Preparing for CCC

Hiking TMB in 2013

Every week our friend David has been asking us how our training has been going and if we are still planning on running CCC. We half jokingly respond, "what training?" There were probably only a few times after I went to the ER, that I thought I would have to cancel the whole trip to Europe, but I had more than a few doubts about making it to the starting line of CCC. 

But that was several months ago, every week for the past 2+ months I have been adding 3 miles to my weekly long runs and I am up to ~27 miles for this week. Initially my main goal was recovery more than training, but the last few weeks I have been focused on the race and using the time we have before the race in the most efficient manner, without over doing it.

Picture from hiking TMB in 2013

I am really hoping that the solid base I had before going to the ER, plus all the hiking and running I have been able to do post-ER will be enough to get me through the physical parts. I know all the pain I was in the weekend I went to the ER, plus all the dark moments I had post-ER will help me with my mental toughness. Maybe I should be more worried about what is going to be the hardest race of my life to date and my lack of training, but I'm not. Maybe it is because of everything I have gone through the last few months, maybe it's because I hiked around Mont Blanc a few years ago, or maybe because I am doing this with Susan and John will be crewing us, who knows, but I feel pretty calm about the race. The thing that has had me worried this week is the massive list of required gear!

This might be what I look like after CCC

I knew I needed to look at the list of required gear, but I kept putting it off for one reason or another, as soon as August 1st was glaring me in the face I knew I couldn't procrastinate any longer.

I created a spreadsheet, pulled out all my gear and went to town. I own most of everything on the list, but I wasn't convinced my 4 rain jackets were going to do it, so I ordered a few more, because you can always send things back. The one thing I didn't own was light weight waterproof gloves, all I had were waterproof snowboarding gloves, which I am not going to run in. A few google searches later, I came across Amy Sproston's UTMB gear list from 2012. The one thing she changed out in Chamonix were her gloves, she bought RaidLight overmitts in Chamonix. After looking them up, I ordered us both a pair. 

Our gear list so far:

Gear	Ann	Susan
mobile phone with option enabling its use in the three countries (put in one’s repertoire the security numbers of the organisation, keep it switched on, do not hide one’s number and do not forget to set off with recharged batteries)	yes, Nike plan with 2 battery chargers	yes, one battery, *** need additional battery
personal beaker 15cl. minimum (water-bottles or flasks with lids are not acceptable)	yes,ultrasprire cup	yes,ultrasprire cup
stock of water minimum 1 litre	yes, 2L bladder	yes, 2L bladder
two torches in good working condition with replacement batteries for each torch	yes, petzel and black diamond	yes, petzel and black diamond
survival blanket 1.40m x 2m minimum	yes	need to check size but odds are good if Ann's is
whistle		YES, and I know I got you one. I have additional if you need.
adhesive elastic band enable making a bandage or a strapping (mini 100cm x 6 cm)	Yes	*** need
food reserve	yes	Oh hell yes
Jacket, with a hood, capable of withstanding the bad mountain weather and made with a waterproof (minimum recommended: 10 000 Schmerber) and breathable (RET recommended less than 13) membrane *	yes, marmot jacket	*** Eeep
long running trousers or leggings or a combination of leggings and long socks which cover the legs completely	yes, nike	main: capris; additional tights or socks
Additional warm midlayer top: One single midlayer long sleeve top for warmth (cotton excluded) with a minimum weight of 180g (Men, size M) OR a two piece clothing combination of a long sleeve baselayer/midlayer for warmth (cotton excluded) with a minimum weight of 110g (Men, size M) and a windproof jacket** with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) protection	yes, nike + houdini	Half-zip & foldup jacket
cap or bandana	yes	yes and yes
warm hat	yes, smartwool	Columbia Gorge hat
warm and waterproof gloves	yes, waterproof: raidlight ORDERED, warm: nike gloves ORDERED	yes, waterproof: raidlight
waterproof over-trousers	yes, northface	yes, gorewear

poles	yes - black diamond z pole	yes - black diamond z pole
pack	yes - ultraspire omega	yes - ultraspire omega

I will post a final list after the race, but I have made our Google spreadsheet viewable, if you are curious how things are coming along. We are going to do a test run of all our gear in our packs early next week. 

We might be a little under trained and getting things together close to last minute, but I am confident we are going to make it to the start line.