Race Day Gear help!! (Read 758 times)

OK, I'm a relative newbie with one 10K under my belt. I've trained hard for a half-marathon on January 13th and am shooting for my 1h:55m goal (my training partner's time in his first HM...yeah, I'm competitive). I need some help. The weather here in Mobile, AL will most likely be 35-45 on raceday morning, (not cold to many of you, but chilly to us Mobilians.) Has anybody had to start off with 2 shirts on (shortsleeved and longsleeved) and finish the race with one as it warms up? What can I do with it during the race? Tie it around my waist? Then where do I wear my number? Should I just start off cold with just 1 shirt to start? I HATE being cold to start running! Also, whats the lightest, easiest way to carry one-maybe 2 Goo Packets? Sorry if this sounds nitpicky, but I'm sure you experienced racers can identify......right??? Thanks, Nate in Alabama

Bonkin has great advice! Two shirts are great for keeping you warm, but I have found removing one during the race over my head is problematic to say the least. I like a cheap windbreaker that zips up; I get two or three at the Goodwill store for a few bucks. Then I can just unzip it and toss it aside or tie it around my waist. If I tie it around my waist, I can carry gu in the pockets too. Otherwise I stuff a gu in that little key pocket in my pants.

I've always been told and done to dress as if it is 15-20 degrees warmer, because you will warm up even if it's cold, then after the race have someone that is there have an extra dry shirt to put on. As for race number, I use a race belt or put it on my shirt with the pins. The other advice of nothing new on race day is the most important one.... trust me... I also love the cheap gloves that you can toss aside.. Some people even wear like a big garbage bag and that lets them stay warm until their body temp rises and then they just tear it off. Good luck with your race.

I've done the throw away long sleeve shirt idea and I didn't have a problem with it. I wore it for maybe 2 or 3 miles of a HM. I threw it in the can next to the water stop, and the shirt had really lived its life anyway. I have shorts that have pockets for gel in the back, but in a race I actually carry one in each hand. I did that in my last HM and didn't even use them-they didn't bother me at all. I wish I'd had one of them though. I need to find some of those throw away gloves. I'm going to need them this weekend, too.

Does Anyone get the "maybe I'm not ready for this" sydrome before race day?

Yeah, but unless they have something good to say just ignore those little voices. Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny. -- Gandhi On race day I used to find myself looking around and thinking "he (or she) looks like a REAL runner..." and that may or may not be the case. Doesn't matter either way, because you are really racing against your expectations/abilities. You know that you have put in the work, so be confident. At least for me, the nervousness/uncertainty has diminished but hasn't really gone away. I think that's because it's part of the excitement, and it will be a sad day if I ever lose that. Relax (as much as you can) and enjoy it Nate.

I am gonna get a cheap 6 dollar throwaway sweatshirt at Target

You could probably find one real cheap at a thrift shop. Then discard it at an aid station, they generally recycle them right back to the homeless. Pre-race jitters are NORMAL. I generally spend the night before the race trying to figure out an excuse to drop out, but haven't yet.

* First - make sure you test how you feel temperature wise on your long training runs. For me personally, 35-45 would make me too hot in ONE shirt - I'd wear a tank top. But that's me. I do know that I'd much, much rather be a little too cold than a little too warm. But again, your mileage may vary. On race day, I've never been too cold. I saw a lot of faster runners wearing shorts and singlets at a marathon that started at 21 degrees. * Second - despite the above, some people - I'm one of them - get cold fingers. And sometimes ears. So experiment with different clothes, wearing gloves and hats. I'm the dork you see wearing shorts and a tank top ... with gloves. Because my fingers get cold way, way before the rest of me does, and freezing fingers ruins a run. Again, experiment. At 35-45, I'd never wear a hat. Well, maybe a baseball cap. But I'd probably start with gloves. You can stick them down your shorts if your hands get warm. It impresses the girls (and keeps your boys warm, if necessary). Bottom line, in a sub-2:00 half marathon, I really don't think you're gonna get cold. Unless its very windy. I'd wear shorts and a tech shirt and gloves, maybe a baseball cap. * I always wear my number on my shorts. I hate it on my shirt. But it took me a while to figure that out. Try it and see what you like. * I've seen people running with shirts tied around their middle, and it looks miserable to me. Like everyone said, get yourself something you can throw away. Or go with the old garbage trick. It's hard to beat. You can use old socks for gloves, too, and throw those away. If people think you're homeless and give you money, you get to keep it - so that's a plus. * You can fit a couple GUs in the stupid little pocket inside most running shorts. It works fine. If you want to be a complete dork, you can even pin a couple to your shirt. I even saw somebody do it with duct-tape. I'll probably laugh at you behind your back, but it works. Have fun. You'll do fine. If you've run 12.5, you're probably better prepared than 90% of your fellow runners.

It looks like the disposable top layer idea has been pretty well covered. My favorite way to carry Gu or anything else is with Race Ready shorts. They have a series of mesh pockets along the back that can hold quite a bit. As for the pre-race doubts; I get them before every race! I've finished a marathon and still get jittery about finishing a 5K.