6 Things You Need to Start Ultrarunning
If you’re just getting started on your ultrarunning journey the 50KM distance is the perfect starting point to dip your toes into the longer distances. There is no shortage of ultramarathons to choose from but you must spend the time to do the research and choose the right one for you.
I usually encourage my athletes to choose an event from an established race organiser (ideally a SheRACES partner if they’re in the UK) with rolling hills and generous cut-off times or none at all, no matter how beginner or experienced they are.
RELATED: Best UK Ultramarathons for Beginners in 2024
Once you’ve chosen your event you’re ready to get started with training. The beauty of trail and ultrarunning is that you don’t need very much to begin. Usually, your chosen race will have a kit list and expect you to carry certain items of mandatory equipment.
The mandatory equipment is to ensure your safety isn’t compromised during your event. These items could save your life if you are caught out in bad conditions, become lost, disorientated or injured during your ultramarathon.
As you become more experienced and enter harder and more challenging ultramarathons, the mandatory equipment gets more extensive to keep up with the demands of the event. Never underestimate how quickly conditions may deteriorate or change away from the forecast.
This blog post isn’t a list of mandatory equipment required by race organisers (although it does naturally cover a couple of these items), it is a handful of items I believe are absolutely necessary to start ultrarunning and for each a personal recommendation from myself and the 50+ female athletes I’ve supported over the past four years.
Trail running shoes
Trail running shoes like nutrition is such a personal choice. Whilst there are plenty of options out there to suit various types of trails, it can be a little overwhelming if you're starting your shoe rotation from scratch.
Unlike road running shoes, almost all trail running shoes only come in a neutral level of support but you can opt for varying levels of cushioning and grip. Most brands will also offer their core trail shoe(s) in both a regular and wide fit. Perfect for ultramarathon distances and hotter climates or if your feet have gotten wider after having children.
RELATED: What Trail Running Shoes? HOKA Edition
Ultrarunning watch
If you’re looking for incredible value for money, the COROS Pace 3 is consistently my top pick. It is a solid little watch delivering an impressive bang for buck with 38 hours of battery life in full GPS mode. At £219/ $229, it is priced very well against competitor leading brand Garmin.
For map functionality, which the Pace series lacks, the COROS Apex 2 series is a good alternative if you are looking to spend under £350/ $349. They largely do all the fundamentals well, have improved heart rate and GPS accuracy compared to other COROS models and have up to 66 hours of battery life in full GPS mode on the Pro model.
COROS has a very strong product for the price point and is constantly putting out firmware updates to bring HRV tracking, marathon plans and more. However, it’s important to understand that there are features for price trade-offs and price is everything.
While competitor leading brand Garmin is generally known for the pricier ultrarunning watches, the Forerunner 955 is probably one of the best deals with the base unit priced at £440/ $500.It packs in effectively the same features as the higher-end Sapphire-enabled Fenix 7 units without the price tag. And with the recent launch of the Forerunner 966, you can pick the previous model up at a very competitive price.
If you wanted to match the battery life of the COROS Apex 2 series you’d have to spend almost 50% more from Garmin on the Fenix 7 and even then you’d only be getting 57 hours of battery life on the base unit.
Multifunctional BUFF
The most versatile and cheapest running accessory ever created. Made from recycled plastic bottles, delivering UPF 50 sun protection and is wearable in more than 12 different ways. Flip it, twist it, fold it, a BUFF has you covered in every situation, hot, cold, windy, sunny.
I never leave home without at least two and wear them right through the summer and winter months in the UK. Last year, I had an exclusive ‘Bad Ass’ design created for Hannah Walsh Coaching and continue to send them out during the onboarding process to all of my athletes.
Running vest
The reality is you don’t need to be training for an ultra to wear a running vest. Many of my athletes will wear one during marathon training long runs, but it basically gives you the means to carry a bunch of stuff out with you whilst you are out on the trails. Whether that’s water, snacks, spare layers, or anything else you want to take along with you there is a pack for you.
The most popular running vest with my athletes without a doubt is the Salomon Adv Skin 12. Whilst it is marketed as a unisex fit, it comes in a multitude of sizes (for smaller and bigger female athletes alike) and is their best-selling, versatile, multi-tasking hydration hero.
The 12L capacity is ideal for longer-distance events or adventures and will hold an extensive list of mandatory equipment. Aside from fit, the most talked about pro of this running vest is the amount of accessible storage space on the front.
Bone-conducting headphones for running
For runners particularly, Shokz has fast become the go-to option as more races have banned the use of closed and in-ear headphones due to safety concerns (at least in the UK anyway).
The brand has been promoting running safety with England Athletics since 2016 and their bone-conduction headphones are the only headphones allowed by England Athletics and approved for use in all road races under the UK Athletics Rules of Competition.
The open-ear design allows you to stay connected to your surroundings and enables you to quickly respond to unexpected situations. Choosing bone-conducting headphones over more traditional styles means you can now immerse yourself in your favourite music and podcasts, without blocking out the sounds of nature, fellow runners, or important safety cues on the trail.
Some of my favourite features of Shokz are the Mini, a 20% smaller size than the Standard fit and a 5-minute quick charger for up to 1.5 hours of battery life. Plus an IP55 rating that weathers dust and moisture, so they are durable enough to withstand rain and other gritty conditions on
Trail running waterproof jacket
A waterproof jacket is essential on the trails in all but the warmest summer months in the UK, and when running at night at any time of the year. Rainfall is common year-round and runners who are caught out can quickly be at risk of hypothermia.
Jackets without sealed seams, will not keep you dry. Wherever a waterproof jacket is listed as mandatory, sealed seams are essential. The fabric should also be verified waterproof and not wind or showerproof. The minimum waterproof rating of a jacket should be 10,000mm.
Montane is a popular brand with many of my athletes. View their guide on the best waterproof jackets available here.
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Ultramarathon Coaching
Hi, I’m Hannah! Ultramarathon Coach for (extra)ordinary women like you. Helping you with the skills and confidence to run (or walk) ultra far.
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