Owen Jones

Like many of us, I’ve stood in my bedroom in the early morning wondering where on earth I’d put my running gloves. Or my headtorch. Or even my winter leggings. I’ve passed kit checks by the skin of my teeth. And yes — I’ve even been told I couldn’t start a race because I didn’t have the mandatory gear. Fortunately, a Race Director with spares saved my bacon that day.

That’s where TrailKube started. Not in a lab, but in the real world — built from actual race-day stress, sweaty experience, and a deep need to feel more sorted.

So I got to work. Built a prototype. Took it to my running group. Showed it to kit checkers. Demonstrated it to strangers in event villages and even to a few big event organisers. Here’s what I heard:

“I love it.”
“You’ve obviously really thought this through.”
“I can’t wait to see that on the market.”
“It’s like a Tardis!”
“This really solves a problem we all know but rarely talk about.”

Those who weren’t into planning and such meticulous organisation admitted it wasn’t for them — and that’s fine. Because TrailKube isn’t for everyone. It’s for the runners who want to show up calm, confident, and ready, and need a little help along the way.

But over time, I realised something else.

The stress before a run isn’t always about kit.

Sometimes it’s about something bigger.

I’ve run in deserts, mountains, and other places where self-reliance really matters. I’ve stood on start lines wondering whether I truly belonged there. I’ve asked myself the same questions many runners quietly ask before their first ultra:

Am I fit enough?
Am I tough enough?
What if I’m the one who shouldn’t be there?

That’s why I now spend just as much time helping what I call the Ultra-Curious — runners who feel drawn to the idea of an ultra, but harbour genuine fears about taking on such a challenge.

I don’t offer bravado or miracle plans.
I offer perspective, experience, and calm preparation.

Through my free guide, reflections, and occasional webinars, I help runners think clearly about the three fears that matter most — body, mind, and cut-offs — so you can decide, in your own time, whether an ultra is something you genuinely want to take on.

TrailKube might help you organise your kit.
But the bigger goal has always been the same:

To help runners feel more capable.

If you’ve ever felt anxious about kit checks, unsure about taking the next step, or quietly curious about going further — you’re in the right place.

Let’s build something special, for you, together.

Owen
Founder, TrailKube