Needless to say, there is a lot of crossover between ultrarunning and long-distance hiking. As I’ve been preparing both mentally and physically for my upcoming 100-day thru-hike, I’ve noticed more and more similarities between the two sports, and it seems that hikers are dressing and eating more like ultrarunners every year (*ahem*, Altras). So, I thought I would outline a few other skills I’ve picked up from the ultrarunning community that I plan to bring along on the Appalachian Trail this year.
Mantras
During an ultramarathon, it can sometimes get pretty lonely out there. During the Buff Troodos Mountain Ultra last October, which took me nearly 16 hours to complete, I both started and finished the race in the dark. Being one of the slower runners out there, I had a lot of time alone with which to doubt my abilities and sanity for participating in such an event. However, I learned some ago that most ultrarunners heavily use mantras (phrases, mottos, slogans, or statements) to get them through the darkest (no pun intended) moments in a race. By vocalizing something meaningful, you can get re-inspired and extra motivated to complete the task at hand – or, at the very least, distract yourself for a while. I use mantras heavily during all of my long races to remind myself why I’m there and why I shouldn’t quit. I found that the best way to vocalize mantras is to match the syllables my running or walking cadence and repeat. This helps me to get in both a movement and breathing rhythm which I may not always have the mental clarity to remember to do. Some of my favorite mantras include:
- “Don’t Ring The Bell (related to Navy SEAL training whereby recruits can ring a bell to end their training)”
- “Accept The Suffering”
- “RFM (Relentless Forward Motion)”
- “The Only Way Out Is Through”
- “No Pressure, No Diamonds”
- “Embrace the Suck”
- “Hard Choices, Easy Life. Easy Choices, Hard Life”
Some of these mantras are borrowed from other runners, but some I came up with on my own. It’s important that they mean something to you in order to be effective, otherwise you not only won’t remember them but they won’t have the same effect. Not only that, sometimes different mantras work for different situations (for example, some for distraction and some for motivation). I keep a note on my phone with a list of all my mantras should I be in need and unable to remember.
I know that tough times are coming on the Appalachian Trail. I know that the Virginia Blues are no joke, but I’m sure I’ll have many more dark moments on the trail that music and audiobooks won’t be able to break me out of. During those times, I’ll break out my trusty mantras and refocus my efforts to pull through.
Quick Calories
One of the best ways to cut time off an ultramarathon finish is to spend less time at the aid stations. Sounds pretty basic, but it can be harder than you think to pull yourself up to run more after having done a marathon (or two) already. Also, the aid stations at ultramarathons tend to be more like buffets than the water-only offerings at your typical road race. Most I’ve visited have fruit, candy, soda, chips, and homemade goodies to refuel on before heading back on the trail.
The best way I have found to reduce time at aid stations is to simply avoid things that would make me linger. For example, I try to take my pack off as infrequently as possible (unless I need a water refill) and only take what nutrition I can carry in my hands or pack pockets. That way, I avoid getting too comfortable and having to fight the urge to keep going when it’s hard enough already.
Once I have my fuel, I get back on the trail as soon as possible by getting away from the aid station. I take my snacks with me and eat on the go, usually just walking, which both allows me a break from running but also keeps me moving and making progress.
My favorite product for quick calories during a race is gels, specifically the ones from Manuka Sport. These things are super easy to take in without being too watery like SIS gels or, even worse, like toothpaste (e.g. Gu). Use my referral code, FF9898, for a 10% discount on all Manuka Sport products – plus free shipping!
I plan to apply this same on-the-go approach to nutrition during my thru-hike. I will mount the Zpacks Multi-Pack to my chest and store all my snacks for the day in that pouch where they are easy to access. By having everything in front, I won’t have to stop and take off my pack nearly as much and can eat on the go all day long, saving boatloads of time. While gels haven’t quite made their mark in the hiking circles, I think that will soon change. Either way, I’ll be carrying ManukaSport products the whole way!
Gaiters
Gaiters are becoming much more popular among thru-hikers these days, and for good reason. When I first started trailrunning, I thought these ridiculous pieces of cloth people were wearing on their feet were useless and looked silly – until I tried them.
To be clear, when most people think of “gaiters” on the trail, they think of the clunky winter gaiters that explorers wear to trek through an avalanche:
Those are not what we are talking about in this instance. Instead, what I mean by gaiters are the lightweight lycra ones that are made specifically for hiking and trailrunning. A very popular brand is Dirty Girl, who make some of the best, cheapest, and easiest to use gaiters. They attach to your shoes with a small metal shoelace hook on the front and a strip of velcro at the back. If you have a pair of Altras (and who doesn’t, nowadays?), they fit perfectly with their Gaiter Trap system and weigh only .9oz/pair.
