Packing for an Ironman?  Here’s my tried-and-true packing list:

Morning Bag/Swim Gear

• Wetsuit
• 2 swim caps
• 2 sets of goggles (Always, ALWAYS have a backup set of goggles in case of goggle emergency, or you can just make someone’s day when they forgot their goggles.)
• A buttload of bodyglide (for the back of your neck – wetsuit hickey prevention)
• Earplugs (if you like to use those – especially good to use in cold water)
• TIMING CHIP!  As they say at all races… No chip = no time.

Bike Gear

• Bike
• Socks and bike shoes
• Helmet
• Sunglasses
• Water bottles – Put these on the bike before the race
• Garmin (or the like)
• Bike shorts and jersey – If you plan on changing into dry clothes.  Or just wear these under your wetsuit
• Nutrition – Also put on the bike before the race, or stuff into jersey pockets in T1
• Tire pump – Always pump up tires before the race, then stow the pump in the car, or with a trusty trisherpa.  You can not put your bike pump in your gear bag.
• Emergency kit (somewhere on the bike – this includes spare tubes, CO2, patches, tire levers, and a bike multitool)
• MORE BODYGLIDE
• Extra water bottle (I like to use this to give my feet a quick rinse before putting on my socks, and drink what’s left – swimming makes me thirsty!)
• Spray on sunscreen
• Towel
• Eardrops to get rid of water in the ear (saves you a TON of frustration on the bike)
• Chamois butter (or the like) travel packs.  I stuff these things in my jersey like they’re sardines.  They are heavenly out on the bike when you’re hurting like a bitch.

Bike Special Needs

• Nutrition grab bag.  You may have something particular that you want to have halfway on the course.  I don’t like to rely on anything in special needs.  For me it’s more of a nutrition goody bag.  At that point, my normal nutrition may be making me want to vomit.  So I like having a fun bag of goodies to choose from.  Also, you’re always warned that you may not get your special needs bags back, so don’t put anything valuable in them.
• Extra tube and CO2 cartridge

Run Gear

• New socks (new socks are a godsend at this point), and running sneakers
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Handheld H2O
• Nutrition
• MORE BODYGLIDE
• Garmin
• Belt with bib number
• Running shorts and top (if you plan on changing)
• More spray on sunscreen
• More travel chamois butter

Run Special Needs

• More nutrition grab bag!
• More bodyglide
• A warmer top (Just don’t forget to grab it so you don’t lose it.  You can always toss it to your sherpas out on the course if you don’t need it.)
• Headlamp
• Ibuprofen
• Chapstick

Post Race Bag (to be delivered to you at the finish line by your trusty trisherpas – or you can put this stuff in your morning gear bag, since those are waiting for you at the finish line)

• Warm clothes (sweatpants, jacket, etc.)
• FLIP FLOPS (dear god, YES)
• Baby wipes (you be NASTY!)
• Tylenol/Advil
• Water
• Snack