Motatapu 51km Ultra packing list

No running this weekend for me. Getting back into it again this week. Plan to run in the mornings, do 5 classes of Pilates, one Cross Fit gym session, one PT gym session and also doing my regular runs during the week.

Heading over to New Zealand for the Motatapu 51km Ultra Trail Race. Flying to Sydney after work on 7 March, staying over with Marnie and Colleen and then fly out to NZ on Thursday. Want to do the 42km race course on Friday (or at least some of it), the 51km on Saturday and another two runs on Sunday and Monday. Heading home on Tuesday, back at work on Wednesday.

Booked a camp site for the Thursday through to Saturday night, and hired a car. Taking my tent, sleeping map and a sleeping bag. Still need to pay for the sleeping bag and get it sent to me, so not sure if it is going to arrive on time. I hope it's not snowing in NZ, I'm going to freeze my butt off.

Using the time in NZ as a shock week to test my gear. Temperature in Motatapu is 5-15 degrees Celcius - similar to Scotland in May. But the trail is not going to be nearly as demanding and there may not be as much an issue with wind. Heavens knows.

There's no time to get another pack - I already have TWO! So now it's crunch time, literally. Squashing the gear into my UD pack and naked race belt. I'll try my new Inov-8 All terrain Pro Vest 0-15 next!

Still need to buy a base layer t-shirt (wool or polypropylene) and gauze swabs. And some snacks to make up the 24hr ration of food. Everything else is ready to go.

Also have a few other bits and pieces I'm taking, but I'm going to skip the 'mini crampons'. Scarred of the cold, so I'm probably going to carry the fleece with me. May also wear skins, if the weather is going to be a bit iffy.

The good, the bad and the missing - a review of my CWU gear list

After my trip to Tasmania and Mornington Peninsula to test my CWU gear, I've got a fair idea on what is good, no good, and what is still missing. It's obvious that I've not yet spent enough money, so another round of world-wide shopping is on the cards...

The good

• sleeping mat - big and bulky, but comfy. It's in.
• running top - I'm getting this one tailor-made and have only a couple of adjustments to make on the one that I'm currently using
• compression pants - the ones I have are great. I wore them even during my running. Not because I wanted too, but because I got so sun burnt, I was trying to keep my legs out of the sun
• arm warmers - BEST INVENTION EVER. I really liked these. They are easy to pull on and off depending on the temperature. So I don't need a long-sleeve shirt as the arm warmers effectively does that job
• my Galaxy S5 phone is good. Battery lasted for the whole day as long as I had it in flight mode. Still need to check how it will go once I use ViewRanger to track where I'm going
• all my socks were good
• buff - another 'BEST INVENTION EVER. I used it to wipe away sweat, as a head band when it was windy and as a neck warmer when I was wearing my beanie
• heatproof pads - I love these and always take some with me when I travel to use after a race. Even if I don't need it, I still wear it. Great to keep the lower back warm and snug after a long day on your feet.
• tent - it withstood some serious rain of a couple of nights, so I think it will be fine. Not the nicest tent I've owned, but it will do. Don't need it for the CWU, but do need it for the 3 day ultra I'm doing 
• zip lock bags. You can never have enough of these things. I had various sizes and used them frequently.
• reading glasses - blind without them. I lost one lense on the 2 Bays Trail Race, so need to get that replaced.
• torch was fine, emergency torch too. I didn't get to use either much, so I need to check their battery like. Also the torch uses AAA batteries, whereas my handheld GPS and magnetic phone charger uses AA. Inconvenient having two different size batteries. Also don't know how these batteries go in the cold weather as it does affect efficiency.
• two powerbanks I have work well. Happy with those and I think it will be enough for the trip. Will double check this on the next 'Shock Week' in February.
• rain pants I have will have to do. I'm not buying another pair. Tried one the ones I have and they fit over my shoes and are not too bulky.
• cloth to clean my feet when in the tent. 

The bad

• sleeping bag - it was not even cold, and I was cold in my sleeping bag
• crop tops - only one was suitable. I'll need to keep looking for some that are quick-drying rather than cotton-blend
• gloves - the ones I got cost less than $15, but they are too big
• rain jacket - didn't get to use it much, but I don't think it's going to be of much use
• beanies - I had two with me. One too bulky (but nice and warm), the other too flimsy, so probably no good. Will be looking out for an 'inbetween' one. I saw a nice one in a fishing store in Hobart, but who pays like $90 for a beanie???
• GPS watch is good, but it's using way too much power to recharge. I can download my tracks from the CWU website after the race as I wear one of their trackers.
• I've happily used SkirtSports skirts for the past 10 years, but they discontinued my faviourate model and the leggings of the skirt I have now is just not long enough and creeps up. I'll try out a few of their other models to see if I can find something that is going to work for the race.  
• Love my pack, but it's going to be too small.

The unnecessary

• I carted a 'foot bath' with me, but never even got it out of my suitcase. Not sure if I'll take it...
• I have an ankle brace. Only wore it once so far and only over a short distance. Will need to test it again to see if it's going to be useful if I need it.
• Sunglasses - not convinced I'll take these. I never use them, and if I do take them on a run, I don't wear them! I'm still thinking about this one.

The missing or untested

• I have a blister kit (it's mandatory gear for the race). But I've not use much of what is in the kit so have to make an effort to just tape my feet, even if I don't have blisters to make sure I know how to use all the bits and pieces.
• I have a handheld GPS. No idea how to use it, so didn't get to try it on this trip. Will need to get more organised for the next Shock Week.
• I have some powdered food that I'm going to mix with water. Have not tried it yet.
• Warm weather gear - I need a long-sleeve merino base layer and also a short-sleeve one. I've decided to get the heavier option (I think it is 260) as I was cold during my trip and it was NOT COLD.
• I need a stopwatch with an alarm. I intend to turn my phone off at night, so will not have it available to use as an alarm. I can also check the time of day while running, and how long I've been going for, as I'm not intending on taking my GPS watch.
• Insect repellent - may take some with me rather than buy it over there.
• There's a list of things I need to get when I get to the UK, including a midgee net and cooking gear.