White Lake Ultras Race Recap: Ultra Running Lessons & Gear That Didn’t Quit

On any other day, it’s just a lake with a two-mile trail looping around it. But on May 4th, it was transformed into something else entirely—the White Lake Ultra.

An ultra doesn’t exist on a map. It comes to life on race day because of the people who bring it to life: the race director, the volunteers, the community of runners. They’re what make a two-mile loop into something special, something beyond.

Bib acquired and ready to run on a gorgeous morning at White Lake in Tamworth, NH.

Why I Signed Up for the White Lake Ultra

I signed up late—not too late to register, but late enough that I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the starting line. Back in November, I was still recovering from a short bout of what felt like plantar fasciitis (thank you, shockwave therapy for keeping me running!). I started to feel better, and once I did, I wanted to find out: if I removed the pressure of pace, could I still run long?

I’d been following a reduced-volume training style I called the Perimenopause Project, which focused on strength and recovery while scaling back my weekly mileage. I was feeling strong, but I missed the long run. So I started adding mileage back, one weekend at a time. When I hit 15 miles without pain, I kept going: 16, 17, 18. No flare-ups. No hobbling. I ran 20 miles and felt ready.

That’s when I finally signed up for White Lake and mapped out a training plan for ultra running. (Find more details about my training HERE.)

What I Wore: Finding the Ultimate Sports Bra for Ultras

Let’s talk ultra running gear, specifically sports bras for running—because what you wear can make or break your race.

In the days leading up to the event, I stalked the weather like every runner does. Shorts or tights? Long sleeves or tank? Rain gear or tank top?

What I didn’t question: my sports bra. I wore the Title Nine Pockito Power 2.0 Bra, a high-performance bra designed specifically for active women and tested in real-world race conditions—like, say, running for six hours straight.

The Pockito Sports Bra passed every test. It’s built for chafe-free performance, especially in high-friction zones like the collarbone and underarms (where hydration vest straps usually wreak havoc). Thanks to its wide, stay-put straps, I didn’t have to deal with adjusting or tugging mid-race. It stayed in place while everything else fell apart…OK, it didn’t fall apart too bad. But still. The bra held strong, while I lost steam.

I paired it with the Title Nine MVT Training Short—tons of storage for gels, gummies, and soft flasks. Bonus: no waistband irritation and enough stretch to move with me through mud, roots, and all the miles. I highlighted these shorts not long ago on my Instagram. They are quickly becoming my go-to. 

My personal aid station.

Ultra Running Nutrition: The Best-Laid Plans

In training, I kept it simple: GoGo Squeeze Applesauce, Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Swimmers, GU Liquid Energy, SALTT (similar to LMNT), and hydration via soft flasks.

I planned to eat something every lap: applesauce, gummies, or GU. The applesauce is about 19g of carbs, the gummies are about 24g and the GU is 25g. I figured if I had one per lap I’d average about 70 or so grams of carbohydrate every hour. I carried enough for five laps at a time and planned to restock at my personal aid table, avoiding the main station to simplify choices and save time. 

That plan? It fell apart once the heat hit. My body did not want sugar. Not a great realization when your ultra running fuel strategy is built around fruit puree and candy. And by the time my nutrition plan started to unravel, I was already twenty or so miles in and between feeling depleted and too locked into my plan, I didn’t think to divert to the race aid station for something savory and salty. 

Lap Breakdown: Miles That Taught Me Something

Laps 1–5 (Miles 0–10): Felt smooth. Course recon, steady effort, nutrition on point, laps under 19 minutes.

Laps 6–10 (Miles 10–20): Sun came out strong. Temps climbed into the 70s. I leaned more into electrolytes, still on pace.

Laps 11–13 (Miles 20–26): Heat fatigue set in. Nutrition faltered. I ditched my hydration pack and eventually my shirt. For a break, I walked the beach stretch. Ice water helped. I forced down a GU and applesauce, but skipped several fueling opportunities. In hindsight, I should have used the race’s stocked aid station or had my own salty/savory snacks on hand–like the pickle, grilled cheese one of my athletes recommended after the race as her go-to. 

Laps 14–16 (Miles 26–31.5): Things slowed. My right knee flared up on the uneven terrain, no pain, just a fullness and tenderness over the roots, rocks and bridges. My pace dropped to 25 minutes per lap. I stripped down to just my Title Nine Pockito Power Bra—and thankfully, I had no chafing, no wardrobe malfunctions, nothing to distract me from the pain cave. I forced down one last GU and jogged across the line with 31.5 miles in 5:49, finishing third female overall.

Final Thoughts on Ultra Running (and the Gear That Got Me Through)

Ultra running is never just about the miles—it’s about what you learn when everything gets hard: your body, your mind, your gear.

What I learned:

• Train on the terrain. I should’ve logged more trail miles. It’s hard to train for an early spring ultra in New England when most of the trails are covered with snow and ice. You don’t necessarily get the changes in terrain you need to build durability for a trail race. I underestimated the terrain, because it wasn’t the rugged, technical beastcoast terrain I’m used to. I just spent too many training miles on the road. 

• Use the aid station. Or at least inform your pit crew to redirect you to the aid station. I had a plan, but I didn’t have a plan B. If I’d had a plan B that involved stopping at the race aid station I think I might have done a little better. Or at least instructed my pit crew (my family) to head that way when I started to struggle.

• Don’t go too hard early. I felt like I went out super relaxed, but maybe I was fooling myself? Thinking too much about past times and not enough about how the unseasonably warm day might impact my race. 

What I don’t regret? Wearing the Title Nine Pockito Power 2.0 Bra. It’s hands-down the best sports bra for long-distance running I’ve ever worn. Zero chafing. Full coverage. No bounce. No distractions. It was the one thing that held strong while everything else started to unravel.

After the race, I peeled off my mud-soaked socks and shoes and jumped into the crips waters of White Lake. It was the perfect end to a challenging and revealing day. 

Ultra running strips you down to what matters. For me, it was effort, resilience, and gear that doesn’t quit.

Try the Pockito Power Bra for yourself and use code RUNFARGIRL for free shipping! 

-Sarah

Interested in training for an Ultra using my Perimenopause Hybrid Approach? Let’s Work Together! Learn more HERE.