Self Sufficiency

[Drama Queen]

I was just wondering how many, if any, are going to be doing the Fling without support?

Satan and myself had been mulling over actually carrying everything that we need for the day. Anyone else thinking the same thing?

[georger]

No support for me, but with 4 relay teams from club running loads of folks around for moral support.

I could carry everything but might use drop bags just because they are their.

Decisions decisions

[summer]

I aim to be self sufficient, Tricia

[johnk]

No Support for me ;D

[Tim]

Glad to hear all this talk of self sufficiency. I've always felt that support of any kind (even drop bags) diminishes the challenge somewhat.

The trickiest part I think is finding a form of sustenance that light enough to carry & give you the required nutrition that doesn't make you feel heartily sick by the end.

I survived (mostly) on mini-mars bars last year but I've not been able to look at one since. Water isn't really a problem as there are plenty of clean streams along the way by Loch Lomond. I would suggest filling up before you've gone too far past Beinglas as the presence of cows & sheep makes the cleanliness of the water after that a bit suspect.

Alas, I'm in no shape to break any PBs this year so I'll probably be using drop bags.

[Drama Queen]

I don't know about it making it a challenge. I think that 53 miles will always be a challenge. I just like the thought of doing it myself (oooooooeeerrrrrrrrrr!). Doing it solo (OOOOOooooooeeerrrrrrrrr!).

Saturday there did 36 miles. Drank two bottles of water, a can of coke at Kingshouse and had my usual pint of milk before we started. I think two more bottles of water should see me through. That is about 2kg.

It isn't that much in comparison to the amount that I was carrying in Spain. In fact, does anyone want a cokieback?

[Tim]

Thinking about it, I've very tempted to do it without drop bags again (assuming my legs ever start working again ), if only as a way of providing me with an excuse for going so slowly. ;D

I don't think I'd carry too much water (given the generally plentiful natural sources) but I would perhaps carry some chocolate milk & some caffeine drinks.

I think for races like the Fling it's not really a big deal. I think it would be a great challenge to have a go at self-sufficiency for the full WHW race. Of course you'd still need a support crew to keep within the rules but I think it would be immensely satisfying to finish the race having carried all one's own food & drink etc.

Go on DQ, you know you want to... ;D

[johnk]

Are you sure about caffeine :-

www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/caffeine.html

There is loads of stuff to be found about the issues of Hydration and the Squits etc brought about by caffeine.

I won`t use any energy drink or gel that has caffeine in.

I have always found a 250 ml hand held bottle refilled as and when has always been enough on the fling, dried apricots/mango, raisins, half a dozen( at most ) SIS GO Gels and a couple of handfulls of salted peanuts (when you are sick of sweet stuff) is plenty for the fling.

JohnK

[Tim]

Hi John, as far as I'm concerned caffeine is one of the essential food groups (along with beer and chocolate). ;D

More seriously, I think there's a fair amount of evidence that caffeine has beneficial effects for endurance athletes and I'm convinced that it works for me.

[Drama Queen]

Here here. I love my Irn Bru 32 during races. And Beer before and after races it has to be said.

[fatherjack]

I like the idea of being self-sufficient, I'm already starting to worry about how to organise support, directions and times etc. Would maybe be better off without that headache!
However, as a virgin ultra runner I'm just not sure how much food & drink I'll need and am tempted to err on the side of caution. Also thinking a change of shoes might be a nice relief at some point.
We do have a relay team, so I may chuck some stuff in their car just in case.
If someone can let me know what the weather is going to be like that day, that would be a big help
Self sufficiency next year I think.

[rogfi]

people are different including re caffeine, I make sure i get my morning dose which is a fair amount but then don't take any more when racing.

re self sufficiency I agree travelling from A to B with just what you can carry or find on the way has a certain something, I did Aviemore to Blair Atholl via the Lairg Gru on my own with a small pack just filling my water bottle in streams and using iodine and carrying powdered energy drink and a few flapjacks, an amazing day in a variety of ways but the self sufficiency bit of it was part of this. I love being on my own in remote/wild places.

I also ran over a weekend two 25 mile runs in the lakes staying in a Youth hostel with what I could carry in my running sack, again getting by during the day on what water i could get on route but also eating wild raspberries and blackberries.

Roger