By Diana Palka
Man or woman – the thought of a dozen sweaty, delirious and hungry runners crammed into a 15 passenger van for two days can be particularly daunting. When you couple that with the fact that your course is usually “rolling foothills” that perpetually stand like giants between you and the finish line – the whole thing gets kicked up a notch.
But if you’re a runner – and if you routinely hang out with other runners – you’ll probably get convinced to run one of these things at least once in your life. God speed, friend!
Here’s a list of four often overlooked essentials you don’t want to forget as you’re packing up that smelly gym bag before heading out for the weekend.
- Baby wipes.
Do yourself and your teammates a favor and go ahead and toss a couple packs of these things in your bag. They’ll help keep you smelling fresh-ish in between your turns – but they’ll also come in handy when you’re missing that shower to wake you up. (Pro-Tip: If you pour water on them, you can use them to wash your face if your skin’s not too sensitive – or scrub off mud!)
- Anti-chafe stick (like a BodyGlide or Vaseline).
Okay – this is an overshare and I’m sorry – but have you ever run in wet clothes? I am someone who only ever chafes when my clothes get wet and stay wet. (Thinking about running through that sprinkler on a hot summer run? Think again!) Ideally, you’ll change clothes between your legs of the relay and have a dry start each time you hop up and run – but things happen… and you can never be too safe when it comes to chafing. Even if you never chafe and don’t think you’ll need it, running and stopping and running and stopping can do some weird things to your thighs and underarms. Pack your own anti-chafe stick just to be sure! - Large Sealable Freezer Bags.
These will come in handy for all of your clothing changes throughout the race. Keeping those sweaty and wet clothes sealed away in a zipped bag will keep your teammates happy and the odors at bay. It will also make sure your dry and fresh clothes stay dry and fresh. (Pro-Tip: Pre-load these bags with a dryer sheet or two to combat those odors with an extra punch.) - Travel Toothbrush (or the finger kind to brush on the go).
Maybe this is just me – but I feel like if my mouth isn’t fresh, I’m just perpetually thirsty. Brushing my teeth before I hop out the door for a run is just a part of my routine. I’m also the type of person who has to brush her teeth almost as soon as her eyes open in the morning or else she gags. (Really bad morning breath or really good oral hygiene? I’ll let you be the judge.) At any rate, the type of toothbrush that comes pre-loaded with toothpaste and you can just slip over your finger is essential for brushing your teeth quickly on the go. A normal travel toothbrush will work too – just remember to pack toothpaste.
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Diana Palka is a Charlotte-based writer; runner; lover of grace, craft beer and the well-written. She has an unbreakable rule that there are three things in life you never buy cheap: shoes, beer and toilet paper. When not working as a Marketing / Communication consultant in Corporate America, she writes for kicks and giggles at www.dianapalka.com.
