While you’re waiting for that speedy email with your marathon checklist, a few more marathon training tips you might find useful:

• Marathon Pacing Strategy
• Marathon Fueling Strategy
• What to wear for a marathon (at all different temps)
• What to eat the week of a marathon

This marathon gear list will break down everything from your race morning needs, to post race sanity and all the miles in between. Use it to make sure nothing is forgotten and you’re on your way to a better race!

Printable Marathon Checklist

After 20 years of racing, I can tell you that it’s always worth having a little more than you need. My race packing list is roughly the same whether I’m doing the Jerusalem Half Marathon or the Chicago Marathon!

Make sure you go through your gear checklist ahead of time and get everything packed before so your morning runs smoothly!

#1 Race Morning Needs

Go over the race details beforehand so you know exactly where to be and when.

• Directions to the start line
• Meet up location at finish
• 4 safety pins
• Bib and timing chip
• Gear check bag
• Gear check locations

Time spent looking at the details of the race and planning your post race meet up will help to alleviate a ton of unnecessary stress!

#2 Travel Race Needs

Don’t forget those half marathon travel extras.

It’s easy to forget the little things that on your marathon checklist that are still super important to a great day.

• Night before the race meal plan
• Race morning breakfast (your tried and tested foods, don’t rely on it being available there)
• Bottled water (you must drink while on the plane or in the car!)
• Electrolyte drinks or electrolyte tablets
• Headband or hat
• Ear plugs (helps with sleep and cuts down on air travel intensity)

#3 Post-Race Bag

Pack that post-race bag! It’s even more important after a race of this distance to quickly have access to things that will give you some comfort.

What is everything you’ll need when you’re done with the race?

• Flip flops/extra shoes
• Dry clothes
• Money/ID (I literally walked in to a CVS handing them sweaty from my sports bra money after the Chicago marathon for a drink)
• Wet wipes
• Phone (unless you’re carrying it)
• Snack (gotta refuel and you may only want to eat certain things)

#4 Marathon Gear Final Check

Do you have all the basics?

The list of the essentials you need to (quite literally!) make it through the race. Anything linked below will take you a to a page outlining my top running gear selections and who they work for!

For each of these, I’ve linked to an article with some of my favorites in case you are still looking for ideas.

• Running shoes
• Short sleeve shirt
• Shorts/capri pants
• Wicking socks
• Anti-chafe Cream
• Sports bra
• GPS Watch
• Phone, headphones
• Road ID
• Fuel (gels, electrolytes, etc)

Are there extra things you need to make sure your running your best race?

Over the years I’ve found that while David might LOVE wearing my FlipBelt for me it rides up around my waist and just doesn’t make for my happiest day. Instead, there are other things which become key for me like having my wireless headphones!

• Fuel belt
• Compression socks
• Sunglasses
• Headband or hat
• SaltStick tablets
• Band-aids

We don’t want this sign to apply to you!!

#6 Additional Gear for Weather Issues

Check the weather!

And plan accordingly. It could be below-freezing or even raining when you start the race, and the sun may be shining by the end of it so make sure you have everything you need.

• Light weight rain jacket or running jacket for other conditions.
• Long sleeve shirt (that you don’t mind throwing away)
• Running gloves
• Throw away gloves (an old pair of socks is great to use)
• Rain poncho/trash bag (perfect at the start line of a rainy day, so at least you stay dry while standing around)
• Hat or visor (the last thing you want to worry about is the sun or rain in your eyes!)
• All Natural Sunscreen (less burning and stinging)
• Shoe cleats for snow

An extra shirt in your bag to wear to the start is preferable to waking up and finding it’s 30 degrees and you have nothing…then you do things like pick up gloves other people discard (yes this occurred during the Las Vegas marathon!)

Throw away gear is ALWAYS in my bag now. If I don’t need it, no big deal. But very big deal to need it and not have it.

I know some of these seem like crazy extras for a half marathon checklist, but this is years of experience talking!

#7 Post Race Recovery Gear

What about when it’s time to recover?

You just ran a marathon, congratulations! Now, it’s time to take care of yourself.

Some of these are things you’ll easily have at home, but might need to plan ahead for a travel race. Which pieces are easy to pack and which pieces give you the most bang for the space.

• Foam roller (often you can find one in the hotel gym)
• Epsom salt (a warm bath will loosen up those tight muscles)
• Compression tights (I wear them everywhere to keep the adventure going)
• Scheduled massage (you deserve it!)
• Celebratory time with family and friends (you also deserve this!)
• Electrolyte drink (I like this little travel packet!)
• Turmeric for anti-inflammatory

Be prepared. Relax. Enjoy the day.

Whether you snag the printable marathon checklist or make your own, a little prep goes a long way!

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