Drop Bags

So, first ultra coming up, and there is a drop bag facility for one of the aid stations (halfway) - so what do people normally put in them?

I'm thinking - fresh socks, SIS powders to re-fill my bottles (using the water at the aid station), sun cream possibly (hopefully???) - all the aid stations have bananas, jaffa cakes and flapjacks, which are all fine with me... anything obvious i'm forgetting?

Was also wondering about a change of shoes - in case of sore feet wondering whether a change would be a good idea?

Rocker - It depends on the length of the race. I dont tend to change socks and shoes but for a 100 mile race for example I would put them in there just in case I am having a bad day and feel the need to change! Anything less than that and I wouldn't bother with socks/shoes. I woudl also throw in a spare tshirt just ot be safe.

General stuff : few gels, a spare water bottle (never know if you drop/damage/lose your current one), spare drink powder/tablets/electrolyte additives, some food that I know I can eat when on the run just in case what is at the checkpoints is not agreeing with me, tape, vaseline.

WIB - it's Dukeries, so 40 miles - I'm thinking socks and shoes in case, but wouldn't just change them for the hell of it - don't change something that's working fine!

Good point, re-stock of gels! And also shirt is a good idea.

Lirish - I prefer JD

Lirish - by the time I get back the aid station will have closed and the marshal be back LOL

Seriously though, that is a good point...

I make maximum use of the drop bag facility in a 100 miler, and put everything in them except spare eyebrows. 

In a 40 miler its easier just to carry the essentials and get on with the race. 

Before your first ultra, you usually go mad obsessing about the minutia of kit that you will bring

Ben - how did you know

For anything approaching a 100 miler I go for socks, night gear such as base layers, (head )torch, restock of gels etc.and snacky food that I know I will fancy such as marmite sandwiches and crisps. If I can I put in another pair of shoes, this worked very well on the Thames path 100 where the first half was mainly hard surface and the second increasingly tricky trail. Getting your stuff back isn't always so easy so check out what will happen to it if you go home before it arrives at the finish.

Helly d - Marmite sandwiches yum, even better Marmite & crisp sandwiches double yum!

As one of the organisers of the Dukeries Ultra I thought I'd add a comment here.

We included the provision for a drop bag for a few reasons:

1: We wanted this to be a fast route, and so the drop bag at half way means that you probably don't have to carry as much kit/food with you.

2: We wanted to give first time ultra runners a flavour of the longer events where you do get drop bags

3: A chance for anyone doing longer events later in the year a chance to practice with a drop bag and see if they pack what they actually need or what they think they need (also good for number 2 above) A bit tenuous I know as how you feel at 20 miles is going to be a little different to how you feel at 50!!

4: To give ourselves an extra logistical headache, because organising a race through 40 miles of forest and country park for more than 100 runners is just to easy otherwise

RLS

Hey Roger

That's exactly why I was asking - I kind of know you're race won't really NEED a drop bag, but it will be good practice for other/longer events as well - and as a first ever attempt I kind of want to have a go at everything LOL!

Si

It is also a great way for the RD to stock up their own supply of gels when people leave them behind

Okay, can't see how to edit a post? Want to change you're to your on my last post - it's annoying me that I was typing too fast and missed it!

Last race I marshalled at, one of the fastest runners just had a tiny bottle of sports drink with a single gel sellotaped to the side of it. A few folk had bags that weighed a ton. A few folk had no drop bags and didn't stop at all. One guy had two big slices of cold pizza and nothing else, which I had a good chuckle at.

The only ultra I've done so far, my halfway drop bag was a banana, a spare gel and a bottle of fudge milk. By the end I was totally sick of sweet stuff and wished I'd brought something like a ham sandwich...

I found the fresh socks a god send, even though my only ultra was only a 31 miler- some wet wipes to clean/ dry your feet, fresh vaseline/ body glide on any hopt spots, and the difference is amazing. Shoes- not so sure- risk of not getting them back too high.