Drop Bag

Drop Bag: Get your caffeine and sodium in one with SaltStick CapsCongrats to Sarah Gage on her New Course Record (1st woman, 3rd overall) at Zion 60k!!!!!We talk slick rock, white dots, trail moglus, and quads. Give a listen for things Sarah did to get her the big WIN!

We recorded this too long ago and I can't find my notes. So here you go! We talk shoes, plants, and FKTs...for a while, so get your long run on!

Join Sarah Gage and Kelly Swanson while we talk in circles about how to approach fitness and metal performance. Drop Bag: Hot dogs!!?? (are they for you?)TWWR: Chill week for Sarah while she recovers from her 1st place finish at Sierra Vistas Trail Run 50K. Kelly's timing is off during her run on a road with no shoulder and cars passing in opposite directions all at the same time...every time!Hope you have a long run planned for all the good tidbits shared in this episode! Our discussion on resetting after a race or when pressure runs a little too high is clutch!

Since running Hurt 100 Aimee has already added layers with a win at Pricky Pear 50K and some great training/pacing/lifing. She's pretty much crushing it...so give a listen to learn from a great! Drop Bag: While Aimee is a Precision Gel kinda gal, she also utilized the old faithful - to potato. And since I'm an Idaho gal, I solute this. TTWR: I finally get to meet Aimee on the course of my Lone Star Hiking Trail FKT attempt! She was so helpful and fun to have pacing and crewing her runner on the course but wound up with a sprained ankle. Boo!!Listen up as Aimee shares about her experience on the Hurt 100 course and how she came out on top as this year's women's champion! She even shares a few songs from her queen playlist (not just a playlist with Queen): Animal - Lucy Spraggan (the river crossing song)Strut - DITAQueen Bee - Rochelle Diamante

The massive mental game of a trail loving ultra runner trying a marathon (again). Drop Bag: Kelly shares some mittens she's using for these cold Texas days Active Fleece Wind Mitten - Smartwool USMegan shows off the Mountain Racer Waist Pack - UltrAspire she's loving.Kelly recaps her ALMOST sub 3-hour marathon and the mental battle it took to get to the finish. We talk mental v fitness while we puzzle over Francesco Puppi's quote "People overestimate the mental part of running. Fitness wins races. Not the mental part."Next up it's back to the woods! Kelly has Sam's Last Stand, a 96 miler, on an iconic Texas Trail and Megan won the lottery to Cascade Crest 100!

Interested in running a Backyard Ultra style race? Megan walks us through her Last Woman Standing finish at The Backland by Texas Outlaw Running. Drop Bag: Megan used the Oiselle and Nathan jackets to run in the misty, cold weather. Kelly bought another Janjii long bra with the rear phone pocket for the Houston Marathon. Megan tries her first Backyard Ultra with plans to reach new miles. A tricky problem surfaces and reminds us that one of the most important things to do in endurance sports is PROBLEM SOLVE!! Ditto that for the inspiration!

Let's talk long run strategy!Drop Bag: Kelly shares the Janji Long Bra with Rear Phone Pocket. If you haven't tried the rear pocket sports bras you NEED to! It's the perfect no bounce way to carry your phone. Megan gets a backup battery for her Ultraspire 600lm 5.0 waist light in prep for her Last Man Standing! Megan and Kelly share the evolution of building miles and how you can scale up or down depending on your current running foundation. Find some tips and tricks that will work for you!Inspiration:Obstacles are not inherently negative but can be viewed as opportunities for growth and self-improvement -The Daily Stoic

Megan and Kelly talk speed workouts (for distance people)Drop Bag: Winter time? Get ya Salty Britches! Good for lips, noses, and all the other places that rub!Megan is loving the Janji W's Rover Merino Hoodie because it stays smelling good longer!Megan and Kelly share a bunch of speed(ier) workouts that they like and keep coming back to.  On the treadmill, track, and road.  Give one a try! We share the deets on the Blog 

