Because a Long Run Is No Longer Simple

I'm far from the time when I can just grab a bottle of water and hit the roads for a long run. Ultrarunning has required much preparation for a long run. Sometimes I feel like I'm packing for a weekend trip when headed up to do an eight hour run. Some things I pack include:

• Gels - I include one for every hour, plus a few extras, in case a certain flavour suddenly tastes revolting, or as the case was yesterday, one of my gels was expired and tasted gross
• Power gel blasts, Honey stinger chews, sports jelly beans, some sort of chewy electrolyte snack - I have a few packets of these. I find the gels get to me quicker (in terms of calories), but sometimes, with nausea, it's impossible to eat gels.
• Mints. I like Lifesaver Wint-o-Green, but everyone has different tastes. You can also have ginger sucking candies if you have a history of nausea and tummy troubles, which I do.
• Immodium. See above.
• Advil.
• Inhaler.
• Hand warmers, just in case it's really cold
• Sunscreen, to prevent sunburn
• Pretzels - because I like a little solid food
• Cookies - I often pack some cookies or animal crackers. Both these and pretzels serve when nausea is too much for the gels or the chews.
• Post-run snacks. I included a Banana Nut Odwalla bar in my bag. 
• Water - A gallon jug to refill our bottles. We often hide this at a specified point halfway, or you can keep it in the car and do as we did yesterday and do loops to your car.
• Coconut Water. Because it's a great way to hydrate, get electrolyes, and a little calories. I like Zico best.
• Endurolytes. Beause we all need some electrolytes when we're sweating this much.
• My Nathan fuel vest.
• Tissues, for when I had to pee in the woods 
• A bagel with PBJ for before I ran

What I wear:

• Visor
• Sunglasses
• Bandanna around neck
• Sports bra
• Technical tee 
• Long sleeved t-shirt
• Running jacket
• Gloves
• Running skirt
• Running pants (I was optimistic on Saturday that I'd be removing my running tights but that didn't happen)
• Running underwear
• Running socks
• Saucony trail shoes
• Dirty Girl Gaiters
• Body glide