What’s in my running bum bag?

Here in the UK we call it a bum bag, but my American readers might call it a fanny pack. Now, can we just agree to call it a waist pack and be done with it? Anyway, I use one for running all the time and tonight I thought I would share with you what I actually have in it.

To be honest for most of my runs I could do without this waist pack. It’s just habit now that I use it. It’s convenient to just have ready to go at any time.

So, what do we have?

Poop scoop bags. I run with my dog, Duke, almost all the time so I keep the top pocket in my running waist pack loaded with bags all the time.

Energy gels. I don’t need these for most of my runs, to be honest, so they’re in there just in case. I can’t remember the last time I used a gel on a run. Always handy to have them though.

My parkrun barcode. Yes, I keep it in there as I know that this way I will have it with me at parkrun. The plastic lanyard packet keeps it dry.

Emergency space blanket. As you may well know by now, I run alone and I go into some pretty remote places. If anything were to happen to me I have this to keep me warm just in case. Thankfully, I’ve never had to use it.

Emergency whistle. As above, it’s just in case I get into some trouble and having this means I can attract attention and hopefully help.

Torch. I run in the dark a lot in the winter months. I use a head torch but I have this as a backup in case that fails on me whilst I’m out in the woods.

Multi-tool. This came in a gift set Helen got me last year for my birthday. Nope, never used it but I feel better knowing I have this useful bit of metal with me.

Phone. I know plenty of people like to be free and run without a phone. I am not one of those people. I like having it with me and more to the point I like being able to stop and take photos if I am running through some awesome scenery like on the Rosedale Ironstone Railway.

Phone battery charger. This is a new addition that I was gifted last week at a meeting. It’s small, slim and fits in the waist pack perfectly. So, if I do run out of juice I can plug in my phone.

So, there you have it, the contents of my running waist pack. What do you carry with you on a run? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Dave

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