KIT TAKEN ON FREEDOM RUN
It’s always quite useful if you are contemplating a big event such as my run in South Africa to know what to take, here is my list of kit that I took out with me.
Great bit of kit. I used it every day for 32 days and it worked like a dream – except for the Salomon soft flask bottles that leaked (extremely frustrating). The vest could be adjusted as I lost weight preventing it from moving around, bouncing and rubbing.
I could easily have done with a smaller size pack when we had the crew vehicle with us but it wouldn’t have been large enough when we were away from the crew – this pack was the perfect choice for me.
I have worn Hokas exclusively since July 2011. My first big race in them was The Spartathlon where I came away with one very small blister and legs that had never felt so good after a long run (placed 3rd Female).
I took 4 pairs of Hoka One One’s with me to South Africa, two pairs of Stinson trail in my normal size, one pair of Mafate Speed in my normal size and a larger size Stinson (these I never used)
The Hokas were alternated each day. They did the job brilliantly, giving me the support and cushioning I needed (especially over rocky/stoney sections).
The Mafate Speed have a narrower fit but with better grip, these would be used if I knew we had long technical sections away from the crew. I really feel on long distance runs that these have been my saviour.
There was no requirement for the larger size as my feet didn’t swell at all.
Most days my feet were wet from all the water we had to wade through, the Hokas drained well and although wet my feet felt comfortable and “dry”
I have been using Profeet custom insoles for years now and I’m definitely a huge fan – in fact I love them.
Before you’re fitted with your insoles Profeet will analyse your lower body and feet movement through video gait analysis followed by a dynamic foot scan (this is where you have to run up and down the length of their shop making sure you land one of your feet on the mat (this is when the scan is taken) I always seem to run very oddly when I do this! All this information helps to provide you with custom insoles that give you the right support and cushioning for your particular feet. I have particularly weak ankles (especially my left one) and very flexible toes so for me the insoles really are a godsend supporting my weird but marvellous feet in the right way. Due to the extreme distances I run a bit of extra padding is placed at the bottom of the insole under the ball of my foot – perfect.
“A mould of your foot is taken using state of the art vacuum technology (imagine a hi tech footprint in the sand), a composite insole is then placed between your foot and the mould and which then forms to your exact foot shape in a few minutes.
Finally your insoles are hand finished with high density foam added to customise the support and ensure they work correctly with your shoes.
Not only does this provide the perfect support for your foot, but it also improves balance by improving contact between the foot, shoe and terrain and increasing muscle activation.”
Bauerfeind MalleoTrain S Ankle Support. My main concern during the expedition was that my left ankle wouldn’t hold up during the technical sections. In 2008 I had caused a huge amount of damage to my ligaments and tendons which had left my ankle weak and at risk of twisting easily.
The ankle supports were only used on the really technical sections and were great. I could fit them comfortably over my socks and the straps that came from the bottom of the foot, round the ankles gave my ligaments fantastic support. If I did go over on my ankle the pain was much more manageable & I could continue running (or staggering!)
SOCKS – 20 pairs
Finally to finish off the lower part of my body I’m extremely lucky to have the best socks in the world – Wigwam Single Trax Pro. I have been using Wigwam socks for many years and absolutely love them.
They are made from Merino Wool and have a cushioned sole. I prefer socks that come up to just above my ankles so that sand/debris can’t get in from the top and again I don’t notice when they are wet.
Between my Hoka One One’s, Single Trax Pro socks & Profeet Custom Insoles my feet were well and truly looked after during the 2,000km run and I came away with one small blister.
RUNNING CLOTHES:
5 x X-Bionic running pants (shorts)
1 x Long X-Bionic running tights
2 x 3/4 length X-Bionic Running tights
2 pairs different make shorts
2 x short sleeved X-Bionic Trick running shirt in turquoise
2 x X-Bionic Fennec shirt
1 x Pink X-Bionic Short sleeved running shirt
1 x white X-Bionic Short Sleeved running shirt (dyed pink)
1 x Trick long sleeved X-Bionic Running shirt
1 x Long sleeved pink & white X-Bionic running shirt
ALL my shorts, running tights and tops were great to run in.
1 x Sphere Wind Jacket – X-Bionic – this was absolutely fantastic and really did what it said on the tin, great bit of kit.
2 x X-Bionic recovery socks – FANTASTIC bit of kit. At the end of each day after my shower I would put on my recovery socks and not take them off until the morning.
Soma Cap Light (pink of course) X-Bionic. This was perfect for the early mornings when it was very cold. One morning was minus 2 so definitely helped to keep me warm.
