What To Pack for the Marathon

Every few minutes my brain sends me "Oh! Don't forget to bring..." message. Figure I better start tracking them or I'll forget. Okay, Richmond, here I come. Remember the alphabet game you used to play as a kid? (I'm going on a trip and I'm taking an apple. I'm going on a trip and I'm taking an apple and a banana...). Here's the adult version:

I'm going to run a marathon, and I'm going to take...

  • 3 packs of GU - 1 chocolate, 2 plain
  • Enough Advil to choke a small camel
  • Tagamet
  • Extra contacts
  • 1 Ipod (charged)
  • 1 pair gloves
  • 2 pair running shoes in case the first pair--I don't know--goes up in flames
  • 3 pair running socks (again--fire back up)
  • 2 pair running shorts (are we sensing a theme here?)
  • 2 throw away long-sleeved t-shirts
  • 2-3 running shirts of varying thickness and arm length, so I'm prepared for any temperature
  • Running watch
  • Runner's ID
  • Pace tatoo
  • 2 jog bra's
  • Vaseline. (Interesting side note. I forgot to buy Body Glide before my first race and so used vasoline instead. As with most runners, I'm superstitious and refuse to change any details in my routine, so vasoline it is)
  • Sunglasses
  • Tissue
  • Runner's hat
  • Hair combs, hair bands, bandana, and winter runner's earmuff/headband thingee
  • Hotel and race confirmation numbers
  • Phone numbers of all my friends running/attending Richmond

Here's where it gets interesting. "Routine" morphs into "paranoia"...

  • 1 Toaster with whole grain bread and honey (my traditional race breakfast)
  • Coffee and coffemaker (check first to see if hotel has in room)
  • BACK UP pasta dinner I will bring in a cooler in case things go awry for any reason on Friday night dinner

I'm sure I'll add to the list as the week goes on. Runner folk--what am I missing??