Drop Bags

August 29, 2021

VT50 2021 Bib Lists and Wave Lists Are Posted

The 28th Vermont 50 Mountain Bike or Ultra Run Bib Lists and Race Waves have been posted.

Mountain Bike Plaques and Race Waves List Waves 1-4
50 Mile Runner Bib List Wave 5
50Km Runner Bib List Wave 6

Now is the time to PACK YOUR Drop Bags and begin planning your race strategy with your CREW MEMBER.

LABEL YOUR BAGS
Bring them to the DROP BAG Table on Race Weekend Saturday to be weighed and put on our delivery trucks-BEFORE 7 PM.

If you have clothing you plan to drop at the Start, Skunk’s Greenall’s or Johnson’s ,and your crew isn’t picking these items up for you, LABEL them with your Bib # and Last Name so you can pick them up at the finish line but only AFTER the aid station is CLOSED and the VT50 Volunteers bring your items BACK to the Finish Area from out on Course.

Our race is FOUR WEEKS AWAY!
We hope your training is going well and we look forward to seeing you at the end of the month.

September 19, 2019

VT50 Drop Bags-What to Put In Them, Where to Drop Them

The Bib/Bike Plaque Lists are posted so you can get your DROP BAGS together for next weekend’s race.
Yup, that’s right the race is now 10 days away!

Where to Drop Them

Drop bags may be left at the Drop Bag Table in the big tent up before 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Use Your Crew-No Really, Have Your Crew CARRY Your Drop Bags.

You can reduce the time spent at the three CREW designated aid stations (Skunk Hollow, Greenalls and Johnsons) by having your crew bring your DROP BAGS along in their registered Crew vehicle.
This will also save time at the end of the race collecting your belongings before heading home.
They can also collect any dropped clothing at these three CREW designated aid stations (Skunk Hollow, Greenalls and Johnsons) again saving time collecting items before heading home.

How Big a Bag and How Heavy a Bag can I use?

A small backpack or gear bag, on the order of 9”x 9” x 16” is appropriate, if shoes, a top garment and bottle are included.
Weight not to exceed 10 lbs per bag. We will weigh them!
Your bag must be soft-sided (no plastic storage boxes please.) Be securely closed.
Labeled clearly with your bib number, last name and Aid Station.
Make your drop bag as unique a possible within our stated guidelines.
Drop bags will be tagged with colored tape Biker-Lime Green Tape and Runner-Yellow Tape at the Drop Bag Table.

Which Aid Stations Accept Drop bags?

Drop bags allowed at At Aid Stations
For the 50 Milers:
#3 Skunk Hollow
#7 Greenall’s
#10 Johnson’s

For the 50 Km-ers
#2K Ralph’s
#7 Greenall’s
#10 Johnson’s
We will deliver drop bags from the start/BIG TENT to aid stations-unless you choose to use your CREW.

If it Gets Hot, Can I Drop clothing?

Yes you can but these items WILL NOT be returned to the finish line area until that aid station is closed, the aid station is packed up and the items are driven by our volunteers back to the finish line.
NO Drop Bags or clothing at: Garvin Hill and Cady Brook
You may drop articles during the race at all other aid stations.

When Will I Get My Drop bags and clothes back at the Finish Line?

Drop bags will be returned to the BIG TENT ONLY after each aid station closes, not before.
You will have TO WAIT at the BIG TENT to pick up your drop bag and clothing.
We WILL NOT mail them to you.
This is your property and it is your responsibility to pick up your bag at the BIG TENT at the end of the race.
The Vermont 50 is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

What Should I Pack In My Drop Bags?

Drop Bag Hints

Extra pair of shoes at the first drop station, if you think there’s a chance you may need to change. Most folks never do.
Clean, dry socks
Skin lube & band-aids; If you are prone to blisters include a small ‘kit’ in each bag (i.e. band-aids, sterile wipes, talcum powder)
Electrolyte caplets or dissolving tablets, if you use them
Gels or Blocs or Stingers Gels. Gels will not be provided at the aid stations
Non-liquid snacks if your system, due to allergies, cannot tolerate items provided at the aid stations
A light waterproof or resistant layer top and lightweight cap if there’s rain in the forecast (a small pouched poncho is perfect and takes up little space)
A light jacket and even lightweight gloves if the forecast is for cold weather

Don’t pack

Anything that could break if dropped from a height of 4 feet.
No Glass Containers
wallets
cell phone (There’s no reception anyway)
purse
watches
GPS
jewelry, etc.
Don’t ever put anything in a drop bag that you aren’t prepared to part with permanently. We are not responsible for lost or stolen articles or drop bags left behind at the end of the race.

