UPDATE: Congratulations to INOV8 ambassadors Meryl Cooper and Jack Scott on their performances at the Lakeland Trails 100k, which doubled up as the British Ultra Running Trail Championships. Meryl won the women’s race in a new course record time of 11hrs 32mins, while Jack placed 5th in the men’s race.
Ahead of the highly anticipated Lakeland Trails Ultra, we asked new INOV8 ambassadors Meryl Cooper and Jack Scott to reveal their favourite ultra running kit, superstitions, tips for others and much more.
This year’s 100k race doubles up as the British Athletics Championships and team qualifier for the 2021 World Trail Running Championships, to be staged in Thailand in November. As a result, the field is stacked with many of Britain’s best exponents of ultra-trail running.
Meryl is set to wear our light, fast and bouncy TRAILFLY G 270 shoes, while Jack is likely to go for the more increased cushioning offered by the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX.
Both will use the RACE ULTRA PRO 5 VEST to carry all their mandatory race kit:
- Waterproof hooded jacket
- Full-length waterproof trousers
- First aid kit
- Long-sleeve base-layer
- Hat & gloves
- Whistle
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Headtorch (plus spare battery)
- Foil blanket or bivvy bag
- Food and drink
- Optional: Compass, poles, GPS device, sunscreen
Tell us about yourself and what motivates you to run ultras?
Meryl:
I’m 34 and live near Aberdeen, Scotland. I have always loved playing sports and did so until around 2018 when I started to focus on just running. I played club level basketball and squash for a number of years, but football and dance were my main sports, the latter which I did at a semi-professional level.
I ran my first ultra-trail 50k in Switzerland in 2017 with the goal to just finish. It was also a challenge/early-life crisis decision after turning 30 years old!
How I feel at the end of an ultra is what motivates me to run more of them. I reflect back on the whole training block and get such a huge sense of achievement and enjoyment from the months leading up to and ultra and the learning process that it is. I love the training block as much as the race itself.
Jack:
I’m 26 and live in Stone, Staffordshire, England. My sporting background was playing football to a relevantly high standard during my teens. I was always captain of the teams I played for and enjoyed leading, but when football fizzled out in my early 20s, I was left with a void. I guess that’s where I found running.
I started running on the road, and then I came across a local ridge called The Roaches. An obsession with trail running and being in the hills started soon after.
I’m motivated and intrigued with the longer distances because it entails a lot more variables which are usually out of my control; weather, terrain and just being out on your feet for hours and hours. There are also many obstacles, such as fuelling and navigation, which add more layers to running than just pounding the pavement. Once I realised I could look after myself in the hills and mountains it was brilliant to start racing over them, and that’s where I find myself today.
What is your favourite piece of ultra running kit you couldn’t go without?
Meryl:
My TRAILFLY G 270. These shoes suit the rocky trail terrain that I prefer and are super-comfortable and responsive. I also love arm sleeves. I find them so good for quickly raising the body temperature when it gets a little bit chilly but not cold enough to put your jacket on.
Jack:
I think kit is a lot about trial and error. You can read reviews and opinions online but until the shoes are on your feet, or the torch is on your head, you never really know. Once you’ve found what works for you, stick with it.
A light, comfortable vest pack or bag is a basic requirement but is absolutely crucial for me. I’ve suffered in the past with skin irritations from packs that rub. Whether it is a winter race or a summer one, you can’t be wasting energy worrying about kit hampering your performance. A pack can sit perfectly in the sunshine, but if it rains it will begin to move around differently and can get heavier in certain areas. Being comfortable in your kit is one of the basics – and it shouldn’t be underestimated. For the Lakeland Trails 100k I’ll be wearing the RACE ULTRA PRO 5 VEST, which is tried and tested in all weathers and works for me.
What else will be in your pack for the 100k ultra? Any additional lucky charms?
