Pre Race
Before you get to the race you've gotta pack, here is a list of recommended things to bring so you're not scrambling last minute and can take care of it the night before/days leading up. Even though you're doing this pre race most of these things you'll need post race. It's all about making it easier, right?
- Change of clothes. This seems obvious enough, but make sure you have everything you need to change into: socks, shoes, shorts/pants, underwear, shirt. Nothing worse than a drive home in dirty clothes.
- Trash bags. You're going to need somewhere to put your dirty clothes and shoes. Typically I bring numerous grocery bags and one large heavy duty trash bag. That way everything is contained, easy to carry, and you're not going to get your cars dirty.
- Toiletries. While you can "wash" off at the varying showers, you're rarely going to get fully clean. Pack some baby wipes, q-tips, and maybe even some travel body wash.
- Towels. Self explanatory. You're going to get dirty. You're going to need to wipe off. Could also need them to place on your seats to prevent them from getting dirty.
- Nutrition. Fueling up properly before and after can make a ton of difference. Whether it's a protein bar, fruit, some form of good carbs... it doesn't matter as long as it's nourishing to you and giving the fuel you need to succeed and replenish.
- Water. If you're not hydrating normally, you need to start at least a couple days before your event... And I mean a lot of water. Proper hydration will keep you from cramping and let you perform at your best. You may also need water to clean off if the shower situation is less than ideal.
On the course
What items do you need to have the best chance at success out on an OCR course? By reading this we can help start you off on the right foot. While there is no concrete answer for everyone, after talking to numerous people with varied experience we've narrowed it down.
- Good attitude. You chose to be there, sometimes by paying hundreds of dollars, so have fun and enjoy yourself. Be courteous to the volunteers that are out there to help make the events run smoothly. Be helpful/respectful/encouraging to other participants, you don't know their story, so all that matters is they're out there(like you) pushing their limits. A "good job" or "you got this" can go a long way; if they don't, give them a hand or shoulder(both literally/figuratively).
- Shoes. You'll see tons out there with their old worn out gym shoes, and there's nothing wrong with this, but if you want to keep from spinning your wheels and you plan on doing frequent events... Get the proper shoes, it'll be night and day difference. A few of the types we recommend are shown on our gear codes page, but there are definitely more out there. Such as: Inov-8s, Reebok, Adidas, Hoka, etc. The main things to consider with shoes would be tread(aggressive lugs/no metal cleats), drainage, weight, support type(minimal, neutral, motion control, stability). Every foot is different.
- Clothing. Compression gear is best. Whether male or female look for compression tops and bottoms, they not only dry better keeping you from getting cold, but also provide support/increase blood flow. Ladies get a good supportive sports bra, it'll prevent some possibly embarrassing moments. Avoid loose fitting clothing and cotton items, they may feel comfortable, but they'll do you no favors. Good socks will also be a lifesaver.
- Accessories. Calf and forearm compression sleeves are said to prevent cramping, but a huge benefit to wearing them is preventing cuts and scrapes. Shoe gaiters are another great accessory, they not only prevent most if not all sticks, rocks, and other debris out of your shoes; but could also keep you from losing your shoes in the mud. It's not recommended to duct tape your shoes on, as that could actually cause more harm than good. Properly tied shoes are rarely likely to come off as well. Another thing that some people like to use are gloves, hand protection is great, but I've found them to be more of a liability than an advantage. They're another thing you've got to try, so you can form your own opinion about them.
- Hydration packs. Most races have water stations at different mile intervals throughout the course, but if you're looking to those to keep you going you're already a step behind. It's better to have something and not need it, than need it and not have it, hoping to rely on someone else. Anything over 5 miles I recommend carrying one, or if there are higher temps. Honestly any pack should suffice, as long as it holds a good amount of water and has pockets to hold different nutrition items.
- Nutrition. For longer races it's recommended to have your own nutrition, that would be things like: Gu, energy beans, chia gel, S Caps, salt packets, mustard packets, etc. These are items that when taken properly will be you going and hopefully prevent cramping. It's best to experiment with them prior to the event, because each individuals stomach may react differently to different ones. Please remember anything you take on the course needs to come off the course.