5 Race Travel Tips That Have Nothing to Do With Running
When people think about destination races, they usually focus on training, nutrition, and race-day strategy.
But after running marathons in Chicago, New York City, London, Boston, and Tokyo—and spending countless hours researching race travel logistics—I've learned that some of the most useful lessons have nothing to do with running itself.
Here are five random tips that have made race weekends significantly less stressful for me.
1. Bring a Bathrobe to the Start Line
I can't take credit for this one. I came across the idea somewhere in the running universe years ago—whether it was a blog, podcast, Facebook group, or fellow runner, I honestly can't remember. What I do know is that it works.
A cheap bathrobe is one of the best pieces of race gear you can pack.
Unlike sweatpants or leggings, you can take it off without removing your shoes. If it's cold, windy, or raining while you're waiting for your wave, it provides surprisingly good coverage and warmth.
The last one I used even had a hood, which was invaluable while standing in Athletes' Village in Hopkinton on a 35-degree morning before the Boston Marathon.
You don't need anything fancy. A thrift store robe works perfectly, and inexpensive options on Amazon often arrive vacuum-sealed, meaning they take up very little space in your suitcase.
If you're planning to discard it before the race starts, don't worry—at many major races, the clothing left at the start is collected and donated to local charities.
Bonus: you'll stay warm, travel light, and help someone else in the process.
2. Pack a Few Hotel Shower Caps
This is one of my favorite race-day hacks.
If the start area is muddy, wet, or covered in slush, slip hotel shower caps over your running shoes.
They do a surprisingly good job of keeping your shoes clean and dry while you're standing around waiting for the race to begin.
Some runners bring old sneakers to throw away at the start. That works too, but shower caps take up virtually no space and weigh almost nothing.
Just be careful walking around—they can be slippery on certain surfaces.
3. Save Your Phone Battery Before the Race Starts
Many runners worry about their phone dying during a marathon.
The good news is that it's easy to prevent.
Before the race:
Turn off Wi-Fi
Turn off Bluetooth
Enable Battery Saver mode
Your watch and phone don't need to stay connected while you're running.
By reducing background activity, your phone should have plenty of battery remaining by the time you cross the finish line—even if you're tracking your progress and taking a few photos throughout the day.
4. Your Family's Phone Battery Is the Real Problem
Ironically, your phone is often not the issue.
Your family's phone is.
While you're running, they're:
Tracking you in the race app
Looking at maps
Navigating public transportation
Taking photos and videos
Texting updates
By the time you finish, their battery may be in worse shape than yours.
Encourage spectators to bring:
A charging cable
A portable battery pack
And most importantly, establish a backup meeting location before the race starts.
Cell service near major marathon finish lines can be spotty, and I may or may not have experienced multiple family reunions delayed by dead phones and overloaded networks.
Trust me: having a Plan B is worth it.
5. Practice Using the Local Units Before Race Day
Running Tokyo after years of training in miles was an adjustment.
If you're traveling to a race in a country that uses different distance units, don't wait until race morning to make the switch.
A few days before the race:
Change your watch to kilometers (or miles)
Do a shakeout run
Learn your target paces in the new units
The last thing you want is to start your marathon and realize you have no intuitive sense of whether you're running too fast or too slow.
A little preparation goes a long way.
Final Thoughts
One of the things I love most about destination races is that every event teaches you something new.
Sometimes it's a lesson about pacing or fueling.
And sometimes it's a lesson about bathrobes, shower caps, dead cell phone batteries, and metric conversions.
Either way, the more race-weekend stress you can eliminate, the more energy you'll have to enjoy the experience.
And that's what destination racing is all about.