2 x X-Bionic arm warmers – I used these most days when the temperature dropped, saved having to put a jacket on and off. The only negative was that having quite small top of the arms they would fall down having worn them several times. The solution was to wear them the wrong way up (i.e. the wrist end up at the top of the arm) then they fitted perfectly!
Calf guards – X-Bionic. I only used these once but very comfortable.
Each member of the team was provided with an excellent winter running jacket from Brooks. These proved to be invaluable for everyone. Mine was used most mornings for the first half an hour or so when the temperatures really were cold.
2 pairs of gloves – always used first thing in the morning and had a pair in my pack in case I needed them (hate cold hands)
Compression recovery tights – one pair – (given to me by a South African Friend before Kalahari Extreme Marathon). These were worn each night and I believe really helped my legs recover during the night.
BUFFS – These are an invaluable piece of kit for any runner. I used one as a bandana when I didn’t have my hat on and when the weather got very hot I would wet the buff and use it to cool down.
Montane Minimus Waterproof Pants – I only had to wear these once for about an hour and half but they certainly did their job. I used them last year in The Spine and they are truly waterproof.
This Marmot Womans Essence Waterproof Jacket is superb. Lightweight, definitely keeps the water out and a great colour!
Sunwise Sunglasses – very lightweight and comfortable to wear.
My running kit was absolutely wonderful, I have no complaints at all. Everything worked as it should have done, no chaffing, scratching or itching and no blistered feet.
EQUIPMENT:
Roller Massage Roller (thanks to Profeet) This was an invaluable piece of equipment. Not only was it used during the day to alleviate tight muscles but I would use mine each evening after my shower and again before going to bed. The roller could also be used for trigger point release.
I took two gamins out with me, one for Samantha and I to use and the other for the vehicle but also as backup in case ours broke.
The one used by the runners was the Garmin GPSMAP 62st extremely simple to use, robust and worked 99% of the time. The battery life was very good but I did change the batteries at the end of each day as I didn’t want to get caught in the middle of nowhere not knowing where to go. The controls on the garmin are simple and the screen is nice and large so easy to see. (I felt lost if someone else had control of it!!)
I also had two compasses (one spare just in case!)
HEADTORCHES:
We were very lucky to be lent AY UP LIGHTING SYSTEMS head torches (they even come in pink) They have a battery pack attached but boy do they give you the most amazing amount of light and comfortable to wear. Not something you would take on a staged race as they weigh too much but on an event where you have drop bags or crew they are absolutely fantastic (I was very tempted to sneak mine back home!)
Suunto Ambit 2 – just love this watch. I was lucky enough to be given it before attempting my Double Spartathlon in 2013 and haven’t looked back. The watch was set to update data every 16s and was incredibly accurate with the distances covered each day.
I had it set so I could see our altitude, ascent, decent, temperature and average pace. The only disadvantage for me was not being able to download the data onto my laptop each evening. The watch only stores a certain amount of information so will bump off the oldest logged exercise. To get round this I recorded most of the data each night in my journal.
Elete Electrolyte is a product that I have been using for many years and works really well. In South Africa it would be put into all my drinks during the day and if needed I would also add it to my drinks when I had finished for the day.
“The elete range of 100% natural, ionically charged electrolyte products are derived from the solar evaporation of the mineral-rich water of the Great Salt Lake in Utah with nothing else added. elete contains all four of the key electrolytes (magnesium, potassium, chloride and sodium) in an ionically charged form together with other beneficial naturally occurring trace and ultra trace elements which, together with water, assists the body to:
Maintain hydration
Prevent muscle cramps
Sustain energy and endurance
Enhance mental focus”
I never once suffered from muscle cramps and remained dehydration was never an issue. It’s easy to use and because there is no taste can be put anything, including your food! A great product.
Now you might well laugh but this was absolutely definitely the best bit of kit I took out with me. For the first two weeks the weather was very cold first thing in the morning and once the sun went down and as I had no one in keep me warm at night my hotty was just marvellous!
After I finish running my body temperature always drops so it really did help having something to keep me warm or help easy my muscles with ice then heat.
Everyone on Freedom Runners were lucky enough to be given a pair of AfterShokz Bone construction headphones. I listened to music a few times during the run (poor Samantha had to put up with my singing and bad dancing) and found these headphones absolutely perfect for the job. I could hear everything that was going on around me and listen to my music at the same time – perfection!
At the end of each day we would plug ourselves into our Micro Doctors. This helps with the regeneration of damaged muscle/ligament and tendon.
I also took a comprehensive medical kit with me including antibiotics for my chest as I’m an asthmatic. (thankfully I never had to use them)
I’m bound to have left something off the list so if I think of anything I will add it.
I hope it is of some use and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to send me an email.
Happy Training.
