Week 15: GRWM for NYC
Cramming necessities into carry-ons
Today marks the final Sunday installment of my NYC Marathon training blog. Thinking back to the decision to write this blog, I would have never anticipated how much joy sharing this journey — even when it got hard — would bring me. I know there’s still more time for gratitude, but mine is overwhelming. Writing has given me an outlet to share my passion, learn about myself, and create a record of my resilience. Your weekly readership and engagement has meant the world to me.
To make things more concrete, last week I asked you all to knock on wood on my behalf and your knuckles must be sore because I tested negative starting on Monday and was back to full strength by Wednesday. Not only that, but the get-well messages you sent (and the Matzo ball soup one extra-special reader delivered) got me through it. This race is feeling like a true team effort.
It feels unfair to ask more of this crew, but I have a request: Will you send me a short, encouraging voice note for me to add to my race playlist? You can record and send to cklshorall [at] gmail [dot] com as an MP4, MP3, WAV, etc. I will not listen to them until race day, and I am so excited to have your voice interspersed with the absolute jams you all suggested for my playlist.
Ok, let’s get into the week that was, what I plan to pack, and some important quick hits at the end.
📋 Total miles: 12.0
Monday: Off 😷
Tuesday: Off 😷
Wednesday: 1.8 miles (super easy)
Thursday: 5.5 miles (treadmill with Lever, easy w/ 15 minutes of tempo)
Friday: Off
Saturday: 4.7 miles (progression)
Sunday: Off 😴
🎒 Let’s pack
For someone who is on Team Carry-on Only™️ and wants to not be bogged down with stuff for 26.2 miles, the list of things I need to pack is long. Allow me to take you on a tour of all the $#*% I need to haul with me across the country, organized by where/when I’ll need it.
⛺️ Start “Village”
The Village has always felt like a euphemism for “holding pen”. The pre-race hangout is far from a party. To set the scene, I leave Midtown on a Staten Island bound bus at 5:30 am and my wave does not start until 9:10, so I will be in the Village with a bunch of other nervous, ready-to-run people for 2-3 hours. During that time I will need to eat, stay warm, and get ready to run — all with stuff I will never see again. That’s right, everything I take I will have to trash or donate, the latter of which is a race tradition I love.
Packing list:
Warm top (I’m wearing a Madewell flannel)
Sweatpants, cut at the bottom so I can take them off last second over my shoes
Old running shoes and socks (if we have to walk through grass, I want to save my race shoes)
Cheap gloves
A resistance band (for warm-up/activation)
An oatmeal pouch, peanut butter, and banana
Space blanket (for sitting on the ground)
🎽 Race outfit and gear
I don’t want to make my outfit a truly game-time decision, but I don’t have clarity yet. The smart choice is to wear 8” biker shorts to avoid chafing, although IMHO the pictures would be cuter in loose shorts. Then there’s a question of whether I should put my name on my shirt — some say it’s a thrill to have people cheering you on so personally, while others say it’s overwhelming. My last major decision is whether to wear racing shoes like my Nike Alphaflys or my Saucony trainers. I love my Nikes, but they change the angle of my foot when I strike the ground ever-so-slightly and I’m wondering if that untested variable will mess with my hip. I’m going to do one run next week in them to see how they feel.
Packing list:
Outfit: shorts, top, sports bra, socks
Race shoes
Body glitter
Bracelets (pace and encouragement)
Shokz OpenPro headphones and MP3 player
Energy gels (8)
Salt tabs
🚨 Bill’s “I need help” kit
Bill, my partner, is a tried-and-true race support squad member. I will see him three times on the course — in Brooklyn at Mile 8, again on 1st Ave at Mile 16, and finally in Central Park near the finish. I will load him up with items that I will only truly need if things go downhill. If things are good, I’ll just wave as I pass by.
Packing list:
More salt tabs
More energy gels
Megababe Thigh Rescue
My iPhone and AirPods
Bandaids, aspirin
🏁 Finish line
I am allergic to lines and crowds, so I chose not to check a bag to be picked up at the finish line. Instead, I will load Bill up with three more essentials.
Packing list:
Warm cotton socks
Birkenstocks
An oversized crewneck
Of course I’ll have to have other regular travel essentials with me for the days preceding and after the marathon. It’s safe to assume that most of what I pack will trend towards comfy. No matter what, I’ll do this packing in carry-ons only — it’s the only way.
🏅 Proximity to greatness
On Friday I flew to Houston to see one of my best friends in the world, Lennie Waite, get inducted into the Rice Athletics Hall of Fame. Lennie had an illustrious track career at Rice and beyond, ultimately becoming an Olympian in the 3000m steeplechase for Great Britain in Rio 2016. This honor was so well-deserved.
My very brief trip had many highlights. To start, Lennie’s nearest and dearest were present to celebrate her, and I loved hanging out with her family (who, for the last 18 years, have made me feel like one of their own). Lennie’s close friend, and fellow British Olympian, Steph, also flew in from England. While we’ve met before, this weekend was a chance to bond. It was not lost on me that right before my own big race I got to soak up the greatness of two of the best to ever do it. Another thing that will stick with me is that in her acceptance speech Lennie spent the time highlighting the contributions of everyone in her entourage to her success. Think about that — in a moment celebrating her tremendous accomplishments, she spoke of us.
Between running around my old stomping grounds and reconnecting with people who supported me as a collegian and still today, this short and sweet trip was beyond worth it.
🧳 Odds n’ ends
Downloading: The TCS NYC Marathon app. Want to track me during the race? Download this app and then add me to your tracking list by searching for my last name.
Snacking on: Half-baked pizzas. I love piping hot food, which isn’t possible with most delivery. As of late I’ve been loving half-baked pizzas that I finish off in the oven at home. This week I’ve ordered six of my favorites from Pizza Matador (if you’re in the Bay, check them out) that I plan to use in my carbo-load all week.
Thinking about: Rugged flexibility. Thanks to my new colleague, Mallory, for introducing me to Brad Stulberg’s seemingly paradoxical way of navigating change. I understood the concept entirely through the lens of reflecting on this training block, where I’ve been stubborn and taken strength from things I know, but also have rolled with the punches.
Bill and I head to NYC on Friday. As of now, I plan to send an update on Saturday and then a race reflection whenever I feel up to it (no promises on timelines).
To a big and very exciting week ahead!
I have loved every line of your Training blog. Thank you so much for sharing. What a journey! You are going to do great, and we can’t wait to celebrate your success.❤️
Hi Claire, I am sitting at the edge of the water at Mulberry Hill , hoping you have a great week and an even better run next weekend. I know you will do well. Just remember it is a damn long race.
Love you.
D.