As lots of us are doing half marathons in the next few weeks, I thought it would be helpful for some of us first-timers to find out what people will be taking with them/wearing on the day.
What nutrition are you bringing? Are you bringing a change of clothes for after the race? What are you planning to wear in rain or shine? Any lucky charms?!
This is the kind of thing I panic about – the logistics – so I thought others might feel the same way.
Let us peep inside your sports bag!
This is something I was going to post about, but I keep a running list for long runs and races using the app Evernote on my phone. It has a checklist feature. And I duplicate a list to modify it for a specific event if needed. I have an example of one list I used for a recent 25k trail race here. It is broken down into days ahead and night before and day of, since I tend to forget things unless they are on a list to be checked off. 🙂Sorry, probably TMI in some spots:
Run Checklist
DAYS AHEAD
Buy and Bring fuel - Endurance Tap, trail mix. Jimmy bars
Hydrate wed
Hydrate Thurs
Hydrate Fri
All run gear washed
NIGHT BEFORE
Set all gear out night before. Check weather accordingly.
Pack big bag including warmup jacket and full change of clothes, small hand towel,
Pack small bag including Gels trailmix, builder bars, nuun And bandaids, first aid and extra water
Pack sun Glasses in car
mix nuun in two bottles 1 belt bottle 1 pack bottle
Charge watch and phone night before
Trim nails
$$ Bank
Gas in car
Hydrate
Check weather
Get directions and maps sorted
DAY OF
Smile!
Coffee
Bagel pbutter and banana bfast
Bring reading glasses for map
Bug spray if wearing shorts
Bring shoes for drive home
Bring pack/belt with nuun water half bottles x 2, plus bars and all gels
Keys, money and wallet gels into belt or vest pockets
Band aid for chest and ankles
Thin run socks washed
run tights and flipbelt
long sleeve& tee
Jacket for later
Phone kill bluetooth and set low power mode
No headphones
Sunscreen? Lips
Sunglasses
Hat
House key and car key onto belt
Wallet /Presto
Phone
Cash for lunch
Pee, pee again
Leave by 5:30am Go to parking for 6:30
Go to race : 385 Jerseyville Rd W, Ancaster, ON L9G 5C3
- [ ] goo.gl/maps/j3DdyDS2SJL2
packet and swag pickup. Drop off in car.
Bathroom break.
Start...Be still… pace EASY at first
Crucially, and l mean it, you MUST match your gear! You are going out after all, aren't you? A trained eye would spot my white compression base layer under a green Celtic top, matching its white letters. Of course, a red or dark striped Chicago jersey would need a few changes. God, a yellow Lakers gear can be tricky. Anyways, top post my friend, thorough and informative as always!
I love this!! I'm a proper list maker too (altho not done for running but then I've never done a biggie). Fab
I have holiday packing lists that I tweak for dif holidays... And a leaving the house check list before hols. Ie... Rubbish out, check fridge, set light timers, set heating ring etc.... 🤗😱
Oh my word, I've just read Decker's post and feel very unprepared!! Now I love a good list but I definitely prepare "lite" in comparison.
I take:
Change of clothes right down to undies
Old towel to sit on in case I end up sitting in sweaty clothes in car afterwards
No point taking soap/shower gel as facilities usually non existent, just change in the loos.
Small bottle of water to carry
Larger bottle to leave in car
Small amount of money to buy post run ice cream, etc.
Phone
Tissues
Imodium
Pin race number on at home if already have it
Directions and parking instructions
Spare hairband
I don't bother eating during a HM so no gels, etc (but am trialling Tailwind in my bottle this week)
That's about it!
Haha I like your list better LL 😁 Mine is overkill, but much of it was because the race was out of town and it was a trail race. Also I forget everything without a list
I like this list too.... I do keep an old towel in the car for same reason. Imodium.. Good tip, do u actually take before jsy incase? 🤔 Sorry I know a bit personal... But I also know if I've not 'been' before I often need to do once I start! The last organised 10k i did I had about the same as u
This was mine for the Hastings Half back in March. Copied from my Faffage Spreadsheet 😄:
BottomsGrey shorts
BraBlue
TopGreen Decathlon t shirt
Over topLong-sleeve Primark
SleevesCalf sleeves for arms
Belt
Jelly BabiesIn small plastic bag
Plastic bags
ShoesSaucony
SocksInjinji
Pants
HatUsual blue
BreakfastPB filled soft bakes
Cover-upsLeggings and jumper, plus coat for car
Bag-drop bag
Imodium
Pad
VaselineSmall pot
Sunglasses
Safety pins
Race number
PainkillersParacetamol
Phone
WaterFor drinking in car
Choccy milk
Money for charity
Money for parking
Leukotape
Hrt
Petrol
Buff
Charge phone and watchWatch is charged
Gaviscon tabs
Deodorant
I like that deodorant was the last item! Being a bit smelly is the least of our worries I guess.
