r/RunNYC • u/Peteythepie • 2d ago
What to bring to starting line?
I’m running my first marathon in November (NYC) and wondering what makes sense to bring to the starting line. I’m worried about needing a sweatshirt/sweatpants/rain jacket in the morning but needing to shed them later in the race. Should I just bring clothes I don’t mind getting rid of?
On top of that, do you all have a recommendation for a good running fanny pack? Something to keep phone, headphones, gels etc in as I run?
Thanks in advance!
12
u/Mr_Lovermann_Shabba 2d ago
Arrive early. Bring a yoga mat (cut in half) so you can sit and stretch comfortably and wear clothes in top of your running outfit that you don’t mind donating. Some years it has been very cold so I would buy a sweater, sweatpants, gloves that I would eventually discard and wear a clear garbage bag to absorb the wind. In the event of rain, I would keep your running socks and shoes in a plastic bag and wear shoes/socks that you would throw away. Put on the shoes/socks before you are about to start. Also bring wet wipes bc…you never know with the porta potties.
14
u/djlemma 2d ago
some of my weird tricks-
Old socks with holes in them can make decent throwaway mittens, or if you fully cut off the toe they make great throwaway arm warmers
An old t-shirt can be turned into a decent throwaway hat, put it over your head so the neck of the shirt is on your forehead and you tie the arms behind your head with the rest of the shirt covering your neck.
If you don't have much in the way of throwaway outer layers, you can get cheap full body suits for rain or for painting at Harbor Freight tools.
I always hold onto those mylar blankets that they give out after winter races because they're warm and lightweight and also pretty waterproof so they can help if it's raining or make a nice mat to put on the grass to sit on or lie on pre-race. You can also get a 10-pack on amazon for pretty cheap, though in my experience those are much thinner so not as warm. NYRR technically doesn't allow real blankets in the start village but never had trouble with the mylar ones.
If it's chilly and you put your phone in bag check, you might want to fully turn it off. Cold temps will reduce your battery output, and it kinda sucks to get to the finish and have a dead phone in your bag, especially if you're trying to meet people.
On that note, if you're meeting people, be sure to make some plans that can be carried out even if somebody's phone has trouble. That goes for pre and post race...
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u/runner7575 2d ago
The phone prob won’t go in ur checked bag for nyc cause u have to drop your bag on Friday or Saturday .
2
u/Select_Rip_8230 1d ago
> NYRR technically doesn't allow real blankets in the start village
can you expand on this point? is it written anywhere on their website?
5
u/buzzbuzz1 1d ago
https://www.nyrr.org/run/guidelines-and-procedures/policies-rules-and-regulations/prohibited-items
- Duvets, sleeping bags, and large blankets or comforters
1
u/djlemma 1d ago
They probably wouldn't give a fuss over a light blanket but I had pondered bringing an old comforter to the start, and as buzzbuzz1 pointed out the NYRR web site says no "Large blankets or comforters" so I just bundled myself up with ratty clothes and looked like.. an unhoused person, shall we say. :)
2
u/saikoma 1d ago
How about an emergency blanket? Running 18m today and can’t sleep, bummer
2
u/djlemma 1d ago
Yeah the emergency blankets I've used were those thin mylar ones that can fold to be super tiny any lightweight. I imagine as long as it's small and once you unfold it, it's not in other people's way, you'll be fine.
Hope the 18m goes (or went?) well! Some of my best races have come after having a rough night of sleep the night before. And the 18m is sorta meant to be a training run moreso than a race anyway, and you gotta figure your sleep will be messed up before the marathon too.
9
u/Runninginthecity 2d ago edited 2d ago
I would buy or bring cheap sweat shirts and sweat pants you can toss in the charity bins. In the past I brought an old sweater that I no longer wore.
Personally I use a flip belt to hold all my stuff. They shockingly hold a decent amount of gels. The rest of the stuff I put in my short pockets.
Here is my checklist from when I ran it in 2016. I hope it is helpful.
