Two Oceans Ultra 2017

[Agent_Smith]

So I'm doing my first Ultra (and longest run ever!) in a little over a month and this thread is more to see if anyone else here is crazy enough to be doing it as well as get some tips (speed, pacing, fueling, nutrition etc) from guys who have done it.

Route


Route Profile


My other concern revolves around what happened this past weekend with the cycle tour. It's another high profile televised CPT sporting event where people from all over the world come run (which also passes through Hout Bay). What's to stop these guys from pulling the same stunt as they did this past weekend? Hopefully whatever grievances they have that caused them to do what they did will be resolved by the time the Ultra rolls around.

Anyway, I can't wait for it!

 

[Cray]

Good luck, hopefully the wind holds off..

 

[The_MAC]

I would love to do it, and will sometime in the future.

I did do the comrades though.

Just my amateur tips that helped me:

1) Get a GPS sports watch, it helps to pace yourself, you need as much energy in the beginning as you need in the end. The bus is a good alternative to keep a pace, but you might find yourself between them, so you need to keep the pace yourself. Don't think that you will run very fast in the beginning and take it easy at the end, it gets exponentially harder towards the end.

2) Eat and drink regularly from the start at regular intervals, if you find yourself dehydrated or low on suger, then its too late. It will be very hard to catch-up on energy.

3) Put plasters on your nipples, if they start burning due to friction, it will make the run very uncomfortable.

4) Use ski-pants, not cotton undies under your shorts, the chafing can get bad and also ruin your experience.

 

[Agent_Smith]

I would love to do it, and will sometime in the future.

I did do the comrades though.

Just my amateur tips that helped me:

1) Get a GPS sports watch, it helps to pace yourself, you need as much energy in the beginning as you need in the end. The bus is a good alternative to keep a pace, but you might find yourself between them, so you need to keep the pace yourself. Don't think that you will run very fast in the beginning and take it easy at the end, it gets exponentially harder towards the end.

2) Eat and drink regularly from the start at regular intervals, if you find yourself dehydrated or low on suger, then its too late. It will be very hard to catch-up on energy.

3) Put plasters on your nipples, if they start burning due to friction, it will make the run very uncomfortable.

4) Use ski-pants, not cotton undies under your shorts, the chafing can get bad and also ruin your experience.

Ah, a Comrades runner! Thanks for the tips. Easy to manage (except maybe the keeping a good pace! ) What do you do for nutrition in the week before the run? I've heard so many conflicting pieces of advice regarding this. Some people carbo load during the week while others will smash a bucket of KFC the night before. Before any marathon, I'll have my last big meal for lunch the day before, with a bagel and banana for supper and then the same on race morning.

 

[The_MAC]

Ah, a Comrades runner! Thanks for the tips. Easy to manage (except maybe the keeping a good pace! ) What do you do for nutrition in the week before the run? I've heard so many conflicting pieces of advice regarding this. Some people carbo load during the week while others will smash a bucket of KFC the night before. Before any marathon, I'll have my last big meal for lunch the day before, with a bagel and banana for supper and then the same on race morning.

I always listened to my dad, who ran 11 Comrades, and basically every major marathon in SA.

He told me to carbo-load, and water-load the week before, and to not eat any red meat the night before. So I would usually eat something like a Chicken Alfredo the night before, till I'm proper full. Then on the morning I usually eat 2 packets of noodles without the spice. You can also drink Mageu (maize drink) in the morning, or bananas as you mentioned. Anything carby with little spice or red meat.

This seems to work for me.

 

[Slyce]

So I'm doing my first Ultra (and longest run ever!) in a little over a month and this thread is more to see if anyone else here is crazy enough to be doing it as well as get some tips (speed, pacing, fueling, nutrition etc) from guys who have done it.


My other concern revolves around what happened this past weekend with the cycle tour. It's another high profile televised CPT sporting event where people from all over the world come run (which also passes through Hout Bay). What's to stop these guys from pulling the same stunt as they did this past weekend? Hopefully whatever grievances they have that caused them to do what they did will be resolved by the time the Ultra rolls around.

Anyway, I can't wait for it!

Firstly, the protests at the Cycle tour were nowhere near Hout Bay. They were at Masi. Granted, there were fires in Hout Bay but those were from a day or 2 earlier and were unrelated to any protests.

Secondly, having registered to do both OMTOM and the Cycle Tour this year, I will be disappointed if both events get cancelled but in the greater scheme of things it will not be the end of the world for me. There are bigger issues at play here and we need to get off our high horses and show some humility towards these people. Imagine if you lived in a shack and you have repeatedly tried to bring attention to your community's plight, only to be ignored. Wouldn't you try to raise your concerns at 2 of the highest profile sports events happening right at your doorstep? We are worried about our hobbies when this is a matter of survival for most of these people...