Travel Accessories You Shouldn’t Leave Home Without!

It is difficult enough to run a marathon around the corner from where you live. If you are traveling for a destination marathon, you will want to be prepared for everything. It is a good idea to pack light, but not so light that you forget the essentials that you might need along the road. It is also important to anticipate everything that you might need last minute to stay hydrated, pain-free, and to address any hiccup that can surface, so that you can focus on being marathon-ready. These are the best travel accessories to make sure that all of your bases covered. How do I know? I’ve learned from years of experience!

ZzzBand Airline Travel Pillow

Flying can be really exhausting, and the last thing you want to do is run out of steam before you start running. To get some zz’s on the airplane or in the car while traveling, this is the best travel pillow I’ve used. Not your typical U shape, it covers your eyes and straps your head to the back of the seat, so you aren’t left bobbing around and end with a sore neck. Even better, once race day is over, you can sleep it off on the way home and be good to go on Monday morning!

Zmart Portable Travel Shoe Bags

When you are trying to pack smart, it is hard to fit your smelly sweat-stained gym shoes in your bag and not have everything smell pretty awful. I found these Zmart portable travel shoe bags to use instead of the ziplock bags that didn’t fit. They help to separate your shoes from the rest of your things. Zmart bags help you to pack more compactly without getting mud and moisture into the rest of your clothes. They are a true Godsend for someone traveling for a destination marathon.

Kemier Collapsible Travel Water Bottle

When space is limited, the smaller, the better. But, when it comes to marathon hydration, you want to have a big cup to take on the go. The Kemier collapsible water bottle fits snuggly into your backpack. But, when you open it up, it can hold all the cold water you want. The bottle holds a whopping 26 ounces of liquid, and it completely waterproof. I throw mine in my bag when traveling to the gym or out of town. The best collapsible bottle I’ve used, it won’t leak and it stays put once you open it up.

Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm

Even if you aren’t someone who chafes easily, it only takes once to make travel super miserable. The Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm works under your arms, between your legs, and around your feet to stop blisters from forming when you finally make it 26.2 miles. Not only is it miserable to feel chaffing mid-marathon, but the ride home with a sports bra burn is incredibly painful. I found that out the hard way. Bring Body Glide with you to prevent the pain of being rubbed the wrong way.

Runner Glory Heel Protectors 

Many of us have gone on super long runs to train, but haven’t made the full 26.2 miles until race day. Although you assume that your heels are blister-proof, it is a hard lesson to learn after the fact. Nothing is worse than running through the airport to catch an adjoining flight on the way home with a massive gaping wound post-marathon. Make sure to be covered and bring along these heel protectors. Even if you don’t wear them during the marathon, they are a good thing to carry, just in case.

Yatrax Walk Traction Cleats

If you are heading out on a destination marathon, the show must go on regardless if it is snowing, raining, or in climate. Be sure to anticipate things like slippery conditions by bringing along Yatrax Traction cleats, especially if you are going to a cooler climate. It is best to expect the worst when packing, so you are ready for anything that comes your way. If you are going to use them, however, make sure to try them out and train with them intermittently, so you get used to them pre-marathon race day.

Running a marathon is hard enough when you are in familiar surroundings. But, when you head out of town to run the 26.2 miles or more for a competition, the last thing you want to do is to be caught without the things that might become critical. The best way not only to survive your destination marathon, but also to enjoy it and persevere, is to have everything on board needed to cover all your basis and plan for everything that can go wrong. Then, if it does, you are ahead of the game!

Julie K

Legacy & Super Ambassador

I am a lifelong runner, as well as a writer, a wife and the mother of six. Throughout the many challenges I have faced, the one thing I could always turn to was running, which is where I find solace and healing. Ironically, it is when I run until I can’t run anymore and feel empty, that I find peace. I became a writer more than a decade ago when I wrote an ongoing blog for my first husband, who was dying of pancreatic cancer. I realized that I loved writing as much as I do running, and it became my life.