By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

 As the racing season for big marathon races picks up, many runners have unique plans in sight. Many runners make it extra special, building an adventure around their race. We may drive or board trains and airplanes to make it either a weekend or a longer vacation.

There is no sense crossing the ocean to go to Berlin or Sydney just to race and come back home. Or you can always make it a nice long weekend if you just need to hit the road for a few hours. The key to a successful out-of-town race is to understand why you are there in the first place: to run a marathon. The fact that it is in Chicago or New York is what makes it a getaway. Most likely, there would have been no trip if you had not been running the marathon. Remember, the running portion of your trip is the priority. Don\’t let the allure of tourist activities distract you from your main goal.

Sure, you can visit the Eiffel Tower… after the race (Photo: Rafaelf1, Pexels)

This is an important concept to grasp. I know way too many stories of runners sightseeing too hard, so they reach the starting line tired. On more than one occasion, I\’ve met runners (usually younger) who were hungover because they couldn\’t resist partying while away from home. A friend shared a story about his family resenting him because they had to wait to visit the Eiffel Tower until after the marathon, which added unnecessary stress to his pre-race routine.

Exploring the world\’s great cities, celebrating for a few days, sipping margaritas at the beach, and discovering the less traveled paths in lesser-known parts of the world is always a bonus for our efforts. But traveling to a race, especially your goal race, doesn\’t come without its challenges. It requires additional planning. If you don\’t prepare ahead, the chances of fixing a hiccup on the fly diminish considerably.

So, if you worked hard on your marathon training and are setting out on a running/travel adventure, these tips will hopefully help you get to the starting line mentally and physically sharp:

1.      Do not check your running gear: If traveling by plane, whatever you are wearing on race day, goes in your carry-on. The last thing you need is lost luggage derailing your race plans. You don\’t want to run in brand-new shoes you purchased at the expo or with borrowed shorts.

 2.      Run first, tourist later: The running portion of your trip is the priority. Don\’t arrive too much in advance before the race. Save the touristy plans for after. You want to get to the starting line focused, well rested, mentally and physically ready. Afterward, you may walk all you want or enjoy as much alcohol and crappy food as you can tolerate.

3.      Know where your pre-race meals are coming from: Never take your food intake for granted. Make sure you know that what you need to eat is available nearby. It happened to me once. After identifying the restaurant I wanted in Philadelphia, I went on pre-race night only to find I needed a reservation.  If you are staying with relatives, make sure you let them know exactly what you must eat and at what time.

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4.      Know how to get to the starting line: Do not improvise. Plan for the worst-case scenario. If you are taking a cab, have the phone number and confirm they provide the service at the time you need it. Have a B plan in case there are no Ubers available. If you are taking public transportation, purchase tickets in advance. If a relative is driving you, be aware of road closures and alternative routes.

All the gear you will need during the race, goes inside the cabin with you (Photo: Guiirossi, Pexels)

5.      Have family and companions understand why you are there: If you are traveling with family or friends, it is imperative they understand that the first few days are all about you and your race. Runners are the protagonists. Everything else can wait. Remind them they wouldn\’t be in Amsterdam, or Buenos Aires or DC if it weren\’t for the marathon. 

6.      Adjust for time changes: Never underestimate jet lag and time zone differences, as they can screw your sleep and derail your race. Find out in advance how to adjust to the time zone in which you will be competing. There are plenty of online resources for this. You don\’t want to be falling asleep at Mile 10 because it feels like 4AM for you.

7.      Pack for any weather: Remember you are not home, so you can\’t just go back to your closet to pick up something else. Pack for any possible weather change, and don\’t rely 100% on your weather app. It is always better to bring back something unused than to need that pair of gloves you left at home. 

8.       Don\’t do anything you wouldn\’t do at home: Pre-race is not the time to be adventurous. Trying new, exotic foods, white water rafting, Segway tours, or running a beautiful trail when all you know is the asphalt is for after the race. These could be recipes to guarantee a bad race. Hold the fun stuff for after the finish line.

Please like this post, share any other recommendations from your previous experiences, and let\’s build a community of informed and prepared runners.