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In keeping with the information about food last week, we will cover drop bags this week.
Drop Bags Experience From - Jay Hodde , Kevin Sayers , Rich Schick , John Thieme , Bill Ramsey Jay Hodde I've been on both sides of the aid station equation, as runner and as worker, and learned a lot by volunteering. Some tips for packing bags: Don't overfill it. Over filled bags have a tendency to break. Don't use trash bags if you want to protect your stuff -- they break easily -- and WILL get thrown around. Line a zippered bag with a plastic bag in order to promote water resistance -- you can't count on the aid personnel to keep your bag dry (and shouldn't). Place an easily identifiable mark on the outside of the bag. Trash bags are easily confused because so many people use them. Personally, I have a set of six green bags with red tabs on the zippers. In my races around the country, I've only seen one other runner use the same style / color of bag that I do. Put your name, number, and drop bag location on the bag using a waterproof marker. Also, putting you race number on your extra pair of shoes can help get it back to you after the run (tip from an aid station worker at Mohican). If you use crew and bags like I do, have your crew take your bag from the aid station when you are done with it. Getting the bags back at the end of the race, any race, can cause headaches. Especially if you have really bad blisters and can't walk. Kevin Sayers I crewed/paced Jay at Old Dominion last year and know first hand that his drop bag system works well and leaves very little to chance. I adopted his ideas and added a few of my own. A good strong nylon type of duffel bag is a good idea. The size however, shouldn't be too big or too small and it's ideal to mix it up a little bit. I bought two different sizes. Larger bags are used at aid stations were I might need a lot of stuff or at night when a change of warmer clothing and extra food is necessary. Smaller sizes are used when
The copyright of the article Drop bags. in Distance Running is owned by . Permission to republish Drop bags. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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