Running 240 miles is no easy feat. Doing it faster than anyone ever had before is otherworldly. We interviewed Courtney Dauwalter and got the scoop on the gear she used during her record-setting run.
Fifty-eight hours on foot takes a toll. Recently, I hosted Dauwalter on my podcast, TR Talk. Being a gear junkie, I had to know the nitty-gritty details of the equipment Dauwalter used to cross the Moab Desert.
Dauwalter won the Moab 240 in October with a dominant 10-plus-hour delta over the second place finisher. The course wound itself along the Colorado River in southeastern Utah.
It crossed into Canyonlands National Park and through the Abajo and La Sal mountain ranges. She completed the run in 2 days, 9 hours, and 59 minutes, ascending 29,467 feet along the way.
Moab 240 Dream Kit
In total, Dauwalter used 14 pieces of equipment during the race. Note: Salomon sponsored the Moab 240 and also sponsors Dauwalter. Thus, she largely uses gear from the brand. But her choices give some direction to ultrarunners shopping for new kit.
- Shoes: Salomon Sense Ride. Dauwalter said she wore one pair for the whole race.
- Socks: Injinji Lightweight Run Crew. She loves these because they prevent blisters.
- Hydration pack: Salomon Advanced Skin 5. This pack provides lots of room for bottles and gear and the ability to attach her poles to the pack. Dauwalter carries 2.5 liters of water between aid stations.
- Shirt: Salomon men’s t-shirt. Dauwalter is known for wearing a baggy running shirt, which she says is all about comfort. When running 238 miles, comfort comes first.
- Shorts: Salomon men’s shorts. She is a big fan of the Pulse model. Similar to the t-shirt, Dauwalter’s decision to wear men’s shorts is all about comfort.
- Windbreaker / Rain jacket: Salomon Bonatti Pro and S/Lab LIGHT are her go-to’s for wind and rain. She carried both with her during the run and would pick up both from her crew in the afternoon before a long break between aid stations.
- Fuel: Tailwind Nutrition Endurance Fuel. In addition to Tailwind, Dauwalter also drinks Gatorade during the race to replenish electrolytes.
- Food: Honey Stinger energy chews and waffles. Her favorites are the pink lemonade energy chews and both the vanilla- and honey-flavored waffles.
- Entertainment: iPod Shuffle with Michael Jackson pre-loaded. Dauwalter spent around 150 miles of the race alone, using the iPod for a mental boost when needed.
- Mittens and stocking hat: nothing crazy here. Basic off-the-shelf gloves and hat that she could throw away if needed.
- Emergency blanket. Fortunately, Dauwalter didn’t need to use this during the run but had it with her in case she needed to make an emergency stop in the night and stay warm.
- Headlamp. Just as she did with the mittens and stocking hat, Dauwalter used a standard headlamp for night portions of the run.
It’s worth noting that Dauwalter would meet her crew in the afternoon so that she could load up with the mittens, hat, and layers, as evening temperatures dropped to 9 degrees F – as if the race wasn’t hard enough already!
Moab 240: Courtney Dauwalter’s Inspiring Finish
Dauwalter’s mental toughness is incredible. After talking with Dauwalter a week ago, we are fired up and ready to train. The full podcast is available here and also on SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Ryan Warner (@Ryan_N_Warner) is the co-host of TR Talk Podcast, which interviews leaders in their field to learn how millennials can make an impact in today’s operating environment. Former guests have included CEOs, sports psychologists, New York Times bestsellers, self-help gurus, and former / current professional athletes. If you want to support the podcast, have a listen and feel free to recommend guests in the comments below. Contact Warner online here.
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