Checking My SF Marathon Checklist

Marathon training is almost complete, and that means my next marathon is all but upon me. So I need to begin some final preparations as well. I've already got a hotel, flight and transportation (mostly) figured out, and we still have to try and figure out what Mrs. LB and I are going to do in San Francisco aside from the race. I'll be hobbling around to see some sights, after all.

But the biggest thing I need to do is to make a list of the things I will need for the race. I could just cut and paste the list from last time, but where's the fun in that? I figure making this list off the top of my head will test my knowledge about what I should be taking and see what sorts of things I might forget. Well, hopefully I won't forget anything but I'll have to make sure to include the things I initially leave off.

So here goes. My San Francisco Marathon list. Ahem.

shoes
socks
running underwear
shorts
shirt
undershirt
hat
sunglasses
Garmin (fully charged)
phone
phone holder
earphones
GU (five packets)
fuel belt
Gatorade
tape
band-aids
sandals
energy bar
bagel

Let me see how I did. This is the checklist from Surf City that my pace leader sent us for that race.

Shoes
Socks
Shorts/Running Pants
Top (a couple of layers)
Gloves
Headband/Ear Warmer
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen (try on training runs first)
Water Bottle/Pack/Sports Drink
Kleenex
Gu (or whatever you use-I use 5 for a marathon: miles 4, 8, 12, 16, & 20)
Hard Candy
Body Glide
Watch/GPS (make sure it’s charged)
Race Number/Pins
Timing Chip
Directions
Camera
Confirmation Form
Band-aids (just in case-put in pack)
Tylenol 8 Hour
Breakfast (bring what you usually eat before long runs)
Emergency Money (Never know-put in packs)

---

So I guess the only thing I didn't have was the confirmation form, pins, and Tylenol although we use Aleve. And band-aids of course, but I have tape.

I guess I did pretty good. But that doesn't mean I've dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's. Fellow blog buddy Jill of Run With Jill e-mailed me since she's heading to San Francisco for the marathon as well. We're trying to coordinate a time where we can meet. Anyway, she asked me what wave I'm in to start, and I was like 'Huh?'

So I did some research and figured out that I'm set to start in the second-to-last wave, which means I'll be starting at 6:22 a.m.

I still have to blog about my goals and what I actually want to accomplish in this race but starting at 6:22 means I'll be crossing the finish line probably around 11 a.m. That's assuming I actually survive the course, though.