Packing for my half marathon today. It’s the Diva’s Half Marathon this Saturday, September 14th in DC’s Wine Country near Leesburg, VA. I registered for it back in April, perhaps not really thinking, in April, that September would actually come. It has.
I’m carrying on all of my race day gear, to calm my nerves and because if my bag got lost it’d be hard to replace everything, I only have 15 hours between landing and start time! Yikes.
Here’s what I’m packing:
In my carry-on for running gear:
- My favorite compression shorts
- 3 pairs of running socks (in case they get wet before the start?)
- 2 favorite running tops (so I can pick between black and purple at the last second)
- sports bra
- 2 sparkly soul running headbands (so I can pick between black and silver at the last second)
- My running shoes (Brooks Pure Cadence 2s)
- Gu packets (6 total, 1 for before, and then I should take 3-4 during, plus an extra just in case)
- My SPI belt to hold Gu packets and my phone
- sweatshirt to wear prior to race start (then hand to Greg)
- My out to dinner, post race, last night of my twenties dress (it’s small… and I would hate not to have it!)
- Nuun electrolyte tabs. I like to have one with 16 oz of water about two hours before a race/long run, and then do Gu with water during. I’m not planning to do energy drinks during since I’m not used to combining the sugars/calories of Gu with anything besides water.
- A small thing of sunscreen
- Sport sunglasses
- Bodyglide
- Garmin & Garmin charger (of course it will hold enough of a charge… but the charger is small enough to bring!)
- An empty re-usable water bottle (but not my hydration belt, I’ll use water stops instead)
The weather forecast is amazing right now – partially cloudy with a high of 68 degrees predicted. GORGEOUS running weather. I know I’ll be warm once I get started, so I’m sticking to my sleeveless running tank and compression shorts strategy despite knowing that it might be in the fifties at the start line. (I’ve run in those temperatures in this outfit before.) I have Greg with me right up until I enter the corral, so I’ll wear a sweatshirt there and toss it to him just prior to the start.
Print-outs I’m bringing in a folder tucked into my carryon:
- Race registration confirmation & bib number (I’m 498)
- Race course map, schedule, and parking information
- Flight confirmation and itinerary
- Rental car confirmation
- Hotel confirmation
In my checked baggage:
- hand blender, two bananas, half a cup of oats, travel packet of chia seeds
- large bottle of my favorite sunscreen
- clothes, makeup, blah blah blah
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| My carry-on liquids bag. Makeup getting lost? No problem, check it. Gu on the other hand? That’s not leaving my side. |
TSA carry-on requirements are that you use a quart sized plastic bag for any liquids, aerosols or gels, and you make sure none of the items is larger than 3.4 oz. I found that I could easily fit all my Gu, a chapstick, a small thing of sunscreen, and some nuun drink tablets in my ziplock bag. (The nuun drink tablets don’t need to be in there, but it was easier for me mentally to just have it all together since there was room.)
About the hand blender:
All right, I realize this is kind of insane. But I love drinking banana, chia, oat smoothies for breakfast every morning, and I had one two hours before my last race and it settled fine and allowed me a PR with no cramping. Yes, I could eat a bagel, or toast, or oatmeal and a banana and probably be fine. But I could also pack my hand blender and a few ingredients in my checked bag, and grab some ice from the icemaker, and engage in my typical morning pre-race ritual.
Instead of focusing on my nerves and trying to choke down a bagel that tastes dry because my mouth is dry because I’m NERVOUS AS ANYTHING, I can feel smug about how awesome I am for actually packing a hand blender and making myself a pre-race smoothie. This isn’t really that awesome or smug-worthy, but I’ll feel like it shows great signs of foresight and preparedness, and those are GOOD feelings to have the morning of a race. So, call me crazy… that’s all right. I’ll engage in my pre-race ritual breakfast and I know it’ll calm as well as nourish.
