Longtime member Matthew Tones has been mixing up traditional triathlon training the past couple of years with dipping into other types of single sport racing like gravel and rucking. He did the Ultratrax Wachusett and shared a bit about his experience. Congrats again on your finish!
For some background, part of my recovery from surgery last year was a focused strength build to rebuild my core (my abs were severed from top to bottom) and I was sitting enjoying a coffee when I got on to 'rucking' as a way to build core strength. I didn't know anything about it beyond some convo about it in the PTC Discord about 1-2 years ago. The Facebook spying algorithm quickly went to work and somehow about 5 mins later I was signed up for this Ultratrax event I knew nothing about.
For preparation, I did two strength sessions a week on legs, and one session carrying the weight on the stair climber, as well as a mid hike and a long hike. I started with a backpack but changed to a vest as it dispersed the weight more evenly. I also tried to wear the weight walking the dog (whenever I could basically). I started out with 10 pounds and had no idea how I could manage 35 pounds, but I just added 5 pounds a week and gradually built up. This also had the added benefit as I felt stronger on the bike with improved core and legs, my only issue was chronic arthritis pain in my big toe.
A few days before the event I got very ill from eating the wrong food and wasn't sure I could line up. I got some oxycodone and it cleared everything up, including my toe, so I felt 100% lining up. I had been going back and forth on shoe selection for the event after my feet were destroyed by my previous 50k trail run. I got some KT tape and taped my feet in strategic blister places and this worked a charm. My feet held up perfectly and no blisters.
The Ultratrax event itself was 4 loops, ascending the mountain on the East, descending the North, ascending the West, and descending South, 4x for 28 miles total with my 35lb vest.
I bought 2 different types of shoes and began with the grippier shoe, thinking I can change them after seeing a lap of the course.
My plan was to set up my own aid station and listen to music on the 2nd and 4th laps as a 'reward.' After ascending the first time I felt fantastic and decided to run the descents. Nothing stupid, my plan was to "shuffle" so the vest didn't bounce. The second ascent was nothing like the first, lots of loose boulders with steep ascents and descents. I was averaging about 6km/hr in the first half of the loop, but only about 2.5 on the second.
On the second loop I put my stuff down to fit my ear buds and forgot to pick up my bottle (you had to carry bottles, no cups at aid stations). This messed up my nutrition a bit as I was using Formula 369. I began to eat tons more to compensate.
The last loop was pretty tough, my shoulders were so sore (still are) and my quads were screaming. I pushed through to the finish and I was the 6th Finisher for the Alpha Wolf Challenge at Ultratrax which is rucking with 35 pounds over the 28 miles, and climbing the mountain 8x. This event beat me up worse than an Ironman but it was a really cool challenge that was something outside the box I'm not used to.
