I’ve reached a point in my life where I have a surprising amount in common with Gimli from Lord of the Rings. We’re both redheads, we’ve both run rather a long way across New Zealand (or Middle Earth, if you will) and we’re both far better suited to shorter distances.
For context: I recently tackled my first ultramarathon by way of a 50K trail race across the Central Otago region’s testing topography. But as a gym-goer weighing north of 95kg, I found that lumbering up hills for hours on end didn’t come particularly naturally to me – even if I did enjoy it in that “type two fun” kind of way.
Training for the event, I quickly learned that transporting my heavier frame came with a few extra challenges. After long runs, my chafed thighs turned an angry shade of red after rubbing against each other for several hours. My stomach sang for want of more satiating snacks, and my feet cried out for some TLC as a reward for supporting my weight for mile upon mile.
What followed this unpleasant discovery was a four-month experiment to find running kit that could help me steer clear of these issues on race day – a range of running shoes, tops, bottoms, running vests, socks, boxers and more were all put to the test. And it was a resounding success. These are the key items that helped me reach the finish line in comfort.
The shoe:
Saucony peregrine 16
If race-day ensembles were houses, the shoes would form the foundations. They provide the support, stability and grip needed to tear up trails without succumbing to blisters or sore knees.
The Saucony peregrine 16 proved itself to be a workhorse throughout my training and race, racking up kilometres without any rubbing, pinching, slipping or discomfort in any form. They provided ample cushioning, plenty of grip through an outsole that handled technical terrain like a dream, and flawless comfort thanks to a wider fit than most other trail runners I’ve tried. A rubber toe wrap around the forefoot also offered extra durability and protection against the elements.
I should add, running shoes are incredibly individual. And, having tried a great many of them, I’ve found that Saucony products invariably suit my feet the best. This may or may not be the case for you – I’d recommend getting to a store and trying a few on before making your final decision.
Buy now £140, Saucony.com
The race vest:
Inov8 racepac 20
I’ve often been accused of having hollow legs on account of the amount I eat. While physiologically false, I did find that ultramarathon training sent my hunger levels skywards, and I initially underfuelled on my long training runs as a result.
To counter this, I experimented with energy gels, but found my body didn’t sit brilliantly with them past the two hour mark. So I started using wholefoods, which worked well – the only problem was finding a running vest with the capacity to stash them.
I tried one or two that were two small, and a couple more that bounced around like a hatchback on a country road, before mercifully finding the Inov8 racepac 20 just weeks before the race.
It has pockets galore, easy access to two water bladders on the front for intra-run sipping, and plenty of capacity in the back for all my snacks. Plus, it fit me like a dream, with minimal movement meaning I could run unencumbered.
Buy now £90, Inov8.com
The underwear:
Runderwear
These boxers saved my life – or at the very least, my thighs. I tackled early training runs in boxers which, despite being made by sports brands, still left me with red raw skin on the insides of my upper legs. But the seamless design of Runderwear’s stretchy boxer shorts eliminated this issue.
The silicone leg grips, wrapping around the thigh at the bottom of the boxers, stopped them from riding up or moving in unwanted ways, while the moisture-wicking fabric kept me feeling cool, calm and collected throughout the race.
Buy now £22, Runderwear.co.uk
The socks:
Injinji ultra run mini-crew
I used to laugh at people who wore toe socks. Now I am the person who wears toe socks – for running long distances, at least.
Especially in narrower shoes, I found my fourth and fifth toes could bunch up and rub during longer runs, leading to discomfort and blisters. Given the degree of discomfort already involved in running an ultramarathon – particularly one like the Northburn 100, with 2,500m-plus of elevation – I didn’t really fancy adding any unnecessary stress to my plate.
These miracle socks, a secret Santa gift from a friend, kiboshed the toe-rubbing issue instantly, and delivered a similarly sterling performance during the race itself. If you run long distances, I genuinely cannot recommend them highly enough.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon.co.uk
My first ultramarathon wasn’t perfect – nailing anything on the first try is incredibly rare. But it was fun, and the products above allowed it to be that way by keeping me in relative comfort for the duration of the race.
My big hope is that they, or the words accompanying them, can help do the same for you.
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The shoe: Saucony peregrine 16
If race-day ensembles were houses, the shoes would form the foundations. They provide the support, stability and grip needed to tear up trails without succumbing to blisters or sore knees.
The Saucony peregrine 16 proved itself to be a workhorse throughout my training and race, racking up kilometres without any rubbing, pinching, slipping or discomfort in any form. They provided ample cushioning via a PWRRUN midsole, plenty of grip through a Vibram outsole with lugs that handled technical terrain like a dream, and flawless comfort thanks to a wider fit than most other trail runners I’ve tried. A rubber toe wrap around the forefoot also offered extra durability and protection against the elements.
I should add: running shoes are incredibly individual. And, having tried a great many of them I’ve found that Saucony products invariably suit my feet the best. This may or may not be the case for you – I’d recommend getting to a store and trying a few on before making your final decision.
Buy now, Saucony.com
The running vest: Inov8 racepac 20
I’ve often been accused of having hollow legs on account of the amount I eat. While physiologically false, I did find that ultramarathon training sent my hunger levels skywards, and I initially underfuelled on my long training runs as a result.
To counter this, I experimented with energy gels, but found my body didn’t sit brilliantly with them past the two hour mark. So I started using wholefoods, which worked well – the only problem was finding a running vest with the capacity to stash them.
I tried one or two that were two small, and a couple more that bounced around like a hatchback on a country road, before mercifully finding the Inov8 racepac 20 just weeks before the race.
It has pockets galore, easy access to two water bladders on the front for intra-run sipping, and plenty of capacity in the back for all my snacks. Plus, it fit me like a dream, with minimal movement meaning I could run unencumbered.
Buy now, Inov8.com
The underwear: Runderwear men’s running boxer shorts
These boxers saved my life – or at the very least, my thighs. I tackled early training runs in boxers which, despite being made by sports brands, still left me with red raw skin on the insides of my upper legs. But the seamless design of Runderwear’s stretchy boxer shorts eliminated this issue.
The silicone leg grips, wrapping around the thigh at the bottom of the boxers, stopped them from riding up or moving in unwanted ways, while the moisture-wicking fabric kept me feeling cool, calm and collected throughout the race.
Buy now, Runderwear.co.uk
The socks: Injinji ultra run mini-crew
I used to laugh at people who wore toe socks. Now I am the person who wears toe socks – for running long distances, at least.
Especially in narrower shoes, I found my fourth and fifth toes could bunch up and rub during longer runs, leading to discomfort and blisters. Given the degree of discomfort already involved in running an ultramarathon – particularly one like the Northburn 100, with 2,500m-plus of elevation – I didn’t really fancy adding any unnecessary stress to my plate.
These miracle socks, a secret Santa gift from a friend, kiboshed the toe-rubbing issue instantly, and delivered a similarly sterling performance during the race itself. If you run long distances, I genuinely cannot recommend them highly enough.
Buy now, Injinji.com