The following items can be carried in a small pouch by itself, or as part of a water belt, or a backpack: band-aids in a small plastic baggie electrolyte caplets and Advil, also in a baggie gel or chews. Bikers can carry these items on their backs in their packs or in shirt pouches.

Drop Bags at the Vermont 50

The Bib lists are out, you can pack your drop bags now!

The Vermont 50, allows the use of drop bags, and we have volunteers gather, deliver and later return runner drop bags (only after the aid station closes.)

If you have items which you may need during the race, in order to ensure finishing, you can make up bags about the size of a small grocery bag for us to bring to Skunk Hollow, Greenall’s, and Johnson aid stations from the start (and Ralph’s for the 50 Km). These bags must be checked at the Information Table in the BIG TENT at Cunningham’s (Ascutney Mtn Resort) no later than 8 p.m. Saturday evening.

If it gets warmer while you are on course, you may shed items at any station except Garvin Hill and Cady Brook and volunteers will bring them back to the BIG TENT-as each aid station closes.

We do not guarantee they will be back before you may want to leave, and we WILL NOT MAIL ITEMS TO YOU. Nothing will be returned before a given station officially closes. This is a reminder to plan carefully, considering what you’ll be most likely to need, and keep your bag size limited.

Many of the bags we receive are TOO LARGE, making it very difficult for our hard-working volunteers who must transport them. Let me make this perfectly clear:
If your bag does not fit through a 9″ by 9″ opening or weighs more than 10 lbs. IT WILL NOT BE TRANSPORTED!!!

Drop Bags Requirements

Download a Drop Bag Info Sheet

A small backpack or gear bag, on the order of 9”x 9” x 16” is appropriate if shoes, a top garment and bottle are included.
Weight not to exceed 10 lbs per bag. We will weigh them!
Your bag must be soft-sided (no plastic storage boxes please)
Be securely closed
Labeled clearly with your name and most importantly your bib number
Also include the name of the aid station to avoid confusion by you or by us. Make your drop bag as unique a possible within our stated guidelines.

Drop bags are allowed at: Aid Stations #3, 7 and 10 for the 50 Mile and #2K, 7 and 10 for the 50 Km.
We will deliver drop bags from the start/BIG TENT to aid stations

Ralph’s #2K (50 Km Only)
Skunk Hollow #3
Greenall’s #7
Johnson’s #10

Be sure to label your bag with the name of the aid station you want it dropped at, your name and most importantly, your bib number.

Remember do not drop any clothing at: Garvin Hill or Cady Brook. You may drop clothing during the race at any other aid stations.

Drop bags must be accepted at the Information Table in the BIG TENT before 8 p.m. Saturday night.

Drop bags will be returned to the BIG TENT ONLY after each aid station closes, not before! You will have to wait at the BIG TENT to pick up your drop bags–we WILL NOT mail them to you!!

This is your property and it is your responsibility to pick up your bag at the BIG TENT at the end of the race.

NO BOXES, RUBBERMAID CONTAINERS, SUITCASES etc will be accepted as Drop Bags!!

What should I put into my drop bags?

Extra pair of shoes at the first drop station, if you think there’s a chance you may need to change. Most folks never do.
Clean, dry socks
Skin lube, band-aids; If you are prone to blisters include a small ‘kit’ in each bag (i.e. band-aids, sterile wipes, talcum powder)
Electrolyte caplets or dissolving tablets, if you use them
Gels or Blocks or Stingers Gels. Gels will not be provided at the aid stations
Non-liquid snacks if your system, due to allergies, cannot tolerate items provided at the aid stations
A light waterproof or resistant layer top and lightweight cap if there’s rain in the forecast (a small pouched poncho is perfect and takes up little space)
A light jacket and even lightweight gloves if the forecast is for cold weather
I challenge you to gather the above-listed items together to see exactly how small a volume they really occupy.

What NOT to include:
Anything that could break if dropped from a height of 4 feet.
No Glass Containers
wallets
cell phone (There’s no reception anyway)
purse
watches
GPS
jewelry, etc.
Don’t ever put anything in a drop bag that you aren’t prepared to part with permanently. We are not responsible for lost or stolen articles or drop bags left behind at the end of the race.

The following items can be carried in a small pouch by itself, or as part of a water belt, or a backpack:
band-aids in a small plastic baggie
electrolyte caplets and Advil, also in a baggie
gels or chews
Runners if you wear Race Ready Shorts, you can carry most of the above and even a few more gels in them. On a decent weather day therefore, you would have no need for drop bags.

Bikers can carry these items on their backs in their packs or in shirt pouches.