Blog : Training

Stage Racing Backpacks
Trans-Pecos Ultra

Stage Racing Backpacks

Choosing a pack is a series of trade-offs between utility and weight, with you as the final judge. Below are three important factors to consider as you try on various models.

  • Considering that you will carry it for 163 miles during TPU, your pack may be the most consequential decision you make (after deciding to sign up for this crazy adventure!) The lighter your pack is and the more comfortably it fits to your spine, the more you will enjoy the ride.
  • How does the pack ride? Frame or frame-less? Weight-transferring hip belt or simple webbing straps? Vest front or padded shoulder straps?
  • Size. There is only so small you can go with your pack… you have to be able to carry your sleeping bag, a bare minimum of 14,000 calories of food, incidentals, and water. Past TPU runners have not gone below 20-liter capacity.

Stage racing backpacks: A little more detail…

In a survey of past TPU runners, we found that many packed all the way down to a 20-liter pack. This requires tremendous discipline (or lots of practice), but the advantage of a light, small pack can’t be overemphasized! Bear in mind, however, that if your pack is so full that you have to strap your sleeping bag to the exterior, you’ve just added a bit of bounce to your pack. However, re-packing as you eat some food and complete the 6 stage race can help to overcome this issue.

While everyone’s different, a long-distance rule-of-thumb is that you only carry 10% of your body weight on your back. So a 150-pound man would carry a maximum of 15 pounds. With a week’s food, a sleeping bag, safety gear and the pack itself, this can be a colossally difficult standard, but it’s a good starting point. Food alone might weigh 10-12 pounds at the beginning of the week (more about food in a later post) so finding ways to minimize weight elsewhere is important.

In general, you’re going to want the lightest pack possible that is still functional and offers a certain degree of comfort! The lightest packs have almost no structure: no frame, hip-belt or any way of transferring weight off your shoulders. They are simply bags with straps. Alternatively, you can get an internal frame pack that will transfer up to 70% of the weight to your hips. Something in-between would be a frame-less pack with pods that give form to the pack and thus can transfer some weight off your shoulders.

A hip-belt can relieve your upper body but it adds weight to the pack and can be an additional chafing point, especially with the bounce of running. Frame packs may work better for those planning to mostly hike TPU.

The frame-less packs that mount as vests with wide front panels, hug the body and keep the load closer to your center of gravity, also prevent bouncing and chafing. These bags also have the added feature of water bottle holders in front, making them easier to refill than hydration bladders. Some runners will carry both, with the bladder for backup - but it’s not necessary.

Here are a few representative packs to show you the sort of choices you have:

 

RaidLight Olmo Ultra Raid Desert 20L + 4L Front Pack - Avg price, $179

Especially designed for stage races, the new Ultra Raid Desert 20L bag allows you to take all the necessary equipment with you for races. At 1 lb. 8 oz. ergonomically integrated back and shoulder straps, bottle pockets on vest front, insulated bladder sleeve, multiple small pockets, designed specifically for multi-day events like Trans-Pecos Ultra. This pack remains one of the most common among all TPU participants. Also available in 30L without front pouch.

WAA Ultra Equipment UltraBag 20L+ 4L Pouch (optional) - Avg price, $215

Designed by the experts of ultra-endurance races, the UltraBag was designed and built to meet the needs of the most demanding races like the Marathon des Sables or the most intense multi day FKT attempts. At 1 lb. 5 oz bag only, with optional bottle holders (1.5 oz each) and front pocket (1.5 oz), wide vest-type straps, rectangular shape, 20-liter capacity, designed specifically for Marathon des Sables and now a great option for Trans-Pecos Ultra.

Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 - Avg price, $115 (Amazon)

Providing all the features and capacity you need and nothing more, the Fastpack 20 is a streamlined pack that will get you there and get it done. At 1 lb. 3 oz. vest front with pockets for water bottles/maps/camera, rear stuff pocket, roll-top closure, water-resistant, 20-liter capacity. This pack was worn by TPU2015 2nd place finisher, and Coach Cheryl Tulkoff.

 

Osprey Talon 22L - Avg price, $75 (Amazon)

With an updated AirScape™ backpanel, a continuous hipbelt wrap for incredible comfort and a suspension system that stabilized loads for dynamic activities, the Talon 22 remains the most versatile day hiking pack ever built. At 1 lb. 7 oz. External sleeve for easy access to hydration bladder, wide hip belt to transfer some weight off shoulders, mesh back panel for cooling. The Tempest 20 is a female-specific alternative to the Talon. Great for those hiking TPU.

-Author Notes: Sheryl Colmer was a volunteer at TPU2016 and now writes about all things Big Bend, stage racing, and TPU!

 

Keeping Cool to Avoid Heat Injury
Trans-Pecos Ultra

Keeping Cool to Avoid Heat Injury

Endurance & Ultra Marathon Blog Post

Author: Dr. Aaron Reilly, DO | Medical Director

 

Heat injury is a constant looming threat in the desert environment of the Southwest. The best way to combat heat injury is to be aware of how your body responds to heat, and to prepare well in advance.

 

The equation is simple: heat loss has to equal heat generation. General metabolic processes in the body generate heat, however with intense physical activity heat production can be up to 20x greater. Our bodies lose heat by two primary mechanisms: evaporation (heat liberation by liquid changing into a vapor), and radiation (heat transfer from a warm object into cooler air).

