Ironman Race Day Logistics: what’s with all those bags…?

During registration, you will be issued 5 bags. That’s right: 5 of them that you will be required to fill up with your needs for race day. WTC races are extremely well organized and will make your day smooth and seamless. It still requires some of your own organizing to do and I thought I could help by giving some pointers for the IM virgins (and veterans!) out there.

Here’s the 5 bags you will be issued:

• Dry Clothes bag
• Transition 1
• Transition 2
• Special Needs Bike
• Special needs Run

I’ll go through the list and explain what each one should contain. Some general rules: Pack only what you have been using during training. It is not the time to pack a new energy drink, or this new pair of socks you’ve been dying to try, or a new pair of running shorts. Stick to what is familiar. Another rule: don’t over pack. The less choices you have, the easier it will be. When you come through transitions, you don’t want to have to make too many decisions. You’ll already be dehydrated and tired, let alone having to choose between 3 types of energy drink to carry. I once volunteered at T2, women changing tent. One on the lady had packed a $10 bill. After I told her that I would pack it back away, to make sure she wouldn’t loose it, she insisted on carrying it with her. She did not have a clear explanation as to why? (to grab a beer mid-run? Call a cab back to the finish line…?) Maybe it was her lucky charm!

Dry Clothes Bag: It is the bag you will bring with you race morning. This is where you will leave your clothes for you to change back into after the race. You therefore need to bring in it everything you’ll need race morning: wetsuit, swim cap, goggles, etc. I also always bring an additional tubes and bike tools. The last thing I need is getting to my bike in the morning to find a flat, then using my spare to fix it. I also bring my water bottles to put on my bike as well as my food for the bike. You will have access to your bike the morning of the race, so you’ll be able to do all of that.

Transition Bag, Swim to Bike: Everything you need for your bike ride: helmet, shoes, and food (if you did not put it on your bike already). A change of clothes also if you won’t swim in your racing gear. I also always put a small towel to wipe off my face. You will drop this bag off at bike check-in, the day before the race. You will have access to that bag race morning, so you can make some additions if you forgot something (Unlike Kona, where you are actually escorted to your bag, to make sure you don’t mess with other’s bag).

Transition Bag, Bike to Run: Same thing: all of your needed running gear. Running shoes, runninghat, change of clothes, and food… Again, put a small towel in. It is amazing how great it feels to be able to wipe off your face of all the grit and sweat. Again, you will be dropping off that bag the day before, but will have access to it on race morning.

Special Needs bags: You will have 2 of them: one for the run and one for the bike. You will be able to get to them at the mid-point of each biking and running leg. Again, put in what you think you might need. Extra salt tablets in case you loose them? Food you don’t want to carry the entire time? You will be dropping those bags on race day. You don’t have to pick them up during the race if you change your mind and feel like you don’t need anything in it. You will be able to retrieve them the day after the race,…or not. Therefore, don’t put anything valuable in it.

Make a list of your needs and check it twice!

Thanks for reading. As always, I welcome questions and/or comments.

IM WI Race report Part II coming up!