Meet you two new best friends on the trail...Aimee Jacobs and Courtney Rouse. Two of the coolest gals who just conquered Javelina Jundred! You can find them on Instagram as @a_jacobs89 and @court_knee_mouseDrop Bag Items: Aimee - Precision Gels (and if you're having a flat race, don't be afraid to get in some caffeine). Courtney: Ginger Beer found at most grocery stores (Whole Foods usually has lots of good options) ...maybe the key to staving off stomach issues! Although Aimee and Courtney had different experiences on the course, they both found ways to do their best and enjoy the trail. Aimee held on strong to her cause with Christus Children's Cancer Center when things got tough. Aimee shares her powerful story of battling bone cancer while continuing to run and cheer on others. Courtney runs her own race with confidence that pays off in an 8th place finish!! Inspiration:Aimee shares how her mantra evolved from Run with Joy to Suffer with Joy and reminded herself that There will be a day you can't do this but today is not that day! Courtney kept herself entertained on the trail with the ABC game and also reminded herself to "Be who you thought you wanted to be" Listen to all the details plus the upcoming races where you can look for these two!

This week Kelly and Megan catch up on impressive races, gear, and upcoming events. Drop Bag Items:Megan run 20 miles without a bathroom stop thanks to GoMacro bars! TWWR:Kelly winds up hiding behind a neighborhood sign to avoid being murdered (probably not, but a bit weird/scary)Megan has to be on the lookout for crazy driversStay safe runners! We have lots of fun discussing the running scene and all the impressive performances. Inspo:One of the most difficult things for me has been to show vulnerability and weakness. The irony of that is that being strong physically almost always demands a willingness to show everyone your weakness-Sarah Whitmore

Let's talking running, changing bodies, and aging with the girl who's leading the way - Krissy Moehl! Drop Bag of the Week:Megan's loving her new Naked running bandOk...then we skip all the normal stuff to get to it! Please check out Trail Runner Nation as they host the Aging Athlete series. You'll be able to find the everything we reference on their channel.

Head on over to The Drop Bag to get yourself or a friend the perfect drop bag for your next run or race! This bag has it all: 10L . Waterproof . Window . Double touch Window . Best Price Plus, Salty Britches generously gifted each purchase with a free sample of their running essential skin barrier! Check us out on YouTube for the visual

Massive shoe review coming your way! We share our faves and few not faves for training on roads and trails and racing on both. You're gonna love this link list...Gaiters: You can wear these on ANY shoe!! Dirty Girl Gaiters Socks: Darn ToughStride Micro Crew Ultralight Running Socks (link)Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Socks - good for winter (link)Over-the-Calf Lightweight Ski & Snowboard Socks (winter/tall grass/etc) (link)FeeturesElite Light Cushion (link)cuangya (inexpensive brand on Amazon) (link)Adidas cushioned crew socks (link)Injinji toe socks (link)Roads: Brooks Hyperion Max 2 (newest version is 3, but haven’t tried) (link)NB SuperComp Trainer v2 (Link to v3 $119 - link)Asics Novablast 3 (now onto version 5) (Link to v5 - link)Asics Metaspeed Edge/Sky Paris (RACE!! Available for $250 - link)NB Fresh Foam X More V4 (have the v5 also but don’t like it as much - link to v5 - link)Saucony Triumph (Megan’s favorite, go-to daily trainers! - link)Asics Novablast 3 (the 3 is no longer available, but can find some select sizes on Amazon - link)Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 (quicker/tempo - link)Adidas Adizero Takumi (for tempos - link)Adidas Adizero Evo SL (cushy for long, easy runs - break from stiffer shoes - link)Brooks Hyperion (tempo on treadmill - Old so no longer available, but new version link)TrailAdidas Agravic Speed Ultra: (Available many sites for $220 - link - also look at eBay for new shoes with big discounts depending on size)Nike Wildhorse 10 (Available many sites for $165 -though mens discount of $115 on Nike website - link)Asics Trabuco 13 (Available many sites for $140 - link)North Face Vectiv Enduris 4 (Available for $112 on North Face website - link)Saucony Endorphin Edge (Megan’s favorite! - link)Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra Trail (link)Nike Ultrafly Trail Racing Shoe (link)(Additional trail shoes Sarah enjoys but are older versions now and I don’t have experience with the newer ones)New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3 (discontinued, trail line merged with the Hierro line - link to hierro v9 - link)Hoka Tecton x2 (hard to find, now the x3 - don’t have experience with this one yet - link to v3 - link)Salomon slab ultra 3 (latest version is the S/Lab Ultra, which I haven't tried - link)North Face Vectiv Sky (newer version looks great but haven’t tried - link to v2 - link)K, go get you some shoes!!

