In a rare quiet moment on the SST HQ afternoon shift during the January 2020 Winter Spine. I thought it would be interesting to see how participants footwear selection had changed in the 6 years since my original Spine footwear survey.
Stu's 2014 Spine Footwear Survey
During the intervening years, the Spine has grown in numbers and international diversity of participants. A trend which is matched by the increasing popularity of expedition style races. Trail running manufacturers have responded by developing a wide range of footwear solutions for this market.
The general aim of the 2020 survey is to analyse how Spiners and Challengers have adopted the latest footwear choices and review them in the context of the race. The survey questionnaire was publicised on the Official Spine Facebook Group. I'm delighted to report that a total of 97 Spiners, Challengers and MRT Challengers responded. Thank you all for your contribution, it's very much appreciated.
Unfortunately, during the period when the completed surveys were coming in, Covid-19 arrived. Plunging us into a succession of lockdown, shielding, not lockdown, tiers, escalation of tiers, more shielding, another lockdown etc etc. The effect of this on race organisation, was adjusting to constantly moving goalposts, repeated re-working of plans, schedules, risk assessments and bookings. Alas for event organisers all over the country, this tsunami of additional admin work came to naught. Meanwhile, by necessity, our lives remain frozen in lockdown limbo.
Consequently, the results of the 2020 survey have been delayed far longer than I would have wished for. But, best foot forward! Spiners and Challengers entered in winter 2021 and beyond will a least have the benefit of these insights.
STATISTICAL SAMPLE
For our 2014 survey there were 37 respondents
This was greatly exceeded in 2020 with 97 respondents:
This was greatly exceeded in 2020 with 97 respondents:
- 10 MRT Challenger
- 38 Challenger
- 42 Full Spine
Note 1: Full disclosure. The survey and analysis was undertaken in my own time and is not commissioned by the Spine Race organisation. The survey sample is from the January 2020 Winter Spine Race. Therefore, any views, opinions, interpretations, conclusions and errors are mine alone.
Note 2: The online survey tool I used allows a maximum number of 90 entries to be interrogated in detail. To analyse the other 7 entries would mean subscribing to the commercial level of functionality at a cost of £300. Hence, I chose not to do this.
THE SURVEY
I will split the survey report into two parts:
- Part 1: MRT Challenger & Challenger. I've combined these to give a meaningful base of 48 respondents. The same race distance allows a direct comparison, but I am mindful of minor distinctions in the results.
- Part 2: Full Spine
Note 3: For the second half of the survey, I widened the scope beyond footwear. Offering respondents the opportunity to also comment on kit choices and their own race experience.
Note 4: It's important to bear in mind that even with the excellent response, the data set is small. Any results and conclusions are not presented as the only, or one size fts all, solution. Indeed, to read them as other than a starting point for your own ideas and inspiration, would be a mistake. The aspirant Spiner and Challenger should explore, test and refine these ideas to suit their own race strategy.
CONTEXT
The 2020 January Winter edition was acknowledged by participants and members of the Spine Team to be particularly rigorous with heavy precipitation, strong wind, extreme wind chill and saturated ground underfoot.
MRT / CHALLENGER SURVEY RESULTS
1) What are the most common shoe types used in January 2020?
20 Inov-8 low sided variants: 250, 260, 275, 290, 300, 305, 370
3 Inov-8 mid sided variants: 325, 335
7 Hoka low sided variants: Speedgoat 2/3/4, Challenger, Mafate
4 Hoka mid sided variants: Tor
6 Salomon low sided variants: Speedcross 4/5, Ultra Pro
4 Altra low sided variants: Olympus, King
4 Altra mid sided variants: Lone Peak
4 La Sportiva low sided variants: Helios, Mutant, Raptor
1 La Sportiva mid sided variant: Uragano
1 Keen mid sided variant: Targhee
1 Scott low sided variant: Supertrac
Analysis: In contrast to 2014 where 30% of Challengers wore Salomon Speedcross, there is now a huge diversity in footwear makes and models. Inov-8 also previously featured well. However the brand now dominates the overall numbers.
The wide sample spread gives us no distinct trend in specific models of any brand. What we can say is that low sided variants are still the most popular choice in both starting and finishing footwear.
I did not ask what sock choices accompanied MRT Challenger / Challenger footwear. Anecdotally, there are recurrent threads of discussion on the Official Spine Facebook page and several mentions of waterproof socks in the 2020 questionnaire respondents comments. So what we can say is that waterproof socks were used in conjunction with low sided footwear by, at the very least, several Challengers.
Thus, Challengers relied upon the waterproofness of their sock rather than footwear to protect and preserve the condition of their feet in the testing winter conditions. This is not unexpected, as the merits of low sided Gore-Tex (or other waterproofing) shoes is debatable, given the saturation of the ground, streams in spate and torrential precipitation. All quickly transforming low sided GTX footwear into buckets. Non GTX, being free(er) draining.
There is a perception that the Challenger race duration is too short for participants to suffer serious trench foot or other debilitating / race-stopping foot conditions. Given that, again anecdotally, most of the serious foot issues are seen from around CP2 onwards, there is a general truth to this statement. But, this is no reason for Challengers not to be vigilant with foot care. As there have been participants which have had to DNF with immersion foot. Which is highly likely to have been exacerbated by cold conditions.
We shall talk more on this subject in the context of Spine racers and their footwear choices in Part 2.
