IM special needs

I have an IM under my belt and I know what I will put in each bag for IM #2.

Bike Special needs: Think about something other than GU's, I used bite size Payday (didn't melt and crackers w/PB) it was nice to have something to eat besides GU, also might think about more sunscreen, advil, tums just in case it is needed.

Run Special needs: A lot of the same, although there are more resources on the run than the bike, so I would not go with as much food stuff unless there is something you really want, but I would put in band-aids, fresh socks, headlight (just in case in gets really dark) tums, advil. I would rather have something and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Some people even have family members write notes and stick in their bags to read...

Bike

• I usually put a spare tube and c02 in bike special needs. If I blow through the one I carry on my bike on the first half, I sure want one to carry with me for the 2nd half. Not likely, but stranger things have happened.
• I used to put something to "look forward" to here (Payday for me as well) but now I just carry in my Bento box and wait till special needs to eat it.
• I've also put sunscreen in there in case I notice a hot spot burning on me (as I did on my 1st). At my last IM, special needs volunteers had sunscreen - not sure they do at all IMs though.

Run

• Dry socks, Body Glide, long sleeved shirt - all "just in case" things but ones that if I really need them I'm going to be so glad they were there.
• Snacks I can't find on the course - for me it's tootsie rolls and salt/vinegar chips (just a single serve bag). Both have really hit the spot for me in the past, depending on what I'm craving at the moment. Some folks will throw in a favorite soda or redbull for an extra kick. 

Bike S/N: nothing

Run S/N: nothing

There are a lot of people who feel like since it is offered, they should take advantage of it.  But IMs are typically highly catered along the way and you should really only need S/N if you really have special needs.  Living off gu and Gatorade, you should have enough with you and at aid stations combined that you don't need to stop.  The only thing I would consider in the run bag would be a long sleeve if you thought you could be out after dark and expected it to cool off quite a bit.  Everyone says dry socks and I imagine some have a story of when they were happy to have them.  But about the last thing I want to do in a race is sit down and change my socks.  If it's wet & rainy, the "dry" socks won't stay that way long enough to matter to me.

In two IMs I've put all the standard stuff in special needs bags.  Never stopped on the bike.  For the run, only thing I ever stopped for, and it was the best ever, was a small bottle of mouthwash (like the ones you get in hotels), like a little slice of heaven after 8 hours of sugary sports drink and gels

Some of our stomachs don't take certain GU flavors very well. And those always seem to be the only flavors on the course when I'm out there! I know 3 flavors work for me every time, so I carry those or put them in my SN bags. I'd rather have the guarantee of a GU I know I can swallow, rather than risk my entire run nutrition plan on an unknown. Ya know?

And for those folks who can't stomach GU but can stomach another brand, that would certainly be a good reason to supply their own.

A spare tube and CO2 for the bike is all I would do, on the odd chance I use one prior to that.

I agree but what if you double flat in the first half?  Having it there doesn't mean you have to stop for it but it would certainly be nice to have the option in the unlikely scenario you need it.

Originally posted by mike761 On the bike I may be able to get all GU's into my bento box Then I can just grab drinks along the way and not have to stop. I really don't want to stop on the bike ( I like to stay in my pain cave undisturbed I may put a spare tube in S/N just in case. The run- I will change socks in T2 - can't really imagine sitting down and changing half way through the run. I don't run with a hat or sunglasses. The event has Vasiline at every aid station. If I am not done by the time it gets dark something went big time wrong. The run is on the boardwalk so if it starts getting dark there will be plenty of light. I am thinking I might need something in case of shafing or blisters- whats the best thing to slap on fast? that may be the only real thing I put in S/N. Even then I have to be bleeding or I won't stop- I'm in the old school of Suck it up and keep moving.

We bought this pack of single use cream called 'Slather'  - i didn't use any but my hubby used it on the run and raves about it how it made him feel so much better at IMMT

Found it: http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Chafing-Eliminates-Friction-Chafing-Convenient/dp/B00GPZ9YEC 

We actually bought it in the Ironman Merchandise tent 

Sorta like gearing?   Better to have a gear you don't need than need a gear you don't have......I mean you can take that philosophy to the extreme, and likely you'd find someone to give you a tube...maybe... or the sag wagon would eventually show up.  But it would be a shame to DNF something you've put so many hours in for something as easy as tossing a $4 tube in a bag.  In my IMs I carried two tubes and had one in SN, never needed to stop.  I always got mine back however (but wouldn't care if I didn't).

well, now you've just jinxed it  

I want to hear just one story about someone who went through all their spare kit in the first half of their IM, stopped at S/N for their extra, and then used it in the 2H of the IM and it kept them from DNF.  I get the anxiety and that it seems like a small investment for 'peace of mind'.  I just think that peace of mind is sort of ephemeral if you really look at the likelihood of that scenario playing out--(I've yet to hear of a single instance but imagine it must have happened?).  There are so many other things that could go wrong, it's funny to me that planning to solve this one little low probability one makes people feel better.  But if $4 buys someone peace of mind, then it's money well spent!