5 No-Overwhelm Packing Tips for Destination Races

If you’ve ever traveled for a destination race, you know that the process can be a little stressful. You’re checking your bag seventeen times to make sure you have your shoes, wondering if your gels can go through TSA, and finding yourself nervous about a layover where you’re relying on airport food the day before a race. (Just me?)

I’ve done several destination athletic events, including road races (hello, Maui Marathon), triathlons (in Bermuda!), and discus (at USATF Masters Nationals). As a dietitian and coach, I’ve landed on the tips below to help me get to the event start feeling confident and ready to go. I hope they help you too!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by NOW®. As always, all opinions are my own.

1. Make a list (and check it twice)

I know, making a list is about the least groundbreaking tip you could hear. But I’m adding in this self-explanatory advice because it will help you feel more prepared on your travel day. Here’s the key: make the list at least a week out from your travel day.

Run through your travel plans and race logistics in your brain, and write down everything you’ll need. Apparel, shoes, race belt, fuel products, recovery needs…whatever you will need to make your race day and trip run smoothly. Think of what you might need in a pinch too (like medicine if you wake up with a migraine after dehydrating air travel).

Making this list at least a week out will give you time to figure out if there’s anything you need that you don’t yet have on hand. Realize you’re down to your last electrolyte tab that you want to use on race day? Great, order ‘em ASAP so you have them to travel with! Is that bottle of sunscreen on its last drop? Run to the store and grab another.

You can also segment your list by essentials you want in your carry-on bag (i.e. the absolute must-haves for your race) and then the nice-to-haves and other vacation gear in your checked bag (if you’re bringing one). That way if your checked luggage gets lost, you’ve still got what you need to succeed in your race. I personally also wear my running sneakers for travel days too, so if a carry-on must get gate checked, at least I have my most important piece of gear on me.

2. Bring a water bottle and electrolytes

While there is a lack of high-quality studies, experts suggest that airplane travel can increase the risk of dehydration due to low-humidity cabin air and the fact that people may simply drink less while on a plane to avoid getting up to use the bathroom. You do not want to arrive at the starting line already in a state of dehydration, so it’s key to pay attention to your fluid intake in the days leading up to your race.

As such, pack an empty water bottle to bring with you while traveling, and fill it up right before getting on the plane. I like to bring NOW® Effer-Hydrate effervescent electrolyte tablets to put in there. They’re light and easy to throw in your bag, and the flavor helps me drink more while traveling compared to plain water! And if you happen to be stuck traveling same-day to an event (flight problems can happen), the sodium and fluid can be a helpful pre-exercise strategy in the 4 hours before exercise.

The lemon lime and tropical punch are my two favorite flavors of those electrolyte tabs.

3. Bring snacks for traveling

After once getting stuck on a 6-hour flight while pregnant with no snacks whatsoever, I will never again travel without food, haha. But I’d venture to say it’s even more important when you’re traveling for a race!

In the days leading up to a big race, you want to stay well-nourished and have some carb-rich options in your plan. Travel days can sometimes lead to less-than-ideal eating, whether it’s because of minimal food on the plane, getting stuck with fast food options at the airport, or crossing time zones that mess with your normal routine.

A few of my go-to snacks that are perfect for packing in a carry-on:

• Dried mango slices – Sweet, satisfying, and one of my favorite ways to fuel (both leading up to a race and during a race too!).
• Homemade energy balls – These peach pie ones are a favorite right now, and this apple peanut butter energy ball recipe is a go-to in the fall.
• Sesame sticks – These are great for providing both carbohydrates, satisfying fats, and salt.
• Clementines – If you want to bring fresh fruit, I’ve found these are good because they don’t get beat up too easily in your bag. Just keep in mind you typically can’t bring fresh fruit off a plane in international destinations.
• Raw energy nut mix – I like this for a satisfying and filling option. It’s a mix of raisins, walnuts, pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds and cashews.
• Fig bars – These can pack in a lot of energy and the single portion ones are very convenient for traveling.
• Pretzels – Carb-rich, salty, and most people find ‘em easily digestible.

(And yes, all of these are fine to bring through airport security. The only things that get a little tricky are things like peanut butter, which they consider a gel, but you can bring the little snack packs for that which fall under the 3 ounce limit.)

4. Pack your race day fuel, electrolytes, and any pre-workout supplements

Hopefully you’ve spent the last few months nailing down your race-day fueling plan. With the cardinal rule of “nothing new on race day”, it’s smart to pack the fueling and electrolyte products you’ve used throughout training so you have them for your event. Some folks train with what’s actually available on the course so they don’t have to pack much, which is a great strategy! But I would still bring a little backup in case the course happens to run out of something at an aid station.

You might also consider packing a breakfast that you know sits well in your stomach, unless you’re confident the hotel or local grocery store will have what you need. Some people have iron stomachs and can eat just about anything before, while others do much better with a routine of a specific food – you know what is best for you.

Lastly, pack any pre-workout supplements that you use regularly and have practiced with multiple times (now is not the time for new products!). For example, I know several athletes like NOW® Sports Beet Root Veg Capsules (easy for travel), beet root powder, or beet juice shots before a race. These contain dietary nitrates, which may help before a workout.*

Similarly, caffeine is a well-known pre-workout option.* While I’m a coffee gal myself and get my caffeine that way pre-race, I know other athletes prefer a standard caffeine dosage in pill form, like in these NOW^® Sports Sustained Energy capsules.

5. Don’t forget about recovery

Many people pack meticulously for the race and then completely forget about the days afterwards, which is when they’re often exploring and enjoying the destination they traveled to! Plan ahead on how to optimize your recovery so that you can fully enjoy your vacay.

Getting enough sleep and eating enough are probably the two biggest recovery “hacks” out there, and luckily, you don’t have to pack much for either.

But supplements may help too. I like to throw NOW® Sports R&R Rest and Repair in my luggage. It is made of several ingredients that can support recovery.* It contains HMB, which is a metabolite of leucine that is involved in regulating protein breakdown and supporting muscle health.* It also has tart cherry powder, which some studies suggest play a role in recovery.* And it contains melatonin, which can promote restful sleep and recovery.* I’ve personally found it quite useful in the days following a big race.

The Bottom Line

Destination races are always exciting and a little nerve wracking! By planning your packing carefully, you can ensure that you arrive at the starting line feeling great. Hopefully you found the tips in this article helpful for doing so. And as a bonus, if you want to buy any of the NOW products mentioned above (like the electrolyte tablets, dried mango slices, NOW® Sports R&R Rest and Repair, or anything on nowfoods.com website) you can save 20% using code CHRISSY through the end of the year. Happy traveling!