MEET THE ELITES - GROBLER BASSON

June 29, 2023

In the second of our 'Meet the Elites' blog series we asked UD athlete, Grobler Basson, a series of questions to give us a better idea of how he prepares for races and what his go to UD gear is.

Bio

Grobler is a household name in the South African ultra running scene. With wins and course records at Mac Mac (100M), Maxi Winelands, SkyRun and Addo there is no denying that he is a force to be reckoned with on the trail running circuit. Not only is Grobler a fierce competitor on the racing scene, he is also a true mountain adventurer and has a passion for doing big mountain expeditions. Together with UD/Altra elite athlete, Gabriel Kriel, they successfully executed the first ever Namib Desert Crossing FKT in 2022. Grobler is also a certified ultra running coach whereby he helps other trail runners reach their goals.

Q&A

Which packs do you currently use?

For running (training & racing) I love using the Ultra Vest 6.0.

For extra long days or multi-day adventures in the mountains I use the Fastpack 30L.

What other UD gear do you use?

For shorter runs where I only need a few things with me I use the utility belt which can even fit a 500ml soft flask together with small items like my phone and keys.

My other favourite piece of gear is the UD FK gaiters. These gaiters ensure my shoes remain debris free on the wildest and longest adventures I decide to take on.

What shoes are currently in your rotation?

I am a avid fan of the Altra Mont Blancs and do most of my long mountain days and all my races in them. Then I mix it up with Altra Lone Peaks, Timps and Superiors and on the track I use the Altra Escalante. And then the Altra Lone Peak Alpine for the office of course.

Take us through a big race training week (when everything goes to plan)

- How many kms +-?

Big race training week for 100km to 160km race:

Anything between 130-170km with 6000m - 7000m of elevation gain depending on the vert to km ratio of the race.

- How many days are intervals vs LSD vs strength/gym?

In big load weeks only one intensity session at lactate threshold with another two sessions at the top-end of zone 2.

- How much mobility & stretching do you do?

One dedicated strength session and some 15-20min foam rolling and mobility sessions.

Aside from the prerequisite compulsory equipment), what are the must-haves in your pack on race day?

Emergency gel (for the bonk)

Do you run with poles? If so, which ones?

Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite

What do you eat for breakfast on race day?

I eat basmati rice with some olive oil, avocado and a bit of soy sauce 2 hours before race, then I will have something like a banana or a bar with high carbs (sugar) content 25min before the race.

How long do you taper before a big race?

100miler two weeks, 100km 9 days, 50miler 7days, 42km 7days

What's your cramp-prevention strategy on long races?

Balanced nutrition a week before the race. Training with race nutrition. Try and replicate race conditions in long training runs. Have some cramp pills with you always.