The Anatomy Of A Drop Bag

What is a Drop Bag?

As you venture into the world of Ultras, many races will offer opportunities for a "drop bag." The drop bag will allow the racer to access certain items that you might want mid-race without having to carry them all the way. It's an opportunity to access things such as your own snacks, change of socks or access to sunscreen.

The Type of Bag to Use

The race may have specific requirements around your drop bag, so you want to start there. The race rules will typically include details around any limitations to the drop bag around size. It will also include details around how to mark your bag.

When you pick your bag, consider these things:

• Bigger is NOT better.

• Consider the weather, you will something waterproof if possible (or you use water proof bags to organize inside the drop bag.

• Secure (Zipper or draw strings) so your stuff stays IN the bag.

• Easy to Identify - much like at the airport you will want to easily pick out YOUR bag.

What's In the Bag?

What you include in your drop bag can be a difficult task.  You want to have what you might need, but you also don't want to put in so much that you are overwhelmed with choices the day of the race.  I learned this the hard way and lost about 20 minutes in a race basically staring at my options.

Start by looking at where this drop bag will be in your race. So if for example you are making a drop bag for a race and you will have access to this drop bag at about the 4-hour mark and whatever you grab from this bag will be what you need for the last 6-hours of your race.

Nutrition - while you may be relying on the aid stations, maybe you have specific gels, electrolyte or salt pills, or foods that you know will make you happy. As an example, I often rely on the aid stations, but prefer my own gels. So if I need 6 hours worth of gels, I will put those gels in a Ziploc bag in my drop bag.

Personal Care Products - take into consideration your own personal needs, time of day, and specifics of the race. Here are some things to consider:

• Lube for your feet or other areas of your body that might be chafing.

• Sunscreen to reapply (consider spray vs lotion considering where you will be in the race and level of sweat!)

• Bug spray (and/or Fly Patches)

• For females, will you have your period and need to have backup tampons available?

• Wear Contacts and might need eye drops?

• Do you often experience cramping, you might want to include a shot of pickle juice or hotshot.

• Do you typically have stomach issues? Have some antacids or Ginger chews.

Really think about what might you NEED at this point in the race and where possible consider small versions of the product (example travel sized sunscreen).

Clothing - A change of socks, shoes, shirt, buff, hat; but balance will you really use it before you end up completely over packing. Use your training to help guide you and think about your longest training run, if you had access to a change of shirt or shorts would you really have stopped and changed? Take into consideration the time of day you will reach this drop bag, water crossing etc.

For example, if the race has a number of water crossings, you might want to change your socks and shoes. If the drop bag is at a point where it's going to be getting colder, you might want to include a long sleeve shirt.

What to leave OUT of the bag?

Things happen, and while most cases your drop bag will be where it needs to be, there is always a chance it's not there. Avoid putting anything valuable and/or irreplaceable in the bag. Anything that you absolutely MUST have (critical medicine, EpiPen, etc.) keep that with you.

Drop Bag Art

This information is meant to help guide you, but ultimately over time YOUR version of a successful drop bag will evolve based on experience. As you begin to prepare your drop bag one of the best things to do is to ensure it's organized. You can buy super fancy drop bags that have tons of pockets. You can also opt for the use of Freezer bags to group items together.

Happy Packing!