Meryl:
All the mandatory kit plus a lot of TORQ gels and bars. When I was a PE teacher, I was given a photo card with a super-supportive message from my year group, so I carried that at my last 100K. I always carry my own elevation profile card with me – without it I would have no idea where I am or what is coming next!
Jack:
In September 2019 I raced along the Offa Dyke Trail in Wales (188 miles). I managed to win the race and set a new record time. Before the race a member of my family gave me a small religious pendant for luck or protection, or something along those lines. I’m not religious but I took it and wore it around my neck for the run. I was a bit out of my depth running that far and had never had to deal with the challenges – especially the sleep demons – that occur after 100+ miles.
I finished the race and a day or so later I realised I’d lost the pendant. I was pretty gutted, but I had kit all over the place so wasn’t surprised. A week later I saw a Facebook post asking if anyone had lost an item of jewellery during the race. Someone had found my pendant on the trail and handed it in at the next checkpoint. Considering the scale of the course and the terrain it crosses, I was amazed it had been spotted and handed in.
I now either wear the pendant for every race or have it zipped up in my pack safely secured. A nice little reminder of my run up the length of Wales.
Do you have any ultra running race superstitions?
Meryl:
No race admin in the two days before the event, except race registration of course. I like to have all my thinking and planning done so I can have a couple of days 'holiday' from running before a race. Well, that's a lie, as my usually I end up watching running documentaries or reading inspiring running books! A break from ‘my running’ is what I mean!
Jack:
I like to pin my race number on my T-shirt or pack as late as possible, just before a race starts. I’m unsure why, or indeed where this came from, but it’s something that’s stuck over the years.
What’s the best piece of ultra running advice you’ve been given and put into practice?
Meryl:
It's not the fastest person who wins an ultra, it's the person who slows down the least.
Jack:
Be patient and believe in yourself. Also, to let things come naturally to you – races, challenges and ideas. Don’t go looking for them. When it gets tough and you’re 180 miles into a 214-mile jaunt across Scotland, you really do have to ask yourself why you’re out there putting yourself through it. If the answers aren’t there and you’re after something superficial or false, then you will fail. You need to have a clear head in those situations and a clear motive, which comes from being patient and realistic.
What do you like to eat/drink before and after an ultra?
Meryl:
Pasta, salmon, broccoli, spinach and pesto for dinner the night before. Porridge on race day and all the pizza I can find afterwards! This usually involves me ordering the biggest pizza possible and then only managing about two slices!
Jack:
This is another example of trial and error, and much of course depends on the length and intensity of the run ahead. Sometimes it’s all about calories and getting the fuel in without being too specific.
The Lakeland Trails 100k is going to be fast from the off, so a few hours before the race I won’t eat or drink anything new. The risk of stomach issues is too high and it’s not the time to experiment. I steer clear of hot drinks like tea before a race and obviously wouldn’t eat a hot curry either! I stick to what I know works on a daily basis and also keep a journal of foods I’ve eaten in training.
After Lakeland Trails 100k, I will be hoping for lovely pint(s) of craft beer… depending on the performance I put in! I’ve drank very little alcohol for the last 7 months in the run up to this race and I’d love to toast a decent performance!
What do you think about more than anything else during an ultra running race or challenge?
Meryl:
Hmmm, I’m not really sure. I definitely think a lot about eating, not falling over and pacing… 'Oooh am I going too fast? Am I going too slow?!' I think it’s probably eating/fuelling which occupies my mind most, especially over 100k.
Jack:
When I ran across Scotland following the Southern Upland Way, I had a lot of time to think and try to occupy my mind. The run took nearly 56 hours, so you can imagine the vast array of thoughts and topics going around in my head. The landscape and amazing pacers/team I had with me made it bearable though. The only subject not allowed is politics!
For the shorter 100k distance, I plan to stay in the moment and concentrate. I want to relax into the run and remember what is at stake. I’ll look to concentrate on my fuelling strategy and realise how lucky I am to be racing a quality field after a really enjoyable and productive six months of training.
Follow: Meryl (Instagram) | Jack (Instagram)
