Heather BlackmonIt’s almost time for the New Orleans Marathon – only 2 days away!! This is probably my last post before the race, I’m so excited and nervous right now I could burst! My focus right now is on praying (a lot), visualizing an awesome race, and thinking about how I will handle any issues that might pop up along the way.
I’m also still debating my pacing strategy for the race. I REALLY want to PR this race, but I’m not sure if I’m recovered enough from the 50K to make that happen. I’m also not sure if my foot will hold out or not, but I also know I’ve run through that pain on a 24 mile training run – I could do it again.
So, as much as I want to post my goals (and I definitely have some), I think I need to let this race happen and not put too much pressure on myself this time. I have plenty of other races in the future that I will share my goals with you, but I have to listen to my gut (and hubby’s advice) on this one and just race.
Pre-Marathon Checklist
I pack a lot of stuff for a marathon. I don’t think I fully appreciated just how much stuff I pack until today, which I took a photo and labeled everything – that’s a lot of stuff!! I like to be overprepared, because you never know how the weather is going to change. This is probably because my first marathon (Disney) occurred during a cold spell and I ended up wearing my PJ pants during the race, because I didn’t prepare for the cold.
Let’s start with the clothing – what will I bring?
The forecast is currently calling for high-40s to high-60s. Way warmer than I like, by the way. What I plan on wearing is on the right side of the photo above:
- Team Marathon Bar Visor – this was a team I was on a few years ago, but I still wear the visor a lot! It’s adjustable and awesome!
- Tifosi Sunglasses – with three different lens options, depending on the weather
- No-Meat Athlete Shirt – same shirt I wore for the 50K. Thanks Melody!!
- Champion Sports Bra – won from Tina last year
- SkirtSports Marathon Girl Ultra skirt – same skirt I wore for last year’s Ironman and the 50K
- Zensah Calf Sleeves – I have these in blue & black, which color do you think?
- Asics Gel-DS Trainer 16 – ordered the “old” model online, when I didn’t like the new 17s
- Swiftwick Compression Socks – same socks as I wore for the 50K
- Cell Phone, Headphones, Aquaphor (to prevent chafing), and Garmin GPS
My “emergency” clothing is on the left. In case the weather changes and I need to prepare for colder or warmer weather:
- Champion Tank – I call this my Pilates tank, but also like running in it
- Asics Arm Warmers – My favorite soft, seamless brand
- Old Navy (cotton) gloves – I pick up cheap pairs of gloves ($1-2) for running, so it doesn’t matter if I lose them (or toss them)
- Road Runner Sports Tights – An old pair of comfy running tights
This is a lot of clothes – just call me prepared for anything!
Next up…food & hydration– what will I bring?
I’m bringing food from breakfast through post-race, just to be sure I have what I need and there are no surprises.
Breakfast
- My go-to breakfast has been toast or bagel with peanut butter, nooch, and marmite. Yes, I understand it’s weird, that’s why I’m bringing my own nooch & marmite. I’m pretty sure I can find bread & peanut butter in NOLA. 😉
- About 20 minutes before the race, I’ll mix one scoop of the Vega Pre-Workout Energizer in the water bottle and drink down my lucky power juice.
During the Race
- During the race, I like to eat a Vega Endurance Gel every 4.5 miles. I’ll squeeze those gels into the gel flask (attached to my FuelBelt) to make carrying 5 gels worth of nutrition easy.
- I’m also going to tuck 2 of the Vega Electrolyte Hydrators packets into the pocket on my FuelBelt, just in case. If the temps start to rise, I can dump one into a bottle with water and take in some extra electrolytes (which I did during the 50K).
- The bottles on my FuelBelt will just be filled with water, which I can refill (if needed) at the aid stations.
Post-Race
- And finally, a packet of the Vega One (Vanilla Chai flavor) that I’ll mix with some almond milk after the race. It’s not a true protein drink, but it’s got a good mix of protein and nutrients that I can easily shake and drink while we walk back to the hotel. We’re planning on brunch shortly after to help aid recovery.
Now that my marathon gear and nutrition are all packed, it’s time to figure out what else I’m going to wear during my quick visit to NOLA this weekend!
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Don’t forget to take advantage of the FREE Vega Sport Sample offer – a limited time opportunity with limited quantities! You can also check-out my full review of the Vega Sport line here.
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Questions for you:
- Which color Zensah sleeves should I wear this weekend? Blue or Black?
- Do you overpack for races (that you travel for) or are you a light packer?
- What’s your favorite clothing & nutrition brands?