I don’t think deodorant even made it onto my giant list 😂. Well its on there now.
Another good list. I need to start one incase I do ever do one
This is a GREAT list. I’m curious: How does it compare to what you used for your ultra?
Ha thanks!
Hmmm. I think the main differences for the ultramarathons were that I've needed my backpack and bladder, and some bits and bobs like a head torch, first aid kit, a waterproof jacket, and quite a bit more food. I also brought a spoon with me on the London2Brighton, although I didn't use it, and I can't remember why I thought I needed it! 😄
Was any of that required by the race itself? Oh I’ll need a head torch soon. You never know when you might need a spoon also🥄
This needs to be a pinned post !!!
Goodness, everyone is so very organised. Here is my list, it's pretty much always the same though I don't take sunglasses if it's forecast to rain as they go all smeary.
* Top, tights/shorts, injinji socks, bra, pants
* Buff
* Hair bobble
* Sunglasses
* Cloudflyers
* Leukotape
* Phone and hand strap, can use this to pay for the bus too
* Bottle and Active Root or Tailwind
* Water to go into bottle at location
* Wristband pocket containing house keys and a tenner for a pre-race coffee, and post race coffee and treat
* Gel tucked into wristband, maybe also Revvies
* Garmin and headphones
* Race number and pins
* Paracetamol if anything hurts
I'm not one for pre or post race changes on the whole. Even if I'm reasonably far from home I'm likely to try to get away without a bag drop, as it just gets in the way and makes me stressed. After a race I'm generally found all tousled looking on the bus holding a warm coffee in lieu of wearing a long sleeve top.
Visor to keep the rain off, shorts, t shirt, compression calf sleeves...
4 gels, 1 litre water (in cheaper alternative to Camelbak) with SIS hydro, 4 jelly babies and an energy bar.
Tissues, towel, dry clothes, safety pins, rucksack to put in bag store, shaker bottle with recovery drink, biro, phone, kitchen sink (might as well)...
Some excellent lists below.
I would recommend "Bodyglide" or some other anti-chafing cream especially if it rains.
You don't need extra layers for October unless you have an Arctic Half in mind.
Warm up - put a black bin liner over you if it is raining and ditch it just before the off.
Rain is just water, your skin is waterproof.
Why run with extra wet clothing?
You are going to get wet, regardless.
Use a baseball cap to keep the rain off your face and glasses if you wear them.
I think I’m going to be solo on the day so I’ll be carrying everything myself. So I’ll maybe have some throw away outer clothes for before if it’s really cold and my running rain jacket in a zippy bag for after stashed in my Salomon vest. 500 ml of water (to be lightly used and rely on water stations instead), a handful of gels, jelly babies, and a protein bar for after. Foil blanket tucked away. Phone, money. Running buff and hat.
Now I'm panicky!! I was just going to do what I've done for my 16-17K. plus a padded jacket to leave with hubbie for the bus to and from the Cardiff HM start.
I was going to use the water stops for a few sips and have my half protein bar top up at 9K. But other than that I'm just approaching this like a training run and staying calm...ish!
But I am going to take an Imodium...I think...just in case!!
Good Luck everyone as its my first HM I just want to try and enjoy it xxxx
I’m taking myself. I am walking the short distance to the start line, wearing all I need. I can wear my thin jacket round my waist if it’s not raining
Short, brisk walk home. My kinda race 🙂
Not worrying about faffage is lovely. A luxury I know 🙂
I have my first proper race on Sunday and although it's only local and only 10K, much of this will help.
Cardiff half marathon 🏴🏃🏽♀️✅
First Half Marathon March 2020 the BigHalf
