Marathon Day Gear Bag: Paper And Plastic

Continuing with this week's theme of what to put in your marathon gear bag: something paper and something plastic.

Paper: Tissue paper, that is. I always make sure I have one of those pocket packs of kleenex in my pre-marathon bag that I check at the start. Alternatively, take a handful of kleenex, fold them flat, and put them in a sandwich-sized ziploc baggie. Bring tissues with you to the portable line in case the toilet paper has run out, and you can even stick it in your belt if you have a water bottle belt or belt pack that you wear for the marathon.

Plastic: I have several plastic bags of different sizes in my marathon gear bag. One is the one I keep my shoes in. I often wear a second pair of shoes to walk around/stretch in before the start and then change to the shoes I'll wear for the race. Especially if it is rainy, you'll be glad to have a dry pair of shoes to put on after the marathon, and you'll be glad to have a plastic bag to put the wet shoes in, so everthing else in your bag doesn't get wet. I have a few other small plastic bags on hand for wet shirts, etc.

Everyone has their own strategies, but I hope these marathon day tips give some runners some good ideas.

Happy Running!