Although they aren’t waterproof, nor are they designed to keep water from entering your shoes, they work flawlessly at keeping dirt and rocks out which can be a huge time (and frustration) saver.
I wear my gaiters for every single trail run and race, and I plan to wear them for the entirety of my thru-hike. Going back to the efficiency of time savings provided by eating on the go, wearing gaiters can help prevent time lost to emptying one’s shoes or dealing with an injury related to trail debris or ticks that may be hiding in or around your socks. Even one small stone in your shoe can cause injury or blisters if left unattended, so why even bother? Throw on the gaiters and forget about it!
Foot care
Closely related to the wearing of gaiters is foot care in general. If there’s any group other than long-distance hikers who have foot care figured out, it’s ultrarunners. One of the best resources I have come across is John Vonhof’s book Fixing Your Feet, which explains in great detail the importance of taking care of your feet. Here’s a quick excerpt from the author’s website:
Every athlete, from the first-timer to the experienced, must make the choice to be either reactive or proactive. Being reactive means taping hot spots and fixing blisters when they develop. It can mean making fixes under less than idea conditions, with less than adequate materials and in a manner does not work for your particular foot problem. Being proactive, on the other hand, means discovering before an event, what works for your feet and knowing how to treat any potential problems before they develop. This means knowing what resources are available to use, trying out blister fixes before an event, and pre-race taping of your feet where hot spots and blisters typically develop.
The best advice I’ve heard on the subject is that “ultramarathons are all ‘above the shoulders and below the ankles'”, e.g. it’s very much about mental stamina and foot care. Zach covers the mental aspect well in Appalachian Trials, and I think Fixing Your Feet is a great companion for the other half of the equation. As Vonhof says, it comes down to knowing where you’re vulnerable (weak ankles, hot spots), working on them prior to your trip, and taking care of them if/when they arise.
Of the estimated 5 million steps one will take on a thru-hike, it is imperative that I take care of my feet along the way. Ever since I started wearing Altra Lone Peak shoes, I haven’t had even a single blister throughout all of my races and training. As such, I will be sticking with Altras for the entirety of the AT. I’m also a big fan of Drymax socks which, as the name suggests, dry exceptionally fast and can help eliminate excess moisture which can lead to blisters. Despite having my tried-and-true combination of footwear and socks, I will still bring the appropriate tools (KT Tape, needle) should I need them.
Tortoise vs. Hare
Everyone knows the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, the age-old “slow and steady wins the race” axiom. Something similar in the ultrarunning community is “no one ever said, ‘I wish I started faster'”. When I won my first 50k ultramarathon, I started in the very back of the pack and kept a consistent effort throughout the day. I didn’t start passing people until the last 8 miles or so, all of whom had gone out of the gate faster than they anticipated and had the wheels fall off later on. Ultrarunner Cory Reese, author of Nowhere Near First: Ultramarathon Adventures From The Back Of The Pack (who is, in fact, a very strong competitor) says that “your effort throughout a race should be like spreading peanut butter on a slice of bread: smooth and consistent“.
I’m planning to hike the AT in 100 days , which means I’ll be putting up some high-mileage days. Instead of going balls-to-the wall and bonking/injuring myself, I will commit to longer, slower days to get the miles in. This is what I’ve found to work for ultramarathons, and what Andrew Skurka (a renowned ultrarunner in addition to being a backpacking legend) recommends as well.
Summary
In sum, there is a lot of crossover between ultrarunning and thru-hiking. It appears that the two are converging as ultramarathons get longer and backpacks get lighter, and as such it behooves us all to take what skills we can from the other sport in order to help make for a better experience outside. Although I was primarily a hiker until a couple of years ago, many of the skills and tips I have learned through ultrarunning will help immensely during my upcoming AT hike and I can’t wait to put them to use!
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Brandon Chase is a writer, endurance athlete, and guide based in Maine. He is a former Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State and spent nearly a decade overseas serving at embassies in Egypt, Cyprus, and Pakistan.
Along with a 98-day thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, he has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, hiked the West Highland Way, fastpacked in the Himalayas, and trekked around New Zealand and South Africa. He also regularly competes in ultramarathons at the 50k, 50-mile, and 100-mile distances. He is a Lead Guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures and the New England Outdoor Center.