Megan is back to share her Vermont 100 recap!Drop Bag Items of the Week:Megan loved her Ultraspire Zygos 6.0 vestKelly shared the Salty Britches love with friends hiking Mt. Whitney. Use our DropBag15 to save!TWWR:Megan always makes sure to take a full week off after big races.Kelly has been adding hip mobility to help recover from injury.Megan shares her race plan, execution, and post race tips! The views in Vermont were 100% She finished 8th place in 21:38! Way to go!Inspo:Find a mantra! Megan repeated - One Foot in Front of the Other - to get her through some hard miles.

Happy to share some time with Sierra Degroff to talk about her Western States + Badwater 135 double!Drop Bag Items of the Week:Sierra loves her Ultraspire Waist Light and makes sure to keep Wipes in her drop bags!Kelly shares the secret to getting your stinky drop bag clothes smelling fresh again by soaking them in a hot tub of water with Arm & Hammer Laundry Booster Super Washing Soda and Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Tough Odor EliminatorTWWR:Sierra got to put in some miles again after getting fixed up by her osteopath...and recommends you get you one!Kelly hiked Mt. Whitney...which Sierra has summitted 3 times...so we talk shopBTW - Mount to Coast is putting together a film from Badwater. Can. Not. Wait.Inspo: You have to believe in yourself so much that other people think you're crazy Elizabeth Holmes said it this way...“ First they think you’re crazy, then they fight you, then you change the world. ”K go listen

Join us to chat with Vermont 100 2024 winner Sarah Gage. She's just about the coolest and knows everything, so it's worth tuning in! Drop Bag Items of the Week: Sarah is a salty sweater and likes Base Performance Salt Vial for a quick fix. She also shouts out Untapped Maple as a great fuel source. Megan got called into work and had to skip out. Kelly ...silenceTWWR:Sarah shares how she backed off her original trail run plan on an exposed section because she was feeling uncomfortable about it. Totally okay! Then we get distracted by our band playing past and dream of a collab with Rachel Entrekin.Vermont 100:Sarah takes us through her 2024 race and her approach to going the distance. She shares her inspiration on committing to yourself as the core of ultra strength.

We are so excited to share this podcast with experienced ultra runner Justyna Wilson! She has such an impressive racing history and lots of upcoming events to watch for. We focus a bit on the Vermont 100 as it is Megan's next race and where Justyna took a 2nd place finish last year (2024).Drop Bag Items of the Week:Justyna recommends CARBS Fuel as an easy tasting and affordable way to get you nutrition. She also recommends Fenix headlampsMegan has been using Tailwind High Carb Fuel and likes it!Kelly bought some decent goggles to swim in ...wah wahTWWR:Justyna finally loses her toenail from Old Dominion and shouts out treadmill miles for vert and iFit entertainmentMegan barely escapes a giant spider in the face.Kelly...wah wahIn this episode Justyna shares some of her magic on staying young in the sport! She gives some inside tips on Vermont 100, where she placed 2nd in 2024.Inspirational Quote:A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there-John Assaraf

This week we skip sharing a single Drop Bag item and go for broke sharing all of our faves from head to socks...saving shoes for another episode. We could talk about GEAR all. day. long.Before we go deep, we both share a TWWR (and not running):Megan is finally getting some running miles in with the help of some PT that she finds very helpful.Kelly is headed to the doctor to find out what's going on...TBDThis episode is hard core Show & Tell! Check us out on YouTube for a visual.Here are links to most of what we share:Head:Iced Cap - self explained!Fabletics Ponytail Hat -if you like to keep your hair highRNNR - washableSunglasses: Oakley Sutro - trail lens!Goodr - cheap and coolKAPVOE Photochromic -wear all day and nightTops: Rabbit Ice Perf Tee SS - just so good!Rabbit EZ Tee SS - fits over broad shouldersLykoxa Tank - vest base layer!Under Armour UA Train Seamless - yes!Vests:Ultraspire Bronco Race Vest - lighter/smaller vestUltraspire Zygos 6.0 Race Vest - all the pockets and room for everything!Orange Mud - super fun design and smaller for loops or trainingShorts: LNDR Fatal Attraction - stay in placeSocks:Injinjin -toe socks!Hoka Crew Run Sock - magic materialLights:Ultraspire Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light  - you knowPretzl - headlampinnofox Running Light - cheap BUT Works! waist clip lightsWhat a party! Hope you like some of these recommendations!

