Spring 2020 Half Marathon Group 😄 Faffage List

[linda9389]

Hi fellow Half Marathoners! Hope all is going well!

After Abi’s great race day post last week, thoughts began to turn to what we need on the day. One non-running activity which is very helpful is to make a list of everything you'll need. We often refer to this as a "faffage list" on this forum, but really it should helpfully ensure that there’s no "faffing about" on the day of the race 😄.

Personally, I like a checklist as it’s the only way to stop it all cycling round and round my head as the nerves - I mean excitement - builds towards the big day. A checklist is particularly helpful if you are staying away from home before your race.

Below I have listed just about everything bar the kitchen sink, drawn from previous posts and comments - it’s rather over the top! Simply pick and choose what you need and make your own list ahead of time.

Can you think of anything else to add to the list? Let us know below. How are you feeling at this stage as we get closer to our events and the excitement builds?

To those of you running in Brighton this weekend - good luck and have fun; to everyone else - stick with your training, it will be so worthwhile !!!

★ Pre-race

Check route (drive time, parking, road closures, buses, trains, route to race village and start line, location of loos etc)

Check the weather forecast

Prepare playlists

Hydrate

Carb load (yum yum!)

Cut toenails

Make sure you have bought/made whatever nutrition you plan to use

★ Night before the race

Get everything ready!

Charge headphones

Charge watch

Eat a good (tried and tested) pre-race dinner

Charge phone

Sleep well

★ Race day

Eat a good (tried and tested) breakfast

Bag drop bag

Clothes (Shoes, socks, tights/leggings, top(s), sports bra, jacket, layers if necessary)

Hat/headband

Hair clips/hair bobble

Buff

Gloves

KT tape/knee supports etc.

Compression sleeves

Old jumper/coat for the start line

Sunglasses

Suncream

Race bib (and safety pins)

Running belt/vest/backpack

Water bottle

Snacks/gels/electrolytes (for before and during)

Emergency money/credit card

Medication (migraine tablets in my case!)

Blister plasters/leukotape

Chafe cream/vaseline/bodyglide

Loo roll

Tissues/hanky

Headphones (not permitted in some races)

Watch

Phone

Go to the loo (then go again, then maybe go again again ... or is that just me?)

★ Post race

Warm clothes/change of clothes

Recovery drink/protein bar

Towel

Comfy shoes

Deodorant

linda9389 & roseabi xx

February 18th, 2020

--

Spring 2020 Half Marathon Group list: docs.google.com/spreadsheet...

HUHM Strava Group: strava.com/clubs/huhm

Previous posts:

Welcome: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Training plans: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Let's get to know each other!: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Getting the most out of your training: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Food & drink on the run: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

How to make the most of your race photos: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Have a very happy holiday period!: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Happy New Year!!!: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Aiming to be race-day ready !!!: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Speed intervals & hill training!: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Long run - length and timing: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Pacing: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Motivation: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

What’s it like to run a Half Marathon?: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Great list Linda. I can’t think of anything else. I always like to cut my toenails a week before race day just in case I have a disaster the night before and cut them a tad too severely 😫

For pre-race I always check where the loos are on the route. Just in case 🙄

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Ooh yes, I'll edit to add loos to the list!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Thanks Linda! Useful info there as ever. It’s funny, I’m so excited about the race that I’m forgetting to be excited about my holiday which is the previous week! I’m making lists for the HM and not holiday ones! 😅

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Lol!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Ooh! Yes, gotta get your priorities right 👍😍. Hope you have a lovely time on holiday tho 😊

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

ohhhh thanks, I'm just on my work lunch break and have copied this into a word doc for later! thank

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Deals1]

Fab. Hope it's useful - but do be selective 😍

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

I thought I would do my list today before Linda posted, because I am shocked at how late I have left it this time! To be fair to meself, it is a very local HM I'm doing, so I don't need to worry tooooo much but still! 😄

Happy faffing everyone xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Did I miss anything off the list that you have on yours? Brush for gravel clearing perhaps if you're going to be at the front of the pack?

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Ooh, good point! 😄

I would like some sort of wind-repellent too, if you know of such a thing?

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Maybe a team in front of you carrying a wind break - like EK's V team? plenty of windbreaks for sale in every UK seaside town I've ever visited 🤣🤣🤣

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

LOL!

[Joster Half Marathon]

Thank you so much for this list. My goodness it looks like you’ve thought of everything! Love a bit of faff. Boat faff, run faff. 👍🏃‍♀️ ⛵️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Joster]

It really is an accumulation from many people's lists and posts ....

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Great comprehensive list Linda!

Yes, checking the weather forecast repeatedly becomes a pre-race obsession for me 😯 as does going to the loo before the race!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Gotta love the BBC Weather app, so useful for checking the weather for Sunday every half an hour 😄

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

I've upgraded - accuweather minutecast! Minute by minute for the next 2 hours. Just as unreliable though 🤣🤣🤣

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

😂 and a vote for the Met Office App here!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Suspected it wasn't just me 🤣

[Redcello41 Half Marathon]

This post makes me so happy, I love a good list! I got a bit excited the other day and made a big spreadsheet of things I need to do, before and during race week, the day and night before and the morning of the race! I then made a big list in another spreadsheet of everything that I need and divided it all up into pre-race, race and post-race sections!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Redcello41]

Fabulous. Calms the mind😊. Anything I I should add here?

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

oooh I'll have a look and let you know!

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to Redcello41]

I think you have it all covered, if I do come across anything that might be useful to mention here, I'll let you know!

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I've just replied to my own comment hahaha - hopefully you can still see it

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

A new thing to add (courtesy of the latest email from the Brighton Half) - waterproof bag drop bag!

Because it's going to be windy they won't be able to have a marquee for the bag drop, so our things won't stay dry if it rains (which apparently it might do, super). So I'm going to put a bin liner inside my bag I reckon 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

At least they're still doing bag drop. I looked at the forecast this morning and thought it didn't look as bad as it might ... but I guess they have to cover all bases. I'll keep everything crossed for you all though 🤞

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

I think the wind on the days before the race when they're setting up is the main problem. But it looks like we'll have a pretty stiff breeze on the day, so I suppose my weather luck has finally run out. At least we will have a tailwind for the last 5k though 😊😊😊

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

Great list. Thank you! 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

😊

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

Some great stuff here and I can remember reading it at the time, but just come back to it. I've also just realised that I can save posts!! 👍👍 Doh. In the past I took screenshots 😂 thanks for this