Yeah, you can see my sparkly little skirt and my Team Challenge singlet, but there’s a lot more to my Nashville race outfit than you notice at first glance. I thought I’d fill you in on all the special little things that I took with me on race day. Because you totally wanted all that information, right?
All my stuff, the night before the race.
Let’s start with the obvious ones.
My Team Challenge singlet. I was part of the National Team for this race, so I wore my Team Challenge singlet with pride. I chose to re-wear my singlet from my first Team Challenge race for a couple of reasons. The first was simply that I liked the fabric better. However, I also really liked wearing my original jersey for my second race. It felt really special for some reason.
My favorite Chicago Marathon running capris. These things are, by far, my favorite bottoms to wear when I’m running. I am going to be crushed when they don’t fit anymore or simply wear out. I actually got them as a gift from Nike back when I ran the 2009 Chicago Marathon with David Wallach at Pace of Chicago. They’re comfy, amazing, and they remind me of an awesome day with a now-friend who was pretty much a stranger at the time.
My Brooks Ravennas. Love them.
What’s that? You want to hear about the sentimental things I wore? Oh, I have those.
My new sparkle skirt from my mom. When I got home from Napa, I told my mom all about the fun, sparkly skirts that a bunch of the girls on the San Diego team wore. Mom promptly went online and ordered me one for Nashville. Something about the sparkles just made the race more fun, and it was extra-special because it was from my mom.
My dad’s Chicago Marathon race bib. In 2008, I crossed the finish line of my first marathon in San Francisco, California. My parents were a little sad that they couldn’t be there to watch me race, and they came over the night before I left for the airport with cards and little gifts. Tucked in my dad’s card was his race bib from the last Chicago Marathon he ran, with a note about how it was his favorite race because he took time to enjoy the day and the course. He gave it to me so that he could be there with me for my marathon. Four years later, and that bib has run a whole lot of races. I always tuck it in my pocket with me on race day.
Posing with Dad’s race bib in my hotel room. We are so cute. (Me and the bib, that is.)
A bracelet that my friend Jackie made me. On my wrist was a tiny aluminum bracelet that just said “i run for us.” Because I couldn’t figure out a way to carry all my IBD’ers names with me where I could see them, (it was too warm for my arm warmers) Jackie made me this bracelet. I looked at it when I struggled during the race and it reminded me why I was out there. I loved it. (P.S. You can have one, too. Check it out.)
Oh yes, and safety.
Finally, my road ID. Just in case.
What do you wear when you race? Tell me all about it. Maybe I’ll get an idea!
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