Drop Bag Items of the Week:Moon Brew We've both found this to support a good night's sleep! Worth a try!Kelly slipped her phone into a small dry bag like THIS ONE to throw in the back of her vest for easy reaching and reduce plastic baggie use.This Week While Running (TWWR):Megan tried Aqua Jogging (suffered defeat but will try again!)Kelly goes all in on cold plunging (especially after listening to Trail Running Nation on the topic)In this episode, we are injured and sad about it. Megan is recovering from a calf strain and Kelly has a case of Dead Butt Syndrome (DBS aka old butt problems). We explore options to continue training and discuss the importance of healing in order to build a new strength where injury once was.Inspirational quote from Coach Bennett: Something is better than nothing, cause those small bits of somethingness fill up the nothingness, and soon enough you'll have a lot of somethings!As always, get you some Salty Britches with 15% off at with DropBag15

Drop Bag Items of the Week: Embark Maple Energy Megan used this in her record setting High Hope Endurance 100k   Her favorite part is that it is very thin and goes down like water. Kelly has been trying out Perk Energy to kick her Diet Coke habit with a healthier option.  The Horchata flavor is so good and includes protein with collagen.  So far, Kelly is Diet Coke free! This Week While Running (TWWR): Megan battles a taper week injury which leads to a decision on Ground Rule for Race Week: less is more, if anything hurts - stop!, no pushing through workouts. We would love to share YOUR TWWR stories!  Share what you got in the comments!In this Episode, Megan shares her High Hope Endurance 100k  NEW COURSE RECORD Recap!  Megan describes the course and conditions.  She also shares how she went from mentally accepting the possibility of a DNF at mile 10 to setting the new course record!  Amazing!  Unfortunately, Megan wound up with an infection in her leg, most likely from the creek crossing on course.  Follow along to hear how Megan tackled this post race problem! The inspirational quote was pretty much a reading of Kevin Fedarko's A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon  This book is so good!  Read it! As always, get you some Salty Britches with 15% off at with DropBag15

This is Season 3 Episode 1 with Megan Jackson!  Megan is just getting her ultra career started but brings a wealth of training knowledge to the community.  Drop Bag Items of the Week: Sidekick Echo Muscle Scraper or a cheaper option like this.  Megan has used this tool to combat IT Band Syndrome and has found it really helpful. The past few races Kelly has had some stomach issues feeling bloated.  She's taken these Olly Beat the Bloat capsules and found them helpful.  A good add to a drop bag stomach kit.This Week While Running (TWWR): Megan laughs over an animal explosion between her dogs and neighborhood animals and Kelly shares a near miss with a snake while being chased down by horseflies. Top 5 Lessons Learned by Kelly and Megan (we will just mush them together): Always have extraHave fun (it's too hard not to)Run your own raceBe intentional (your why - can be light or deep)Take and enjoy recoveryListen to others (try some good podcasts!)Find the right fuel for youInvest in your search for the best gearBe ready to ride the highs and lows that comeAND always wear Salty Britches!  Hey!  Use our 15% off code to get you some! Ok, now go run

Kate shares her cancer survivor story and how she reentered running after treatment and two pregnancies. Everyone has challenges to overcome, and Kate's story provides all the inspiration to keep going. Off to Cocodona we go! Listen along on your weekend run and make sure to avoid chafing with Salty Britches – Salty Britches®

We hope you'll take us and Salty Britches – Salty Britches® on your next training run and race. That way you'll be entertained and chafe free! Once we make it through some TWWR stories and Kate's training build to Cocodona 250, we talk Boston! Kate shares some tips on how to navigate the scene as a spectator.

