I should have added “Wild Weather” to yesterday’s blog.  We were promised the possibility of 4 seasons being experienced in one day, but today has truly been amazing.  SNOW – and lots of it.  The whole city shut down with incoming flights cancelled (oh the poor runners trying to get here for tomorrow’s journey to camp 1) and a winter scene outside the hotel that despite all of the drama is pure beauty!  We got out for a short walk about to the local market for water and snacks and truly enjoyed the magic of it all – cool and fresh – and what a way to celebrate the summer solstice today.  It looks like the forecast ahead does NOT include more snow but will give us mid temps (60’s), fluctuating low enough to appreciate down coats and thick sleeping bags, and high enough to enjoy the course during the day, the only pitfall expected to be high winds; but being an eternal optimist, I trust that the wind will be at my back pushing me forward in the right direction!

The time change and jet lag has definitely played with my perception of the day — I have to check my watch for date and time but the last 2 days have fallen in to the same routine.  Up at 4-5am – hellos to Rob and Ella awakening in NYC and immediately tending to a very busy NY – emails, calls, and surprisingly, facetimes.  I think people like “talking with Mongolia” – it’s something like Mr. Peterman in Seinfeld, Elaine’s boss, who was always off on some far flung adventure.  Today the hours flew by to the point where I knew I had to break as NY went to sleep and west coast business was just dying down. I feel a little bit like an astronaut who only has certain hours of connection with Earth – time to be anticipated and well used – and then when the link drops and everyone goes to bed I can return to gear prep. 

I have been asked by those unfamiliar with adventures such as this one, (ultramarathon, stages and self-supported) about the logistics, and I promised to share a bit with a blog:  What’s in Iris’ pack?  I sure wanted to know myself over the last few weeks and am pleased to say that I just did my final pack and for the first time (this is my 4^th RTP adventure) not only did it all fit right away, but I have ROOM TO SPARE (don’t let anyone else know – I am NOT carrying anything extra for anyone!  Joke, but no joke!).  And with my trusty luggage scale I clocked it in at 24 pounds, which is my lightest pack yet. I’ve been training at home with anywhere from 16-22 pounds (including my day pack for work) so there is relief in knowing that day 1, which is always the heaviest with the most amount of gear and food, won’t be a surprising challenge.

What’s in the box????? (film quote for some of you who may know…..Brad Pitt wining in the film: Se7en)

Or rather – what’s in the rucksack????? (and NO, not what Brad found in his box)

what is in there? EVERYTHING, well just about, that I will need to make it through the 7 days, 155 miles.

(except for what Racing the Planet provides: shared tents at night; fire and hot water to heat our food, and more importantly coffee; water throughout to refill our water bottles totaling 1.5 liters of water at every checkpoint (that’s another 3 pounds added to my pack); and the absolute best support, comradery, humor, and (often) bad jokes throughout check points, starting and finish lines and when you least expect it on the course – truly(!), they just pop up!)

All items below are required and checked on Day 1 before you are given a bib and allowed to start the race.  If something is missing either you are penalized or you may not be allowed to start.  As often happens, items are forgotten, luggage lost, etc which has prompted a wonderful tradition of many runners bringing LOADS of extra gear with them to the far flung locations to help eachother out.  This year is no different with an overactive Whatsapp group of “the helpers” (Mr. Rogers would be proud of this group of people).  And with that activity of lost & found, there are lots of visits from hotel room to hotel room, mine included – with my lend of items to others, and (ugh) my miscalculation of water bottles needed (thank you Vickie and Alisher – not only for helping me out, but for getting a chance to meet and talk strategies!).

FOOD:

We are required to have a minimum of 14,000 calories for the week which is made up of freeze dried foods, sports gels, energy bars, nutrition supplements, etc. all bagged by day to make sure that everything is accounted for, especially for the ever challenging long stage (50 miles) which I anticipate will take me anywhere from 20-22 hours pending the course.

I’ve morphed over the years from high carb mac and cheese type choices to NEXT MILE foods, which is lo carb and low in sugar (2 changes in my life that have made a huge impact on me, my energy levels, and my overall health).  The fun part is repacking each freeze-dried package (the original packaging great if you are just camping) to a lighter Ziplock for the race (it’s all about the final weight of the pack, every ounce counts).  My room became a coke den of Cajun spices, jambalaya tid bits, and accounting for each and every oxygen absorber packet that states DO NOT EAT and be sure to remove prior to doing so!  With such long hours on the course it is to my benefit to take that time NOW so when it is dark, and I am exhausted I don’t find myself chewing on one and wondering if I have just poisoned myself!

