Before I was married with three children, I traveled quite a bit. Not only did I fly for work, I also roamed the world for pleasure. I wasn’t running as much back then, and let’s face it, travelling in the 90’s was vastly different. You could take mounds of luggage with you at no extra charge, and no one rummaged through your suitcase looking for bottles more than 2 ounces. I took full advantage of this. I carefully packed an outfit or two for each day and brought every toiletry you can think of.
Then I met my husband, a now retired US Navy Diver. Most military personnel are quite familiar with travel. It’s pretty much part of the job description and they don’t take kindly to folks who over pack. In fact, they pretty much tell you what you can and cannot bring. In addition to that, you are limited to a pretty small bag when being deployed. You really have to maximize your space and be highly organized – these are the key to fitting everything in your bag. I knew he’d be able to teach me a thing or two the first time we went to Costco with our small car. He packed the truck so neatly and orderly, it was a wonder that he fit all that Toilet Paper and canned goods in our small trunk.
Fast forward to present day, and basically the only time we ever get away is when one of us has a race somewhere. Old habits die hard. My hubs has given me a few tips on how to slim down on packing, keep it simple, and pack only the necessities. Here are my tips for packing for a marathon, half marathon, or any destination race.
My Tips For Race Packing
Tools – Sometimes investing in the proper storage system will end up saving you time, money, and a lot of hassle. We have been using Eagle Creek Packing Organizers for years and they really do allow you to maximize your space. I use the Fitness Locker and Shoe Locker. They are anti-microbial, which prevents microbial growth (the funk that causes the stink) from transferring from dirty clothes, so that when I am finished running I can put my sweaty clothes back into the bag without getting everything else smelly and wet. Also, if my shoes are wet or muddy, the Shoe Locker keeps that dirt on lock down as well.
Tips and Tricks – I’ve learned the hard way that simply folding your clothes and sticking in them a suitcase takes up a lot of space. In this video I demonstrate one way to pack several outfits without taking up room.
Plan – Be sure to plan every outfit for the entire time you’re there. Don’t make the mistake of just packing “whatever.” You really need to think about what you do and don’t need. Ask yourself “Can I re-wear something?” Oftentimes you can re-use pants or jeans.
Re-Wear – Because many fitness clothes are moisture wicking material, they can easily be hand washed in a sink and hung to dry overnight. Bring a packet of Tide or a small container of hand washing liquid to clean clothes with.
Organize – Make packing and race day checklists. Stick to the plan!
Space Saver – Utilize the inside of shoes to store your race days extra’s like your GPS, Charging wires, race belt, arm warmers, and sunglasses. If putting stuff inside your shoe grosses you out, use a disposable shower cap or a zip lock bag as lining.
How to Pack for Race when you Hate Schlepping a Ton of Stuff @EagleCreekGear @RunRocknRoll Click To TweetIn my opinion one of the best things in life is TRAVEL and there is no better way to see a city than to run it! Our sport is cake and destination races are the perfect frosting. There are so many cool places to discover and explore.
Why not plan your next race by heading over to Rock n Roll Marathon Series’ website – they have incredible races all over the world! Plus, I am offering all of my readers a discount on their race entry using discount Code ROCKNROLLWITHRUNWIKI at check out. So pack your bags ( the right way!) and go after that next big PR!
I was given an Eagle Creek Fitness and Shoe Locker to review as part of the Rock n Roll Series 2016 Rock n Blog program, all opinions are my own.