Race updates ahead:
I’ll be posting a lot in the next few days about the half marathon – tomorrow’s post is about my race day strategy & some things I’m nervous about, and then I’ll be posting from my phone and surface during the race weekend! So check back, wish me luck, see how I’m doing… I’ll run better for it 🙂
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| My nervous face getting ready for my last race… which was just a 5k! Eek. |
Want to read more about half marathon running? Check out all my posts about my favorite distance, the 13.1: http://www.iamrunningthis.com/run-13-1/
Other posts you may enjoy:
I’m getting nervous for you!! I wish your husband had a way of tweeting your status during the race – now that is an indication of a crazy blog reader right there!
Where do you get the chia seeds and do you use a special kind of oatmeal for your smoothie?
Your strategy makes total sense to me and if I’m ever in your position I will do the same,ie keep my routine as close to my normal as possible.
I mentioned that to my husband and he said he could probably do that from his phone – so perhaps that’ll happen! I love that you’d be interested in hearing about it – when I hit a tough point in the race (which is bound to happen in over two hours of exertion!) I’ll remind myself that readers like you are rooting for me and excited to hear that it went well… it’ll give me added strength and resolve. I’m so touched that I have readers who are rooting for me… I never thought when I first started this blog that it would come to mean so much to me, but connecting with other runners like you is always one of the highlights of my day 🙂
It sounds like you are all ready for the big day! The only thing left to do is relax and enjoy every minute of it! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
I think that is awesome that you packed a blender! A runners gotta do what a runners gotta do! Stick to the pre-race/long run ritual as much as possible!
Good Luck!!
I totally thought more people would be like, blender… crazy… she’s crazy… but I’ve gotten a lot of support! It really does help to do what you normally do the morning of a race!!!
I love that bag of gu! You have your priorities in line 🙂 Good luck!
My husband said that photo made him laugh 🙂 I just hope I can fit it in my pockets and spi belt! I’m used to running with a water belt but won’t be due to the weight and availability of water stations. I’m sure it’ll work out!
You are going to do AWESOME! Can’t wait to read all about it! Will be thinking of you on Saturday! Have a GREAT weekend! 😀
Thanks Amy! I’m very excited. I hope it goes as well for me as your first 5k went! I wish my sister was running with me!!!!
Best wishes for a great race this weekend! Leesburg is so pretty; I’m sure it will be a great course.
Thanks Kristin – I’m excited, I’ve never been to Leesburg! We have great dinner reservations for after the race and I’m really looking forward to it 🙂
It sounds like you don’t need to be nervous at all because you are 100% prepared with your nutrition and racing strategy! I love it! I totally understand the nerves though. I’m nervous about my first half and it’s still 2 months away! I’m sure reading what is sure to be your awesome post-half update will calm my nerves a bit 🙂
I will be sure to let you learn from any mistakes I make 😉 At any rate, I’ve been thinking about it a lot! Tomorrow’s post is about some of my race day strategies and I’ll have to let you know how those work out!
I just found your blog yesterday & I LOVE it!! I spent all day reading your different posts & I am so excited for you! I am even more excited & nervous just reading this post! lol 🙂 I’ll be running my 1st 10k (relay form) next month & still trying to figure out a good strategy/routine & reading about what you have done thus far has given me confidence & motivation. Thank you & look forward to hearing & reading all about it in the next few days. What an inspiration!!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a great first 10k 🙂 It’s such a beautiful time of year to be running races. I will look forward to hearing how it goes for you! I’ve never done a relay race but maybe I should add it to my bucket list 🙂
Have a great race (and a great trip)! Can’t wait to see your updates to see how it’s all going.
I would totally bring a blender and smoothie ingredients, BTW. Makes perfect sense to me!
Thanks Stephanie! I’m really excited about it. I’ll have to post a picture of my much anticipated (by me, mostly) smoothie!
Good luck, but you won’t need it because you are well prepared!
Luck never hurts though! Thanks 🙂
Very exciting! You will do great! Love your blog!
Thank you!
Good packing list! I obsess about packing and ALWAYS make lists so I don’t forget anything. Awesome weather ahead, good luck!
Go get ’em! Finished my fist half almost two weeks ago – it was great (but stinking hot at the end)!! Looks like you will have fantastic weather, so take time to enjoy your journey.