What I Am Packing for the Hood to Coast Relay

With Hood to Coast just two weeks away, I thought it would be a good time to joint down my packing list. Since this will be my 4th Relay (2 Ragnars & HTC last year. Whoop Whoop!), I thought I would share some of my advice. Obviously everyone has their own packing methods but as someone who showed up to her first relay looking like this…

…I think I learned my lesson real quick after my teammates basically through my luggage out of the moving van.  Good times.

Here are My Tips for packings for a Relay Race (that I wish someone had shared with me):

1. Bring ONE bag. And I’m not talking a “large back-pack through Europe for three months” kind of bag. Bring a classic back-pack that you probably still have from college (or am I the only one that kept mine?). Just a good old North Face or JanSport will work. BONUS: Your back-pack can also double has your pillow!

2. Face cloth. I love to sweat, BUT I hate when my face is sweaty and then the sweat freezes into my pores as I just sit there feeling my pores clogging with my own sweat. Lovely image, right? That’s why I bring a face cloth to wash my face off right after I run. I am also bringing some Shower Pills (so fancy!) to wash off my body sweat in between runs, but I like a face cloth for my FACE (duh).

3. Sweatshirt and workout pants. These items double has your pajamas (aka night outfit) and a sleeping bag! Personally I think a sleeping bag takes up a lot of room in the van (but if you feel like you need it – totally bring it!).   Last year, I don’t think anyone in my van had time to use a sleeping bag. I think we might have had a total of 2 hours of sleep?

4. 3 Running Outfits in 3 Large Ziplock bags. This is a tip I learned from Lauren last year. Super easy and great idea for keeping your clean clothes separate from your dirty ones.  Personally, I only used 2 outfits for my runs (that’s probably pretty gross) and I saved my last outfit for after I showered at the end of the race. (I also suggest bringing a 4th outfit that you can wear after the race. Basically another running outfit.)

5. Toiletries: Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Body Glide, & Sunscreen. That’s pretty much all you need.

6. iPhone Charger for a car!!!! I can’t be off twitter for more than ten minutes.

7. One pair of Running Shoes and one pair of flip-flops. I think in most Relay Race Instruction Packets recommend bringing 2 pairs of running shoes, but I disagree. Instead just make sure someone else in your van wears the same size shoe as you…just kidding, kind of.

8. Rain jacket. A small, light (cheap!) rain jacket – just in case.

9. NUUN.  Normally I would say to bring your own supply of NUUN for any relay you are running, but I definitely think we are going to have plenty for the weekend.  Boom Shaka Laka.

Anything else I am missing??