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They may not be the things you think of packing first in preparation for a marathon, but they could come in very handy.
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We talk about things that can provide you with protection and comfort such as sunscreen, vaseline, patches and safety pins to prevent irritation.
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And others, for recovery and injuries.
You’re about to face your next race: maybe it’s your first marathon or it’s a shorter race, it doesn’t matter. What is important is that if you are not going to race in your city, you should pack a bag with everything you need. Inside you will, of course, put your running suit and shoes (not new, but ones you have already run a few dozen miles in and are familiar with and have adapted to your foot). What else? There are lots of little things that don’t directly relate to running but are a great idea to pack. They are usually forgotten, and that is why it is important to remember them.
1. Sunscreen
You should also use it in training, especially in summer: runners are much more exposed than the average person to the sun’s rays, so it’s always a good idea to protect yourself. Also, both during the race but especially before in anticipation of the start you will be in the sun a lot. Protect yourself!
2. Vaseline
You never know: rubbing your shirt on your nipples or groin skin could cause irritation and redness that could turn your race into a nightmare. A little vaseline in strategic spots can keep everything under control.
3. Patches
Blisters are seldom or never thought of, yet they can happen, due to socks that are a little old or shoes rubbing in the wrong places. Here come patches to your rescue. Which you may also need before the race, for example, to protect your nipples (instead of vaseline)
4. Safety pins
Not all race packs include them or not in sufficient numbers. Since they don’t weigh anything, it is useful to carry some with you to perfectly secure your race bib or to remedy a zipper that decided to give out at the wrong time.
5. Hair bands
For those who have them, it has to be said, but that’s not all: rubber bands can also be useful for further compacting technical clothing or holding things firmly in place. Several things!
6. Earplugs
There are those who love them and those who can’t stand them. There are also those who do not like them but prefer to sleep, and so, especially if you do not know the acoustic conditions of the hotel or accommodation where you will be staying before the race, it is not a bad idea to take precautions and ensure perfect rest. So as not to arrive done at the starting line.
7. Cap
Okay, this is a running item but it can also be, more generically, an accessory that you can wear anytime when you are outdoors. And it’s still always useful to wear it in a race, especially when the sun is merciless and you have to be under it for a long time.
8. Wet wipes.
After the race is over, you will probably have to wait a while before getting a shower. To restore your decent appearance and let your skin breathe a little, wet wipes can replace a more thorough cleansing at least for a few hours.
9. Painkillers
You never know, but injury is not a remote possibility, especially when you subject your body to prolonged exertion to which it is not accustomed. If you want to regain possession of your physical faculties as quickly as possible, you need a painkiller, with one very important caveat: do not abuse it. Never.
10. Ice gel packs.
If you prefer to intervene on the part that is sore from exertion or even if you just want to speed up recovery a bit, ice gel packs can help: by promoting vasoconstriction they will increase blood flow to the muscle tissues, accelerating oxygenation and fiber reconstruction. Or, in the case of a more serious injury, they will help ease the pain more naturally than with a painkiller.
(Via Running Magazine)