2) Shoe type worn at the Start vs Finish / Point of DNF
Of the 12 respondents which chose to go up a shoe size (at CP1 because this is the only drop bag access point for MRT Challenger & Challengers):
- 7 went up a 1/2 UK size
- 3 went up a full UK size
- 2 went up two full UK sizes
3) Point of DNF
- 4 MRT Challenger respondents DNF'd: All at or near CP1
- 10 Challenger respondents DNF'd: 4 at CP1. 6 at CP1.5
- Of the Challenger DNFs at CP1.5: 3 had changed up a shoe size at CP1
4) DNF reasons given by respondents
- Hypothermia (3)
- Injury (3) - all injuries were to lower limbs
- Respiratory (2)
- Stomach upset (1)
- Head not in the game (1)
- Missed cut-off (1)
- Broken kit (1)
- Other (1)
The Spine Races are often described as a head, feet and eating game. While this is broadly correct, the respondents answers give a greater nuance to the range of factors which may combine in a less than satisfactory outcome.
5) What respondents would do differently next time
- Use waterproof socks (1)
- More changes of socks (4)
- Bigger shoe size (2)
- Better grip shoes (1) - Hoka respondent reported little traction on steep grass & mud
- GTX footwear to prevent grit ingress (1)
- Better foot care /tape feet (4)
- More robust waterproof jacket (2)
- More spare dry clothes (2)
- Waterproof trousers from the start (1) - ref context of weather conditions
- Lighter pack (2)
- Better goggles (1) - Race HQ/SST received multiple DNF reports of blindness / vision impairment due to high velocity wind and driven rain. Many race participants delayed until too late or chose not to use goggles from compulsory kit at item was not accessible in rucksack. Some participants did not use the strap accompanying min-standard Bolle goggles and so the goggle did not make an effective seal around eye sockets.
- Add knee support to kit (1)
- Use more anti-chaffing cream (1)
- Sleep less & more efficient CP turnaround (1)
- More rest at CP1 (1)
- Slower pace (1)
- Eat more / more dried food meals (3)
The respondents answers here do tend to focus on feet and footwear, as the questionnaire leads in this respect. However, the selection of other answers given does indicate the many varied challenges that participants have to manage, absorb or overcome. Some of the things that participants might do next time are personal, such as go slower, or sleep less. Which may contradict, but not negate, another participants thoughts to go faster and sleep more.
6) Spine & Challenger Training
You can also see how the above list easily fits with our opening slide at the Spine Training Session and 'Complete Racer' courses. Where we talk about working on your 'skills wheel'
The emphasis here is, as always, to use the information available and experience shared. Keep an open mind, take what is useful and develop it to suit your personal strategy.
An interesting point to make: Feedback from a recent Spine Training weekend was that participants wanted less information about the 'elite' end of the race. This came as a surprise to the course instructors and guest speakers. As the throughout the weekend there was a strong emphasis that all the skills and tips were to help participants develop a personal finishing strategy. The course content was definitely not to make race winners. Perhaps this is a question of perception. In that when folks new to the race see the skills set that finishers have to deploy (all the way back to the celebrated lanterne rouge) and they think of this as just for the elites.
Here we return to a thread which had been ongoing for almost as long as the Spine:
New participants not knowing what is needed to know in order to maximise the potential to finish. And the relatively poor uptake (versus much higher rate of DNF in the Challenger and Full Spine) of the Official Spine Training sessions. Despite many, many, previous Spine Training Weekend participants advocating they would still be 'faffing at CP1' or the 'invaluable focus' the TW gave them for their Spine build up.
Of course the Spine Training sessions will not guarantee you a finish, but what it certain is that participants who have attended have participated with greater confidence enjoyment and generally much further that they would have otherwise done so. Looking at it from another perspective, the Spine Training Sessions should be thought of as a planned investment in yourself, equal to that in kit and equipment.
The Official Spine TW's represent excellent value for money and an superb 'fast track' to Spine wisdom, shared by long-standing members of the Spine Team and experienced guest speakers, in an engaging, informative and inclusive environment. Where there's not such thing as a silly question. And new, returning and aspirant Spiners/Challengers are all welcome.
7) Respondents next Spine race
- Return to MRT Challenger (5) - three returning to put the DNF to bed
- Return to Challenger (4) - putting the DNF to bed
- Winter Full Spine (24) - most finishers now looking to step up to the full race
- Summer Fusion (2) - long summer daylight and guaranteed idyllic weather (!)
- Maybe (10) - Hopefully returning after a rest in January 2021
- No (1) - Finished and done it.
9) Interest in Official Spine Training events
- Yes (24) MRT Challenger & Challenger
We look forward to welcoming you to Open Group Official Spine Training or one-2-one bespoke Spine Skills days.
SELECTED PALMARES APPLIED TO THE 2020 SPINE FOOTWEAR SURVEY
Stu Westfield BEng (Hons) FRGS
- 10 years progression as in the field team member, team leader, control room manager of the Spine Safety Team. Spine Training events Coordinator. https://thespinerace.com/
- 10 year Ranger Expeditions guided treks and hill skills training. https://rangerexped.co.uk/
- 6 years Ranger Ultras trail running event organiser. http://rangerultras.co.uk/
- Former holder Peak District Boundary FKT
- Spine Race Flare finisher
- GS Stella cycling team
COMING NEXT:
Part 2: Analysis of Full Spine Race questionnaire responses.
RANGER ULTRAS
Ranger Ultras' trail running series offers an ideal preparation pathway for both aspirant and returning Spiners and Challengers. Many of the courses are in Pennine Way country and include mini-recce sections on the Pennine Way itself. As well as being excellent race days in their own right,
Including the new Ranger Ultras'
No comments:
Post a Comment