100 Miler Check List

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Experience From - Andy Holak , Tracey Grzegorczyk , Ray Zirblis , Dave Olney ,


Andy Holak

I'm wondering if any of you have an organized checklist of what you take for a 100 mile trail run. I have a feeling that many of you do. I've always been a pretty laid back runner, not stressing out a lot about what I have or my equipment, just running. As someone said recently, running really is a pretty simple thing. But....after three years of ultrarunning, running races of 50 miles or less, I'm attempting my first 100 miler! So, I'm actually getting a little excited/nervous/stressed(just a little). I don't want to forget anything. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!


Tracey Grzegorczyk

I thought it might be helpful to post an old list I have of things I've used in Ultimate Ultra Crew Kits. Whether left as a drop bag, or carried by one of your crew, this kit can get you through most tight spots and back to running. While all this stuff can be thrown into a shoebox or grocery bag, the ideal way to pack it is in a fishing-tackle box. Yes, I'm serious... all those little trays makes it much easier to find what you're looking for without wasting time.

From memory, so I'm sure I'm leaving out something important, the list included:

Other custom items might include:

I've mostly used kits like this for runs of 50 miles or longer, or at track ultras of 12-24 hours, but it wouldn't hurt to stow it in the trunk of your car for any ultra race. Covers most things that might happen at an ultra: falling, feeling sick, blisters, muscle cramps, heat, general pain."


Ray Zirblis

This is going to come across as much more organized than I actually am, but maybe it will help you out. I break my stuff down into mental catagories that become piles on my bedroom floor, and then get put into stuff sacks for the car, as follows:

One final catagory is sleeping and camping gear if needed. Excepting the last catagory, this more or less can all fit into a medium to large duffle bag. Then, on the spot, I make final decisions and decide on what goes in the drop bags. I rarely have had a crew, but if I did I'd consider pit stop items such as a folding chair, flashlights, maps, money, etc. And I've almost always got five or six bottles of water rolling around on the car floor.

If I am flying, I do the same catagories with a 3rd of the items, so that I can bring my luggage carry-on. My dream is to be like my pal, Newton Baker, who goes to a hundred miler with a small bag that wouldn't hold me on an afternoon trip to the gym, but I'm not there yet. To me, packing light is an exercise like being concise in writing. It takes me lots of time, and I rarely do it for runs.


Dave Olney

Being an obsessive planner, I have an ultra checklist that I've been refining for the past 15+ years. Of course, you have to customize it to your own preferences and the kind of "stuff" you use, but here's my list:

1. Items

2. Things to do before leaving home:

3. Things to do the day before the race:

4. Things to do race day morning:

5. Things for crew to remember: