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Best advice I got too late: Never run with a backpack. However walking with weight is great exercise. I spent years habitually carrying a weighted pack or divers weight-belt to 'acclimatize' my body, never took the escalator or lift and ran every moment I could - in boots mostly. Sports medicine and knowledge has improved enough now that these common mistakes can be avoided.

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Interesting thoughts... typically I don't, but the last couple races I did required it. I'm doing Marathon des Sables in a few weeks, which requires me to carry a ~20lb bag for the 6 days I'll be out there, and I ran a 50mi race this past October with a 5lb bag(water, light snacks). Of course, there was the time spent training for it that required me to get ready to do these races. My preference is without the bag, of course :) and I always do my runs with running shoes, never in boots.

I'll try to do more of my runs after this one without the extra weight though - thank you for your input! What ultras have you done?

here is an interesting bit of advice on rucking that I found today. http://www.itstactical.com/centcom/interviews/still-rucking-... for myself - never did anything formal - one of my mentors trained me according to a real life combat situation he was in: run/walk 3 days/nights carrying 60kg (his team was chased by vehicles). That was what I always trained for, so definitely outside the norm. Good luck with MdS - would love to do that one day.

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