Kerry Way UltraLite 2021

Did the nite last year. Navigation is pretty straightforward, as the Kerry Way is very well marked. Biggest hill is on the main road out of Kenmare heading towards Killarney. I’d say overall climb for the 58k is probably more like 1200/1300m. Like the post above, get in the practice running on different surfaces, there are a few parts where experience of rough ground will help, though most of it is good surface. ‘Tis a great event!

Please stop posting this stuff, you're making me want to sign up

Thanks for starting this thread. I’m signed up for it too and will be my first ultra ... haven’t done any trail running either so lots of prep to do but looking forward to it.

BigAl81 wrote: »

Wow!

From the website, the UltraNite is "approx. 93k in length, starting in Waterville and finishing in Killarney"... and at night time!! Fair play!!

Any advice from a veteran so? Did you find it hard fuling for such a long run? Any gear you'd say would be a must have outside of the mandatory kit? I see some people use poles for example.

And have you recovered from it yet

Cheers, I do feel fortunate to have got to do an event of some description in the second half of 2020. The RD (Eileen) went to great lengths to go ahead with so deserves special mention.

I wouldn't say veteran tbh, twas my first time going longer than 50k and I managed to survive and finish it, slowly. I had made peace at an early stage in training that I was going to be walking substantial sections of it so that made it easier mentally as I had trained like that as well.

Nutrition can be tricky alright . I found luchos dillito and nakd bars very good last year. I also found a coleslaw like salad in the polish shop that was high in energy and easy to digest so I tried to eat that at the aid stations. You'll just need to try out various stuff and find out what works for you. Simple, easily digestible and bang for buck in terms of calories is probably good rules of thumb. Stay away from quick sugar fixes as much as possible as they won't last long.

Didn't use poles myself but plenty do. I'm not sure the climbing is severe enough to get the most out of them. The right backpack is quite important as there is a good bit of mandatory kit so being able to carry it all, and being able to find it quickly without having to take everything out is unvaluable. A good waterproof jacket is worth spending money on too. You won't regret it if the weather turns dirty.

The recovery is nearly complete, just two partially discoloured toenails remain!!! I'm going back for more punishment this year too :-)

Just entered as well, been a while since I took part in anything so looking forward to it. Found the first part on Strava!

Sneem to Templenoe

Templenoe to Kenmare

The planning continues so!

To start with then, what footwear are people planning to wear?

No idea yet, current trail shoes are Scarpa Neutron, great on trail but poor on tarred surface. I'll have to do some more reading to figure out a suitable shoe, let us know how the Kinvaras go!

Do people plan to change shoes during the race? We can have a drop bag right? And there's two aid stations where you can meet your "crew" as well right?


Ideally I'd like to keep moving, I wouldn't like to get moving again after a stop, that's just me, I'll have to see how I feel on the day so I wouldn't rule it out!

I tip I see recommended a lot is waterproof socks, and non-waterproof shoes. Anyone tired that?


Big believer in a good goretex shoe!


Any other tips



Find a comfortable bag, use it regularly so it's not a shock to be carrying a load on the day!






Go team!

BigAl81 wrote: »

The planning continues so!

There's lots of Ultra topics that could each be their own thread, but I might post a few topics here specifically with the Kerry Way UltraLite in mind as time goes on.

Go team!

Thats a lot of questions!! It's great to see a thread on this race this year. Fair play for starting it.

I wore Hoka Speedgoat last year and probably would again for any longer stuff, very comfortable and super grip. Like yourself, I intend to purchase a pair of Peregrines as I'd be a fan of Saucony shoes generally and have had a few of their trail shoes I liked.

I've never changed my shoes during a run, but I did change my socks last year in Kenmare and it was like having new feet (for a while) so I can definitely see the benefit. I'd always be concerned that you may not get some of your drop bag stuff back so wouldn't put shoes in there.

Theres definitely two aid stations/ crew points on the 58k route, Templenoe and Kenmare. You'll need to check if you can put drop bags in both places for your specific race.

Don't have any personal experince to offer on Sealskinz but appear to be well regarded. I use double layer merino wool socks (no particular brand) as one of the lads recommended them. They do dry out very quick if wet and are very comfortable. Do get a high sock (mid calf) as this will give you some protection against briars or pebbles etc. In saying that, there isn't very much of that at all so I don't think gaiters would be needed. They seem to be more for races where you're encountering lots of loose small pebbles, sand or similar.

I think you're right on the shoes. From what I've read the suggestion seems to be if water gets in, which it will, it finds it much harder to leave your shoe. Most good trail shoes will get rid of water very quick anyway.

If you can get down to recce some of the route during the Summer do, the stretch from Templenoe to Kenmare is tough enough terrain wise but also mentally because it twists and turns many times and it seems to take forever to reach Kenmare which you can see is only a little bit away. Do get practice on stiles as well, theres a good few to encounter on the first half of the route. A handy tip I learned last year is to stand well back from anyone climbing a stile with poles, as the poles are liable to go anywhere The stretch around Torc Mountain is tricky as well. Theres about 2/3k on boulders that are tricky enough on tired legs. The bit near the waterfall itself does have a couple of places where its easy to miss the arrows so would be no harm to have looked around. If possible with restrictions of course.

