Items in Special Needs Bags

Tums- I wish I had actually carried those with me on the bike and had them in T2 as well. 

I had major reflux issue after the bike and I never had those problems during training at all.  The problem went away after drinking a lot of water (my tummy was really bloated too from all the Perpeteum), but it sure would have been nice to chomp on a few Tums.

For both FL and LP I did not use a run special needs bag, nor did I stop for my bike ones during either.  For the bike I had packed extra CO2 cartridges, a spare tire (I use tubulars for my racing wheels and also had a spare on my bike), that was it for LP and I had a clif bar and extra bottles for FL.

There is so much available on the run course that other than maybe clothing there is nothing that you might need.

I had a five hour energy in both my bike and run SN bags and was very happy to have it there.

Did not have any SN bags at either of my IMs and did not have any regrets.  Everything I needed was available on the course.   

The name "special needs" does not sit well with me.  I guess I'm just low maintenance. 

;-)

~Mike

For LP this year I didn't stop for either bike or run special needs as I was able to live off the course and didn't need the extra tubes and CO2.

The only thing I wish I had and would have stopped for was a rain coat for the bike bag.  The weather forcast was way off so I didn't even give it a second thought.  It hung on a hanger in the hotel room .

I tried something at IMKY that worked out well.  I use Perpetuem for a good protion of my nutrition on the bike.  I was going to use two bottle of 3-hour concentrated portions in each.  Unfortunately, it doesn't hande the heat well, and after a good 5 or 6 hours in the heat can get a little nasty for some.

I took a padded envelope (the kind with a thin bubble-wrap on the interior (office supply section of WalMart; $0.80) and two disposable cooling packs (first aid section, $1.40 each).  Just before dropping off SN bag on race morning, I put the bottle in the envelope, cracked the two cooling packs and stuffed them around the bottle, and sealed the top.  Voila -  Instant refrigerator! 

At Bike SN, I just pulled out the envelop, pulled the tab to open the top and yanked the bottle out.  Very minimal time lost.  And let me say... a cold bottle fluids at that point tasted very good.

For run SN, the only thing I used was one of those micro, sample-size Body Glide sticks b/c the seams of my tri top had started chafing under the arms.  (I had done a quick Body Glide of my feet in T2 already and had no problems with my feet at all.)

How about an "inspirational note" that is in a Ziploc so it doesn't get all wet and mangled.  It should have only four letters - HTFU?

Actually, there were some participants that have put a note in which helped them get through.  A participant may have found one that a family member may have stuck in without their knowledge, and it helped them!

One thing I did that worked well was in my T1 And T2 plus SN bags I sorted everything by category and put them in 1 or 2 gallon ziplock bags.

I had the stuff I knew I would need in one, stuff I might need in another so when the volunteers dumped my bag crap didn't go all over the place. It made it easier to work through and really saved me time.

Plus IMLP didn't have enough racks so my T1 and T2 bags were on the ground over night in the rain. IMFL they are on the ground as well and with dew who wants their socks or running shoes wet.

In run special needs put some food in there that you love. I had about 10 things..by that point you may be tired of what is on the course. I picked pita chips and peice of gum out of mine. Plus arm warmers. Back up options of nutrition, extra insole of running shoes and clean socks with small towel to wipe them off and bandaids.

I had 6 bike jackets in my hotel for various conditions and two PVC ones in T1 and T2.  With the weather forecast so far off, I didn't choose to bring them with me and what I had in T1 I didn't take as showers at LP always pass. I wish I had picked up a cheap $2 plastic rain coat at Walmart that folds up very small to leave in both sn bags just in case it rained.

One thing to consider about a headlamp is that it could break with all the other bags around it.  Some of those bags may have a heavy water-bottle and could smash the light.  Just something to think about.