doing the Antelope Canyon Ultra for fun and it quickly became a reunion event. Everyone was intent on the 50 miler or 55K so I threw in with the plan of a long training run.
As it turned out this event is a great train-up for the MDS! While there was little elevation change to speak of (coming from the mountains) the 50 miler course offered 12 miles (19+ km) of single track, 8 miles (13 km) of broken slickrock and 30 miles (48 km) of nothing but soft fine SAND. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous too! The 50 and 100 milers offer the added benefit of allowing you to run through one of the most iconic slot canyons in the world (in addition to two others). Thanks to Ken Letterle for taking the time to snap the pictures below.
I decided to break in the new MDS shoes and use the race gaiters for the event. This was a very wise decision since I didn't have to stop to empty my shoes several times like most racers. It was also refreshing not to have to run with the pack for a bit!
While the course was difficult, it was also fast. All the G2G'ers exceeded their expectations and pulled down some great times. Post race pizza and beer at the finish line hit the spot and old stories were rehashed as we caught up with each other. The next day we were off to the four winds and our own race schedules, I'm sure we will see each other soon!
As it turned out this event is a great train-up for the MDS! While there was little elevation change to speak of (coming from the mountains) the 50 miler course offered 12 miles (19+ km) of single track, 8 miles (13 km) of broken slickrock and 30 miles (48 km) of nothing but soft fine SAND. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous too! The 50 and 100 milers offer the added benefit of allowing you to run through one of the most iconic slot canyons in the world (in addition to two others). Thanks to Ken Letterle for taking the time to snap the pictures below.
 |
| Antelope Canyon |
I decided to break in the new MDS shoes and use the race gaiters for the event. This was a very wise decision since I didn't have to stop to empty my shoes several times like most racers. It was also refreshing not to have to run with the pack for a bit!
 |
| NO Pack - Oh what a feeling! |
Happy Valentines!
As departure draws near the training is increasing. But time is needed to spend with your Valentine.
This last weekend was spent with my lovely wife Lisa at the Caza Ladron Hunt event in the Santa Fe area. While Lisa was out riding with the pack (of hounds) and looking for coyotes to chase (no foxes to speak of here in NM) I was able to get in some quality miles with my own pack. Additionally there was lots of recovery feasting and general good times.
The trails outside of Santa Fe were relatively snow free and the temperatures were cool so the running was a pleasant break from the road miles and ice trails up on "The Hill" in Los Alamos.
One day I was able to get in a good stretch of sand training up Buckman's wash to the entrance of Diablo Canyon. The best part was that the Hunt's "Woopie Wagon" was at mile 7+. You don't find too many aid stations/check points that offer port or champagne! They didn't even punch my ration card.
Coming up next is Antelope Canyon Ultra with some of the Grand-to-Grand crew.
This last weekend was spent with my lovely wife Lisa at the Caza Ladron Hunt event in the Santa Fe area. While Lisa was out riding with the pack (of hounds) and looking for coyotes to chase (no foxes to speak of here in NM) I was able to get in some quality miles with my own pack. Additionally there was lots of recovery feasting and general good times.
The trails outside of Santa Fe were relatively snow free and the temperatures were cool so the running was a pleasant break from the road miles and ice trails up on "The Hill" in Los Alamos.
One day I was able to get in a good stretch of sand training up Buckman's wash to the entrance of Diablo Canyon. The best part was that the Hunt's "Woopie Wagon" was at mile 7+. You don't find too many aid stations/check points that offer port or champagne! They didn't even punch my ration card.
Coming up next is Antelope Canyon Ultra with some of the Grand-to-Grand crew.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Nuts!
Most ultra racers and stage racers know the benefits of nuts in their race diet. High in calories, protein and fat these little wonders bring nutritional support in a small package. Salted they also help satisfy the need for electrolytes. High on the calorie per gram list are Macadamia nuts, Almonds and Pine nuts (Pignolias to some). While I have always carried Almonds during stage races, for this year's MDS I intend to mix it up and bring some of all three for variety. With respect to the Almonds I intend to use Marcona Almonds this time around since they are less dry and have a mild flavor making them more like peanuts. Pine nuts will most likely be pinon pine nuts from around the local area here in New Mexico if I can find some. The harvest this year was not very large! You can also spice up any nuts with sea salt or other spices. Many varieties of Almonds already come per-flavored. An once and a half a day will bring you over 350 calories and some snacking enjoyment!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Immunizations
For those that travel abroad to the ends of the earth you may already be familiar with the need for various vaccinations/immunizations. In our more modern world many disease scourges have been minimized if not eradicated over the last century. Unfortunately many still exist and one should seriously consider taking precautions against them.
My current job assignment requires many immunizations such as Yellow Fever, Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid and others. This list while quite extensive is overboard for the everyday stage racer. Talk to your health care provider well in advance to departing (3 months) as to what vaccinations he or she recommends. At a minimum a Tetanus shot should be seriously considered.
It is also a good idea to keep a copy of your immunizations record with your passport and other medical documents just in case.
My current job assignment requires many immunizations such as Yellow Fever, Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid and others. This list while quite extensive is overboard for the everyday stage racer. Talk to your health care provider well in advance to departing (3 months) as to what vaccinations he or she recommends. At a minimum a Tetanus shot should be seriously considered.
It is also a good idea to keep a copy of your immunizations record with your passport and other medical documents just in case.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Climbing Out of the Hole
After some time off (about two and a half months to be precise) I am starting to climb out of the hole and get my training going. Of course winter has set in and has made the world cold and dark. My training plan for the next three months is based on what I did leading up to Grand-to-Grand in September with some slight modifications. Hopefully I will remain health and motivated to follow it. In summary I am looking at around 600 miles before heading out to the desert including over 5,000 lb-miles of pack running. One "B" race is also on the calender - Antelope Canyon Ultra (50 miler) in February. Some cross/strength training is also going into the mix just for balance.
I hope your training is going well and you are staying healthy.
Happy New Year!
I hope your training is going well and you are staying healthy.
Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)