Having the route on your Garmin or phone would help for peace of mind, but as I've said earlier, it is well marked but you know yourself when the brain gets tired and the concentration drops, tis easy miss one.

I suppose I better start training if ye are all getting stuck in!!!

Personally I find Sealskinz waterproof socks very uncomfortable after a while. I definitely wouldn't wear them for 50km +

I've always found goretex great to have on at least one pair

Only my own experience though

BigAl81 wrote: »

Wow!

From the website, the UltraNite is "approx. 93k in length, starting in Waterville and finishing in Killarney"... and at night time!! Fair play!!

Any advice from a veteran so? Did you find it hard fuling for such a long run? Any gear you'd say would be a must have outside of the mandatory kit? I see some people use poles for example.

And have you recovered from it yet

Jumping in on this... You eat food. You don't fuel. First thing is to not sweat the food thing. The best thing to eat is what you feel like eating at the time, not what someone else tells you would be good. My top tip here is to not eat anything (or drink anything except water) in your training, so you begin to adapt to fat-burn. Then food is a complete non-issue, and one less thing to go wrong. I've run 24 hour races on multiple occasions without eating.

The longer you go the more useful poles are. Whether this event is long enough for them is down to your own perceptions. But if you are going to use them, make sure you know how to use them effectively (and not stab anyone else with them preferably )

Good quality kit is always a good idea. That would be where I'd recommend you place the emphasis, especially if the weather becomes a bit too Irish!

BigAl81 wrote: »

To start with then, what footwear are people planning to wear?

There's no right answer here. For hill ultras I'll usually have at least two pairs of shoes ready to go, one for dry weather, one for horrendous weather, and pick the right one before heading off. Shoes are individual as well. I have wide feet, so that errs me in some directions that wouldn't necessarily apply to people with narrow feet. But then, since I'm sponsored by Columbia, that's my biggest erring, since I get to pick and choose from their trail shoes (and sometimes test run for them)

For the KWU races I'd tend towards a middle of the road mixed terraine trail running shoe. Definitely not something too off-road.

BigAl81 wrote: »

Do people plan to change shoes during the race? We can have a drop bag right? And there's two aid stations where you can meet your "crew" as well right?

I've ordered some SealSkinz waterproof socks to try out. I'm assuming it's going to be raining / wet on the day and planning for that. If it is wet, I'll be prepared, and if it's dry that will just be a bonus!

I tip I see recommended a lot is waterproof socks, and non-waterproof shoes. Anyone tired that?

Do people plan to wear those shin protectors, I think they might be called Gators?

Any other tips

Go team!

No need for that style of Gaitors at all. They'd only be for when you're deep in wild terraine with lots of vegetation. I've ever only brought Gaitors to one race, and that race has notoriously harsh vegetation (or has that reputation anyway)

And to weigh in on the water proof shoes and socks debate...With good enough weather you'll be more than fine with neither.

I have been racing in wet conditions for decades, and have tried all sorts of things over the years in some fairly "interesting" conditions.

Waterproof socks... great for cycling. Terrible for running for elongated periods of time. The disadvantages that most people (wrongly) attribute to water proof shoes apply in spades here. My key finding with a few goes of using waterproof socks in 24 hour off road events was "trench foot" and "abrasion". Never again. Good thick mountaineering socks are my preference for long running events. You'd be fine with something lighter for the ultralite. But again, quality counts here big time.

Waterproof shoes.... Most people have this so so wrong. Used correctly they are my second favourite piece of gear (after a top quality fully waterproof jacket). One of their best features is that they do a vastly better job of keeping grit out of your shoes than non-waterproof shoes. And that can be the difference between finishing and not finishing. There are many other advantages beyond the obvious. But if the weather is bad, you need more than shoes, you need a system (leggings + ankle gaitors, to keep the water from seeping in from the top).

For the aid stations... how you handle them depends on your approach to the race. If you want to get as fast a time as possible then you need actively "race" the aid stations. If competitiveness is not so important then you can take a more leisurely approach, especially if you have personal support.

The mandatory kit list has waterproof leggings on it, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a suitable pair. I have a pair I use mountaineering but wouldn't be keen on lugging them for 55 odd K!

Been keeping an eye out for a new pair of trail runners & spotted some Altra Timp 1.5's in my size on SportsPursuit for €84 this morning. Not the latest model but not like I need that. Hopefully will get to use them in Kerry & maybe at Run the Line in Dublin if it goes ahead this year.

Not really a trail although it almost is in parts but I quite like Nash's Boreen that leads from Fairhill to behind the Apple car park. I live in Shandon so get a ba*tard of a hill to get to the start of it & then it's undulating once you get there.

I did manage some walking on trails/roads/bog last week, got round the Dingle Way over 6 days. Wish the weather had been a bit better but such is life.