After a few newspaper route stories, we recap our The Woodlands Marathon experience and then jump into Cocodona 250 training details. Drop Bag goodness: Salty Britches – Salty Britches® get you someHydraPak | Performance Hydration Reservoirs, Soft Flasks & BottlesPringles® Honey Mustard Crisps | Pringles®

Take a drive (or run) with Kate and Kelly to packet pickup for The Woodlands Marathon while we share our very opinionated thoughts on how to be a good pacer. We did create the 10 Commandments of Pacing after all!

Lots of marathon tips from what we learned about weather, strategy, running partners, and pooping on course! We share our This Week While Running (TWWR) and want to hear yours too! Share a funny running story in the comments or IG post! Also, a big shout out Thank You! to Salty Britches Salty Britches – Salty Britches® for keeping our marathon chafe free!

Join us for a chat about the differences we see in marathon and trail training. We'll share Kate's Drop Bag item and a few This Week While Running stories!Drop Bag: Super shoes! Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris

Drop Bag Item: Pepperidge Farm CookiesFind out what happened in the first This Week While RunningLet's talk about what keeps you going when motivation moves out! and a little bit of #momlife

Salty Britches transcended from being a homemade remedy to a recognized anti-chafing product. Amy Tucker, its creator, initially made the product to help her son prevent skin breakdown caused by saltwater. Powered by the unique properties of lanolin and other ingredients like paraffin and plant-based cholesterol, the product is growing up fast in ultrarunning! And we have reason to believe after testing it out on the hot and sweaty Habanero 100 mile race this past August. Cannot argue with those feet pictures! Give it a try at Salty Britches

Nurse practitioner Mary Casebolt talks RED-s, Nutritional IVs, and Post Race Blues. Important ideas and issues to knowing your sport!Drop Bag features: Skratch Super High-Carb Sports Drink Mix

Do you know what Otillo means?? Find out as Kate swims and runs before her next 100-mile race at Tunnel Hill! Drop Bag Feature:When water is drooling down on you....Arc'teryx rain jacket! Other cool things to check out: Book Bundle with Krissy Moehl's Running Your First Ultra Get her essential tips and the Ultra Miles Ultraplanner for a discounted price! Salty Britches will keep your SwimRun and 100 mile ultra chafe free!

In this JyperPod episode, the Taylors talk Javelina! Nick and Adrew compete as brothers while Papa Jeff crews. Catch their drop bag tips, lessons learned, and the inspiration that keeps them going. Drop Bag: Nake Running Band Precision Fuel and Hydration Plan *FREE* *EASY* (I just did it and it's quick and cool!)Stomach Kit - this one you gotta make yourself with supplies like TUMS and Pepto Bismol

Kate shares 1,000 drop bag recommendation and her Javelina recap. Lots of golden nuggets, so tune in!Drop Bag recs: Kate's favorite running shorts betray her. Salty Britches to the rescue!Hoke ice bandana (except their website is wonky, so here's one from Rabbit) Not just for ice!!!Precision Salt TabsGu Liquid Energy goes down easy!Old school corded ear buds to phone a friendOk, just 5 recommendations, but we go into all the details, so it took a minute!

Our first HyperPod! This is a collection of shorter interviews from Palo Duro Canyon Trail Run. Trail runners Megan Jackson, Tyson Puckett, Makenzi Graves, and Tomas Serna share their favorite drop bag items, a lesson from the trail and a meaningful quote. Drop Bag favorites:Ice hat for max cooling or maybe this Ice hat for a little lessLMNT electrolyte drink mixPickle Juice from The Feed for muscle crampingBlow Pops for a slow drip of sugar power, but also Nerd Clusters!Darn Tough socks are always great! Leukotape for extra feet protectionAs always Salty Britches for the ultimate chafing protection!