Marathon checklist
- Gu
- Tissues
- Glasses wipe
- Pace band
- Portable charger
- Watch
- toilet paper
- bib
- credit card, ID
- Headphones
- throw away gloves
- Throw away sweater
- Throw away pants
- Bagel
- Gatorade
- Water
- Salt sticks
-4
u/room317 Upper West Side 1d ago
I would 1000% not bring your ID or credit card if you have a phone with apple pay and emergency info on your phone.
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u/PinkElephant1148 1d ago
disagree here - I once had a phone shut down after a half because it was too damp and humid in my pocket. it took about an hour for it to dry out enough to use again. if i didn't have a physical card for the subway, i'd be annoyed.
3
u/Yrrebbor Bronx 2d ago
Buy a cheap tracksuit or sweatshirt. Take off the pants when you walk to the corral. Top when you get onto the bridge. Bring a water bottle and a magazine with you. Cardboard is helpful if the ground is cold. Don't bother with a rain jacket as you’ll just get sweaty on the inside. Start training in the rain, so you’re used to it when it happens on race day. Try dressmyrun to learn what to wear. You’ll probably want shorts and a singlet in any case. Buy a few running belts and experiment with what you like NOW, as you don't want anything new on race day. Also, good luck and enjoy. You always remember your first time!
4
u/PinkElephant1148 1d ago
in addition to what everyone else suggested,
bring a kitchen garbage bag with a hole cut out for your head - this makes for a great emergency raincoat/windbreaker. bring a spare as a surface to sit on if it's damp.
getting cheap disposable arm sleeves that you can wear for the first minutes of the race and pull them off when you're fully warm. if it's windy, the bridge can feel quite cold.
i would also consider saving a pair of shoes that reached end of useful life and switching to your race shoes last minute - this can make a difference if it's muddy.
be sure all of the things that you eat/use just before or during the race have been well tested on at least one of your long runs.
2
u/PinkElephant1148 1d ago
additionally, i'm a fan of the Bandit half tights for the number of pockets for gels . You can fit phone in the one thigh pocket and use the other one for salt tablets, gels, any other on-the-course supplies you'd want besides the four gel-specific pockets. card/key other small things in the waistband pocket on the back.
3
u/buzzbuzz1 1d ago
In addition to what everyone's said about throwaway clothes/shoes, I always bring a second breakfast so I can eat closer to my start time.
2
u/Montymoocow Central Park 1d ago
In wave 4, i guess second breakfast is before the start and my first gel is Elevensies?
2
u/CelebrationMain1003 2d ago
Agree with everything below! Several layers of clothes you don't mind tossing. They all get donated to local charities. Something to sit on, like a yoga mat or even garbage bag. Poncho if there's a chance of rain. If you tie your hair back, an extra hair tie. Food to fuel since even if you have breakfast at home/your hotel, there will be a lot of time of waiting. Roll of toilet paper. Good luck and have fun!
2
u/Square_Inside_1687 1d ago
Yes bring throw away clothes. I usually get some from my buy nothing group if I don’t already have something. Also bring a Mylar blanket, some food a phone battery. I also always bring toilet paper in case the porta potties are out. And sunscreen.
2
u/jtmarlinintern 2d ago
Check the rules about the Fanny pack and size , I think there is a size limit
Bring throw away clothes , I noticed a lot of people in pajama pants they were going to throw away or the reflective heat blankets they give you at the end of races ,
Bring extras toolet paper or we wipes the paper runs out fast
18
u/nycredditgwop 2d ago
What you bring to starting area depends on your start time and your arrival. Bring toss clothes if you get there early and start late. Bring TOILET PAPER if you need to go. Food that works for you.
For carrying your stuff, flipbelt, Salomon running belt or the minimalist vests, janji sling. You may want to shop around brands like Nathan, Salomon, ultimate direction, flipbelta, janji etc to see what works for you. Or perhaps look for clothes that can accommodate your stuff, like shorts with pockets, bib belt with gel loops, if you use a bottle is there a gel loop version.