The Spartan Killington Ultra is widely known as the toughest Spartan Ultra race in North America. The steep mountains on this ski resort and the course directors sending racers up and down over a dozen times will really make you second guess your life decisions. And let me tell you, this mountain has taken it’s share of souls. But for those of you that have finished. It’s a buckle you hang on your wall and will never forget about.

We had a Post on Killington, 99 days ago. With some tips, tricks and advice on tackling this mountain, check it out here: 100 Days out from the Killington Ultra Sufferfest.

And if you want to visualize how wild this course is. Here’s the elevation map for this years 2024 Spartan ultra.
Racers are gaining over 15K of feet and going up and down the mountain at up to 50% grades. Not to mention the 70’ish obstacles along the way. Including Sand Bag and Bucket carries multiple times. Barbed wire. Rope climbs. Ape Hanger. And numerous others that can cause immediate cramping, tear up the hands and cause havoc on your average pace time.

Well guess what.
The time is now.

The 2024 race is going down this weekend.

We caught up with Rocky Cianfrocca who is one of the Elite athletes taking on this challenge. Learning a little bit about his background and then getting into the Gear he’s taking out on course.

BACKGROUND

It was a mere 4 years ago that Rocky decided to take running seriously. He decided in 2020 that he wanted to run the Boston Marathon and so his training began.

Later that year he ran his first marathon, the Erie Marathon in Pennsylvania. And since that time he’s done another 6 marathons, including Boston and Chicago in 2023.

Through his run training and marathon goals, he also tested out his skills in some Triathlons. Throughout 2022 he went after some Olympic distance Triathlons and finished two Half Ironmans: Blue Ridge Mountain & Florida.

So. Rocky’s going through this Marathon and Triathlon phase of his fitness and he sees a Spartan Race advertisement.
He decides to sign up.
Ya know how most people ease their way into obstacle course racing with a Sprint or a Super distance?
Not Rocky. He dives headfirst into the deep end and signs up for the South Carolina Ultra in November 2022.

Rocky finished up that South Carolina Ultra. His first ever OCR event.

And. Was. Hooked.

Signing up for two more Spartan Ultras in 2023 at the Fayetteville and Dallas venues.

As for 2024, Rocky’s been focused almost solely on Spartan races, including:

• Spartan ATLANTA
• Spartan CHARLOTTE
• Spartan NEW JERSEY
• Spartan FAYETTEVILLE
• Spartan CINCINNATI
• Spartan PALMERTON
• Deka Fit Ultra FORT WAYNE
• Spartan WEST VIRGINIA

Rocky has been gaining OCR experience and doing pretty well in results. But he really made a splash on the OCR scene in June of this year as he came in 1st place at the Spartan Cincinnati Ultra.

The course directors made this one surprisingly difficult and athletes all around had a lot to say about the challenging course. Check out our Article all about it here: A Little Mountain in Cincy Enters the “Hardest Spartan Ultra” Chat.

After the race, Rocky was featured on Scott “The Fayne” Knowles’s podcast I AM A SPARTAN! OCR PODCAST where they get into Rocky’s background, experience in running, Spartan racing and that Cincinnati race.

Be sure to check it out on Episode #194

Now. Let’s get into the purpose of this post and have a look at the details of gear Rocky is bringing with him while running and in his transition drop-bin.

FUELING & TRANSITION

Fueling is KEY in these races. Not only does the Killington Ultra take people 8-15 hours to complete. You’re also swinging your body around all sorts of ways. Going through mud and water. Getting hot. Getting cold. It’s back and forth guys. All day.

So, fuel to keep going, hydration, and having some options to prevent cramping is vitally important.

PRE-RACE: Just prior to the race start, Rocky will take in a few ounces of Pickle Juice. Along with a Honey Stinger.

DURING: The main fuel source on course for Rocky is the Cranksports e-Gel. Which Rocky holds in his Nathan “The Zipster Lite” running belt.
He tells us the goal is to have 1 e-Gel every 35-40minutes.

His other constant through the race is Pink Himalayan Salt for electrolytes. These are 390mg of Sodium and he plans to take one every 40minutes.

TRANSITION: At transition, the main food source is that he plans on eating a Peanut Butter / Banana / Honey on rye sandwich.

He will also take in a few more ounces of Pickle Juice and might pick up a second Honey Stinger for that second lap.

FOOTWEAR

With his focus on road marathons and tri’s, Rocky was new to the trail side of things. He signs up for a 50K in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia and purchases some Altra Lone Peak 5’s. Goes out and runs this 50K in them for the first time ever.

Is this suggested?!?!
Nope.

But things worked out for him and these shoes thankfully felt great.
Rocky’s been in Altra’s ever since. And he’s now going out to Killington with the Altra Lone Peak 8’s.

And for socks, he’s been sticking with MudGear. Possibly the most popular sock brand in OCR.

CLOTHING

Let’s start top to bottom.

Rocky is going shirtless. Nothin’ but that purple bib. And for any of ya’ll doing this, he highly suggests covering your nipples with something!! He suggest some bandaids and KT Tape here.

For more on protecting your skin on course. Rocky likes using Gold Bond Friction Defense Aloe and also spreads on PR Lotion from Amp Human before the race start for that added boost of electrolyte sodium bicarbonate straight on the muscles.

For shorts, he’s going with CompressionZ. Compression shorts with some side pockets.

And we already mentioned above, but he runs with the Nathan “The Zipster Lite” Running Belt, to hold those CrankSport e-Gel’s.

And lastly, for tracking all this, Rocky is running with the Garmin Forerunner 965 watch.

We have many followers who will be out there in Killington this weekend to take on those Mountains. We hope this little GEAR CHECK is interesting and helpful in your planning for this event or any other Ultra race you have on the calendar.

For the rest of 2024, Rocky tells us he’s going back to the South Carolina Ultra in November. And then will be doing his first Trifecta weekend in Florida in December.
Keep up with Rocky and his racing adventures on Instagram @rockycianfrocca