Preparations

So much to do!

I never realized how stressful packing for a marathon would be. There are obvious things that everyone thinks about...the running clothes you will wear for the race, the shoes, your running watch...but there is also a whole list of things that I would never think of. For example, chap stick for the frigid weather, plastic bags for the wet ground, old shoes for before the race, clothes to discard before you start running, toilet paper for...well, for what toilet paper is used for.

I have spent so much time focused on being physically, mentally and emotionally ready for this marathon, that I forget I have to pack.

There are so many contingencies to plan for...rain, no rain...cold, not so cold, warm, hot...wet ground, hard ground...and you want to be prepared for it all.

The funny thing is that the one consistent piece of advice you will receive when you are planning to run a marathon is "don't do anything on marathon day that you didn't do while you were training." Not EXACTLY sure how that is possible...I will be in New York City, taking a ferry and a bus to get to the start line, waiting for several hours outside in 40 degree weather, starting 6 hours after I normally start running, and running for a crowd numbering greater than 1 million spectators. Just a typical Sunday run.

The beauty of running is that all it takes is a pair of shoes and a piece of dirt. Apparently running a marathon requires that, plus enough stuff to fill a hang-up bag and a full sized suitcase.

Timmy