 

Evaporation occurs by sweating, and radiation occurs by shunting blood from the body’s core out to the skin. Under normal conditions, these mechanisms work quite well, however there are several environmental and individual factors that can reduce heat loss and lead to heat accumulation.

 

The environmental factors that affect heat loss are related to humidity and temperature. As humidity reaches 100%, sweat evaporation is impaired as the air has “no room” to accept vaporized sweat molecules. In regards to radiation, as the ambient temperature gets closer to body temperature (~35°C/95°F), the heat transfer gradient equalizes. Therefore, when the environmental temperatures increases above body temperature, the heat gradient reverses and favors heat transfer to the body.

 

There are a multitude of individual factors that lead to heat accumulation. Skin conditions that impair the body’s ability to sweat increase the risk of heat injury. In addition, anything that decreases the body’s ability to shunt blood to the skin, such as poor overall fitness, certain medications, heart conditions, and dehydration, can impair heat loss. Even substances such as performance enhancers, caffeine, and psychiatric medications can increase metabolic heat production.

Ultimately, the biggest individual risk factor for heat injury is a previous episode.

So what is the best way to prevent heat injury? Prepare well in advance. It is well established that heat acclimation training helps both reduce heat injury and increase performance in a hot environment.

 

A general program is to perform moderate exercise in an environment that mimics the race locale, 90 minutes per day for 14 days. This has been shown to increase both sweating and shunting efficiency, and also develops heat shock proteins, which protects your body against heat injury.

 

Additional practices to reduce the risk of heat injury during exercise include having a safe hydration plan (see blog post on Staying Hydrated, the safe way), regulating exercise intensity, and periodic rest in the shade as needed. Clothing that protects from solar radiation or using damp cloths can also help keep you cool.

 

In summary, prepare in advance for exercise in the heat by performing heat training. Stay adequately hydrated, and take rests as needed to allow the body to cool. Make sure to document any previous history of heat injury, as well as all of your medications on your medical form so that we can effectively counsel you in regards to your risk.

 

Have thoughts? Leave a comment below or feel free to email with any questions.

Foot Care – Info and Resources
Trans-Pecos Ultra

Foot Care - Info and Resources

Happy feet make for a happy runner.

 

A message from race medical director, Dr. Aaron Reilly, DO - It goes without saying that taking care of your feet during a multi-day ultra is imperative. Foot problems have often ended races for competitors and can involve several days to weeks of painful recovery. There are several good resources both in print and online in regards to tips for prevention and treatment of foot problems.

 

One great resource is the site “Fixing Your Feet” written by John Vonhof. He works several events as medical foot support, including the Western States and Badwater ultras. You can review his website or his book for great tips and tricks in avoiding race ending foot problems.

 

Some of the basics of foot care, specifically blister prevention, involve basic maintenance of your feet. Blisters form by two mechanisms: friction and shear forces. Managing fiction alone is not enough. Runners should trim their toenails short and manage foot calluses as these are common areas for friction and provide a layer for shearing forces. Each individual needs to find the best shoe/sock combination, which can be very unique. Taking recommendations from others can be a good source of information, but just because it works for one runner, don’t assume it will work for everyone. Gaiters may also help keep sand and small pebbles from finding their way into shoes, which can cause areas of friction and irritation. Other helpful prevention may involve pre-treating common problem spots with taping or lubricating anti-friction products.

 

Moisture is another enemy of healthy feet. Runners should take advantage of any chance to remove shoes and socks and let their feet air out, with application of foot powder to keep them dry. It is also beneficial to have a lightweight pair of open sandals/flip-flops to allow the feet to dry out while in camp.

 

Treating blisters should also be practiced as much as practical, and each athlete should be familiar with the items in their kit and how to tape various foot locations. Overall, just like nutrition, foot care is highly individualized and a plan should be in place well in advance.

 

Participants at Trans-Pecos Ultra will be expected to perform their own basic blister taping with guidance from medical personnel if desired. The medical personnel will be available at every checkpoint, as well as camp and will always be available to give advice and help keep you on the course.

 

Remember, Trans-Pecos Ultra is a self-supported race, therefore foot care will be the primary responsibility of each participant, who are required to carry a foot care kit, as outlined below, but should carry more if significant issues are expected based on previous experience. Runners will be expected to perform their own basic blister taping with guidance from medical personnel if desired. The medical personnel will always be available to give advice and help keep runners on the course. If assistance is needed with foot care, the athlete should present to medical with their own foot care supplies, as providing enough supplies for every runner is impossible.

 

Foot care kit:

Minimal requirements (additional supplies should be added based off of expected issues or previous experience)

  • Needles (x 2) – 18 gauge hypodermic needles preferred, LARGE safety pins
  • Elastic therapeutic tape – 36”/92cm length (recommended: 2” RockTape H2O, although other tapes are acceptable) – tape should preferably be elastic and porous
  • Iris scissors for trimming tape
  • Benzoin swabs/pads (x2)
  • Alcohol pads (x6)

Optional supplies (recommended)

  • Foot lubricant (i.e. Trail Toes or other similar silicone based anti-friction product) or foot powder
  • Hydrogel dressing (i.e. 2nd Skin)
  • Blister pads (i.e. MoleSkin product)

Have Questions?

Leave a comment down below and our race medical director, Dr. Aaron Reilly, DO will answer your questions.