Event advice..........

[Realfoodieclub]

I was out for my run today and it got me to thinking about my event. If there was one piece of information I would like to share about going to events it would be. For women, put a skirt in your kit bag for baggage drop or if your male a towel. After my event or any run I am a bit wet. Let's face it I am a right sweaty Betty. The thing I wanted to do more than anything was take my clothes and underwear off and replace them with comfortable dry ones. I watched a lady expertly replace all her running gear to clean dry clothes while still keeping her dignity intact. The changing area was a little useless for taking everything off as the door did not close. The skirt or towel is excellent for taking off underwear. Think being kids on a beach. I thought to myself I must remember this. Whether it's a 5km or 50km it's good to share these little nuggets of information. Any more from anyone?

[Rignold]

Get a DriRobe. Allows you to do the above while being toasty warm. Also good for the beach.

[Tomas Graduate in reply to Rignold]

You're a font of useful knowledge, Rignold. Never of special changing robes before, but it certainly good. Thank you!

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Tomas]

That's a very grown up version of a hooded towelling poncho!

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Tomas]

Ooh yes Ive seen these . Brilliant idea ! xxx

[AdamB Graduate in reply to Tomas]

There is a problem with these, which my son discovered when changing after a slalom kayak event. He had a home made version which proved to be so popular with other kayakers wanting to borrow it that he ended up being upended out of it before he'd finished. He ended up back in the river half dressed in all his dry kit...

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to AdamB]

Ha! That's hilarious (though obviously, poor lad and I hope he got his own back as well).

[AdamB Graduate]

I've no great experience of running events, but from similar cycling/kayaking events I've learnt the following:

1) If it's a big event, make sure that your kit bag for the baggage drop is well marked with a return address for when it goes walkabout between start and finish. That way you might at least get it back some 3 weeks later. If you are feeling really kind, you could include a spare set of the essentials which you can loan to your mate when their kit (rather than yours) goes missing.

2) Try and mark the bag with something distinctive so that you can spot it amongst the 30,000 otherwise identical ones (I use a combination of different coloured scrunchy/hair ties nicked from my daughter's dressing table - usually go for 2 or 3 totally clashing colours)

[AllieG Graduate]

Realfoodie I'm loving the tags on that post. Which incidentally made me think of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in which every intergalactic traveller really only needs one thing and that's their towel. Don't Panic! (I really hope you've read it or that will REALLY make no sense )

[the_tea_fairy Graduate]

This is a genius idea! I may have shown my boobs to a whole car park full of post-race people for this very reason - just couldn't tolerate cold sweaty sodden things against my back for one more second! I think I need some sort of poncho!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Great question RFC. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to put on dry clothes. I did take a clean top with me at my recent race but I was so drenched with sweat that I took my bra off in the car on the way home! (I wasn't driving) but kept a look out for lorries and speed cameras! Ha ha.

I am definitely going to take a complete set of dry clothes with me for future events and just try to change in the car. Better than sitting in wet clothes the whole way home. Not sure what to do if hubby doesn't come with me and I have to drive. Don't think that would work somehow. Although most women can take their bra off with a tee shirt still on so I might have a go at that if stuck.

I'll be interested to see what others suggest.