A few zip locks of a mix of oatmeal and granola (lo sugar) with a Justin’s almond packet (yum, hazelnut or maple) is my new morning go to.  I found all to quickly on the last race that although I like eggs every day at home, freeze dried and on the course becomes unpalatable immediately. 

  * a special note to Ella who has designated me the ziplock queen (which I do not dispute) – my apologies – I have not tallied my use of zip locks for this race, but I do believe that my title will remain.  I will leave it at that *

Subcategory SNACKS:  ever so important and often the food that doesn’t get eaten, but is just nice to know you have it.  NUTS with protein balls dried fruit.  MOON CHEESE (my absolute favorite).  A piece of jerky for something different when I can no longer eat food (that usually hits by Day 2 or 3 and I need to push to eat and keep the fuel burning).

And what should be its own category COFFEE.  I found a great new addition to my pack – a teabag of coffee that tastes so much better than instant.  ‘STEEPED COFFEE’ where have you been all my life?  An addition of my high protein hot chocolate to my coffee makes for a perfect morning as I am usually one of the first up and love to enjoy a cup by the fire watching the stars turn to sunrise.  The hot choco not only adds taste, but calories and the all important pursuit of protein.

ENERGY and ELECTROLYTES:

I won’t go in to a full description here but just mention my go-to’s currently.  UCAN has been the best for me (no sugar) for their ENERGY (which goes in to one of my running water bottles) and ELECTROLYTES (which goes in to the other running water bottle).  I leapfrog through the day between an occasional UCAN Energy Bar for something more solid, salt tabs if I can’t take anymore Ucan, and Sports Beans for a boost and to feed my soul with a treat if needed.

CLOTHES:

Not too much here.  The race has its requirements to make sure you are well provided for throughout but basically 2 pairs of running pants and 2 tops (1 of the 2 being worn); a warm coat, a rain coat (and poncho for extreme), and minimum suggested numbers of undergarments to layer as needed.  Running gaiters are super helpful with rocks, and the sand dunes.

GEAR:

Sleep is one of my most important aspects of the race I have an awesome lightweight sleeping bag along with my 1 of 2 new items for the race: an air mattress.  I’m a LITTLE worried about puncture possibilities, but the view of my entire tent in Lapland looking like they were floating on clouds while I was in a divet with a boulder under my ass….well, you get the idea.  I’m convinced.  Will let you know how that all turns out.  It’s the blowing up part I’ll need energy for at the end of the night….. The rest of the gear a long list of headlamps (and back ups, especially needed for the Long Stage – 50 miles), first aid kits, toilet paper/toothbrush/etc, compass, whistle, waterproof bag (for the backpack to account for river crossings – don’t want to end a race because of your pack being water logged!).  The optional items I lean on and my #1 favorite piece of gear are my trekking poles.  I never even knew they existed but for Patagonia I brought a pair and they quickly saved my butt on more moments on the course than I can even mention.  Since then I rely on the confidence they give me, and the extra hours they lend my legs and body – amazing sticks!

And ALL of that has to fit in to my backpack — my second piece of NEW gear for this race.  I went for it an got myself an Ultralight — the one I stared at with envy at past races, and wow, what a difference.  OM has done me good in the past, but now with a better frame OFF of my lower back so I can sweat – and padding around the waist belt – and so many smart pockets and tethers – well, I think I am in love.  Again, I’ll update after this trek, but oh my!  I just finished my first (and ONLY) pack and am convinced it was a good choice.

Well the hours are ticking by – and news of diverted runners making it to new flights and getting in to Ulaanbaatar is good news.  I’m sure there will be lots of stories to tell around the first campfire tomorrow.  Early morning briefings, check ins by tent to make sure all gear is accounted for and a 2pm departure to camp 1.  I have heard anything from 3 to 6 hours to get there…..again, depending on the WILD TRAFFIC (do you sense a theme here?) so we will see.  The race starts Sunday morning at 8AM.  Weeeeeeeee!