Buttsweat Towel© season has begun

Yes, a headlamp is handy. I know some can do without by following others using headlamps, but I'm "Mr. No Depth Perception" at night so I had to have one. You can pick one up fairly easily at most stores. I use Petzl brand, has held up really well, but battery use is a key consideration as well. Have a great adventure!

What's the course / trail like? You'll probably want some light for the first 1.5-2 hours. If its not too rocky or technical, you can probably get away with a small flashlight in your hand.

Thanks Bob... I absolutely have to make a trip to the running store this week, so I'll take a look.

Jake - not real technical, more like a mountain bike trail - I think you're right. My gut says bring the handheld, don't take the lead until I can see, and just focus on going the right way for the first couple of loops.

I don't think I'd go with Fastwich or any other lightweight non-trail shoe. I'd think you'd get some serious blisters with that little of cushion/support over 50 miles of trail. Rock bruises would be a lot more likely in those.

Although out of the shoes you do have listed on your shoe tracker that'd be the best or the Kinvara.

I prefer wearing a headlamp to holding a flashlight, but maybe that's just me. I wear a headlamp every morning, even on fast efforts.

Good luck. I'll look forward to reading your report.

Dangit Riley, just when I thought I was good...

My plan is definitely to check out the trail shoes this week. Overall, my thinking was if I can feel fine running a marathon on concrete in the Type A's, I should be able to handle 50 miles of dirt in the FT (fortunately not a rocky course) but I need to check out trail shoes anyway.

The headlamp thing is something I should have tried to get used to a long time ago if I had a brain. But I run on pavement in the dark with no light instead...will probably be a rude awakening on trail. Another thing I'm gonna check out this week...

You can probably get a headlamp pretty cheap... they are useful if you have a car that doesn't have interior lights that work, too :-)

The course is multiple loops, correct? Leave a backup pair that you can change into if things aren't feeling good.

Fastwitch would worry me on a course w/ small rocks because they can get stuck in the bottom outsole on those shoes. Kinvaras tread pattern is less likely to pick up any rocks. The outsole of the (newer) Nomad TRs is really sweet - nothing gets stuck to it. They have a really nice wide toebox too - sort of like Altra but not as stupid and they don't make you want to jump off a cliff.

I've run in my Kinvara 5s a bit on rocky trail but nothing longer than 8-10 miles or so. It makes a difference when you are really tired and the distance is that long.

Didn't you run 22+ pacing April in the mud in a pair of Fastwitch? Not your best trail shoe probably but definitely better than the time you split a pair of A5s!

Unless I am racing or spending more than 90 minutes on the trails I sometimes don't even both with trail shoes and the Wissahickon trails are extremely rocky (sometimes all rock). But AGAIN. It's going to be magnified over the course of 50 miles.

Get yourself a headlamp; it will free up your hands if you fall!

How close are the trails? Could you get down for a loop to see what it looks like?

I can definitely have a backup pair of shoes in a bag at the start of the loop.

Alright, store tomorrow. Then practice with my new stuff, if I get things.

Jason, they're 2+ hours away so not gonna happen but, I've been asking on the FB group and we're talking dirt / mountain bike paths for the most part...when I ripped those A5s, it was on pure rocky trails and it definitely hurt on the boulders - could never have worked over 50 miles, even if they held up. But FT was fine for 17 on same rocky trails...and fine for running with April on rocks...so idunno!

Yes, you need a headlamp. Good brands are Petzl, Black Diamond, or I have a couple Princeton Tec that I like. Get something close to 100 lumens so you can actually see. Here's one: http://www.amazon.com/Princeton-Tec-Lumen-Headlamp-Black/dp/B00IF5NXRE.

As for shoes, I'd go with a trail shoe, but seeing as you don't own any, that's tough. I'm a Brooks guy and love their Cascadia. Best feature is the solid bottom which keeps out sharp rocks. I use it on the roads as well, so might be a good option for you to buy and use without much breaking in (the stiffer shoes are nice on trails but much less forgiving). I'm sure Saucony has something similar to the Cascadia.

And yes to the handheld water bottle. Also, don't forget the Glide and to tape your nipples: 50 miles is a whole lotta chafing. Good luck!

Ah yeah, Glide...even in my favorite shorts I have "issues" going over 20 miles. Don't even wanna think about what 50 would do to me. Thanks for the tips Russ - doesn't look like I can make it to the running store today...this is getting ridiculous!

I'm excited to see how this race goes for you! If it's not rocks then you don't need trail shoes. Mud is mud no matter what shoes you are wearing. Your least-minimal shoes are the best idea. After 30 or 40 miles it's just nice to have a little more support and substance between your aching feet and the ground. I think you will do well!

And eat as much as you can early on to bank for later in the race when your stomach gets much less interested in taking in anything!

Thanks April - good stuff.