No matter how well you’ve trained and prepared for your next event, showing up without some of the essential equipment can throw everything off the rails. Making sure that your track bag has everything you need in it, no matter the situation will ensure you are prepared no matter what. Let’s take a look at the most important items to have to help you succeed on your next race day.
The difference between a race day track bag and a practice day track bag can be quite vast. Most of the items from a practice bag will also be in a track bag, along with some other essentials.
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Track and Field Bag Inventory
Shoes/Spikes
The single most important item in your track bag is likely your shoes or spikes. Forgetting them on race day can be devastating, so ensuring they are always in your track bag is imperative. Make sure you have the correct pair of shoes if you participate in multiple events, or have a second bag just for shoes. This allows you to carry more than one pair, so you’ll always have the correct pair of shoes on you. You don’t want to be that person who has to sprint in flats!
First-Aid Kit
Even though track meets generally have first aid and/or paramedics on site, having your own little first aid kit in your bag can save a lot of time and hassle if you just need something simple, like a pin to pop a blister or a band aid. Having your own supplies means you can take care of any minor injury right away, and get back to focusing on your event.
Clothes
Clothes are something you’ll need to keep in your track bag, but not just the clothes for your event. Having some extra layers will be helpful in the event the weather changes quickly. Being stuck in wet clothes all day if it starts to rain is less than ideal. Make sure to include some extra clothes as well, just in case you need to layer up if it gets cold.
You’ll also want to make sure you have some room for the street clothes you change out of at the event. While some facilities may have lockers or locker rooms, many don’t. Having your street clothes in your bag means you can change back into comfortable, dry clothing immediately after finishing your event(s).
Water Bottle
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Showing up at an event without a water bottle isn’t the end of the world if there are proper facilities, but having your own water on hand is more convenient. It also allows you to bring any water-based nutrition with you from home, already prepped and ready to go. While most events will have some sort of nutrition available, bringing your own ensures you are familiar with what you are ingesting.
Nutrition
Nutrition is an item everyone should have some form of in their bags, but it will likely look different for most people. Energy gels, powders that mix with water, or just regular food, having what works best for your stomach on race day handy is essential to running your best race.
Not all events will have the same foods available, so bringing what you know your stomach can handle is imperative.
Toiletries
Toiletries are often the items that get forgotten the most in the excitement of an event. Always having them in your bag means you’ll never have to go without them. Items such as sunscreen, lip balm, bug spray, tissues, hair ties, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products are all items that you may not think of at first, but that will come in handy at some point on a track day.
Buying travel-sized toiletries is a great way to eliminate weight in your bag, and also save you some space.
Money
It may not be on the list of the most obvious things to pack, but having some money in your bag can be a lifesaver if you happen to forget to bring a snack or meal, or if you just want to grab a souvenir t-shirt from the event. Having some money in your bag somewhere that gets replaced if you use it is a great way to ensure you are never left without money at an event.
Other Items
Garbage Bag – A garbage bag is a handy item to have for a few reasons. It can be used as a makeshift raincoat, or as a place to sit if the ground at the event is wet. It can also be used to place wet clothing in after the event, so they don’t have to go back in your track bag with everything else.
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Tape – Tape can be used for all sorts of things, such as emergency shoe repair, or used with a garbage bag to create a makeshift raincoat. Tape can also be useful in emergencies to assist in wrapping or taping injuries.
Notebook – Not all runners are interested in recording statistics, but a lot are. Having a notebook and pen in your bag is helpful for quickly jotting down some notes, and then having them at your next event as well.
Phone Charger – Some track and field competitions will last the entire day, so having a way to charge your phone can be a lifesaver. A small portable battery charger can also be kept in your bag, in case there are no power outlets to charge your phone with.
Sunglasses – It may seem obvious, but having a pair of sunglasses in your bag can be a lifesaver on a sunny day.
Large Freezer Bag – Keeping a large freezer bag in your track bag is a great way to protect waterproof items in case of wet weather. Cell phones, car keys, wallets, and other items that need to be protected from the elements can be sealed inside a freezer bag.
Checklist
Practice Bag
Setting up a bag for practice is similar to packing for an event, just with fewer items to think about. Below is a chart of the most important items for a track practice bag.
Checklist
The contents of every track bag will vary slightly, but most will contain some combination of the items listed above. Many other items can be added as well, but those come down to personal preference. Having too many items in your bag can make it hard to find the item you’re looking for, and will also make your bag heavier to carry back and forth. Trimming your packing list down to just the essentials is a great way to keep your track bag light and organized.
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