This episode we talk about Kate's prep for the Javelina 100 and the three weeks of racing she has in front of her. Kelly shares a recap of her weekend race at Palo Duro Canyon. Drop Bag faves: Noka superfood smoothie pouchesKAPVOE photochromic sunniesUltra Miles Ultraplanner for 2025 is ready for purchase!Always in our drop bag - Salty Britches chafing ointment

Two words: Krissy Moehl That says enough. But we do say a bit more in this episode about how Krissy got started, what she's working on now, and how it all translates. You can find all things Krissy on her website! She is a huge champion of runners new to the trail scene with her coaching programs and her book, Running Your First Ultra.Krissy shares her favorite Drop Bag item:Chapstick - but since she doesn't have a favorite, I'll share my must have plumping lip gloss, that yes, I use on the trial.She also shouts out the good people at Prime Sports Institute if you're ready for some support.Krissy also has a blog post about running High Lonesome 100 this summer coming out on Scarpa in a few days (Oct. 25th), so check it!

It was so cool to meet and talk with Charlie MacNulty this week. He shares his journey into running which eventually lead to his recent Western States win in the 50-59 age group category. Beyond his running successes, Charlie shares his passion for the sport, love of the community and time spent volunteering on trails.Charlie shares his favorite Drop Bag item:Skratch Labs Superfuel superfuel drink - Skratch Labsbut on ice! Charlie makes sure to keep his drinks cold (brilliant).Charlie also keeps a sacrificial blister kit in his bag. He doesn't get blisters but stays humble. We think this one would do the trick Blister KitWe recommend he add some Salty Britches – Salty Britches® (getsaltybritches.com)Charlie also shares his quote in music style (being a musical guru) HERE

Y'all the Ultraplanner ready for purchase! Buy on AmazonDo the end of 2024 right with some perfect planning! In this episode we share the details of the planner and then dive into different ways we cross train. So important! Drop Bag item of the week: Supergoop Lip Screen ShineAs always, thank you to Salty Britches, and now we need y'all to work on a hair treatment for Kelly.

In this episode of the Drop Bag podcast, hosts Kate and Kelly chat with Andrew Marvin from the Happy Endings Trail Crew podcast about all things 200 mile. Adrew shares what's in his drop bag as well as a few Andrewisms. Lots of tips, tricks, lessons learned and 200-mile course descriptions.Happy Endings Trail Crew Podcast HappyCast Podcast Series - Apple PodcastsSalty Britches as always! Salty Britches – Salty Britches® (getsaltybritches.com)It's in his drop bag - Hot Shots Boost Your Performance with the HOTSHOT Drink for Cramps: Anti-Cramp Sports Drink! (thefeed.com)

In this episode of the Drop Bag podcast, Kate and Kelly discuss the mentors who have guided them as runners, with a special focus on Kelly's story. Kelly grew up running with her dad and shared lots of time in Zion National Park with family. After Kelly's parents died together in a plane accident in 2019, Kelly revisits 100 miles of Zion with new purpose. It's an emotional story, but one shared to extend understanding and support to runners with difficult journeys. A special shout out to:Kate's coach, Brandon Barber @Home | Driftless MultisportRun The Zion Ultra Marathons » Vacation RacesAmazon.com : amazon lacrosse ball

In this episode of the Drop Bag podcast, hosts Kate and Kelly welcome Regina Massingill, Texas FKT queen and a trail runner. Regina shares her favorite drop bag item, tales from her numerous FKTs and offers insights on trail running. Regina also shares some cool news going on in the ultra-running community. Shout out to: Ken @ HOME | Run Ken Run | Raising funds for Families in Recovery who will be starting his run soon! We will be following and cheering!Wildsense @ Who We Are – Wildsense (wildsensegoods.com) Where all the glitter can be found!

In this episode, Kate and Kelly delve into the post-race blues that many runners experience after completing major races. They discuss the concept of 'hyperbonding' and how the intense experiences and close ties formed during races can leave runners feeling adrift once the event is over. They discuss important recovery techniques and how to approach rebuilding milage for the next race.

Kate and Kelly share a favorite drop bag item, recap Habanero 100, and talk a bit about crewing and nutrition on the trail

Kate and Kelly share a favorite drop bag item, recap Leadville 100, describe the Drop Bag podcast goals and explain a future product drop!