Friday Five 2.0: Planning a Stress-free Race-cation

It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Running on Happy & Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other bloggers.

My topic for today is: Five Tips for Taking a Stress-free Race-cation

If you follow my blog, you know that right now, I am on a Race-cation – in Las Vegas!!!

You may also know that I love to travel and when I do, I make sure that a race is included. I am fortunate to able to fit one into my schedule at least twice a year.

: Panama City Beach Half Marathon

: Treasure Coast Half (Jupiter)- Mar 2017

So here are some tips to avoid the stress:

1. Plan early.

Pick out a race and register. Decide how you are going to get there (drive or fly?) Arrange lodging (hotel or friends’ place?) Even decide how you get to the race start (walk, drive, subway, taxi, friend?)

It is less stressful to know all the details of your race-cation way in advance.

trained for this race together and/or roomed together.

I actually booked my flight for this trip way back in March so I could use my FF miles. My blogging buddy Marcia booked a hotel near the start and graciously allowed me to share her room.

2. Start packing early but prepared for last minute changes in weather.

I start a few weeks in advance. I use a bed in my spare bedroom. Sometimes, I use an extra laundry basket. And everything I think of something to bring, I put in the pile. You can’t do it all in advance because as we know, the weather forecasts will change. And the forecast is not always accurate. So bring a shirt for a warmer forecast and one for a cooler one. Bring a rain poncho & an umbrella. Of course, bring throw away clothes.

I thought that it didn’t rain in southern California.

I doubt it will rain in Vegas but it can be cold and it can be hot. This one was tough to pack for…due to the variety of things that I may do. (I think I over-packed but still may not have the right clothes.)

3. Bring your race morning breakfast and any special food that you require.

I never count on that a friend or hotel will have what I usually eat. I bring packets of oatmeal/cream of wheat and coffee/tea. (Don’t forget a cup, bowl & spoon.) I also pack energy bars in case I need a snack the day before.

Both the 5k and the Half Marathon in Vegas are not in the morning – they’re at 6 pm and 4 pm. This makes eating quite complicated but I’m sure we’ll figure it out.

Not knowing the breakfast situation in the hotel, I did bring cereal and coffee, just in case.

4. Plan to arrive at least 2 days before the race.

Of course, you’ll have time to relax. And if you car breaks down or your flight is cancelled, you won’t miss your race. (Yes, it happened to me twice.) And you will have time to get used to the weather or altitude by doing a test run.

From winter in the NE to winter in Fla. What a difference!

I planned to arrive at noon on Friday (if everything goes as planned.) The 5k is Sat. eve and the Half Marathon is Sun. eve.

The time change may put a little damper on things but it is what it is. (I am a horrible sleeper, anyway.)

5. Have fun! Plan things to do in addition to running a race.

Do some sightseeing. Visiting a new place is one of the perks of a destination race!!

Ignore the hair but got to climb to the top of a lighthouse after a Florida race.

During my last race-cation in Florida, I went to a NY Mets spring training game, visited a bird sanctuary and met up of with different friends for various lunches and dinners.

For this trip, I scheduled a bus trip to Red Rock Canyon. I plan to meet up with many bloggers and how can you not have fun in Vegas???