On Sunday I’m running London marathon for the second time. One of the biggest plus points for doing this race is that I get to sleep in my own bed the night before: no expensive hotel, no translating the race instructions from French and my friends and family on hand to celebrate with after. But also, importantly, no travelling away to race.

Yes, there’s some very big bonuses to travelling away to a race – you get to run a marathon somewhere beautiful like Snowdonia and see new places. The ‘being somewhere new’ bit of travelling is all very good. It’s the ‘packing stuff and actually getting there’ bit that sometimes makes me very stressed the day before a race.

Over the past six years, I’ve learned a few things about the art of packing and travelling for races. That’s 12 marathons, 11 involving a hotel stay and one weekend involving two marathons and a ferry journey between them, plus several triathlons. Here goes…

• Take snacks. Lots of snacks.
  You’ll be doing two things in the days before your race: carb loading and being paranoid about everything. So it’s good to take your own supplies. Lots of things can delay you getting food when you want it – the hotel being further from the station than you thought, your plane being delayed, a long wait for dinner. Snacks, snacks, snacks.
• Get a wheel-along suitcase.
  I know, I know. I hate them too when I’m a pedestrian. They’re always trying to trip you up and run over your feet. But carrying a heavy bag round a few airports on the way to and from races later and I have become a convert. They’re also good for sitting on in the security queue when your DOMS set in on the way home.
• Don’t check that bag in.
  You may not have ever had an airline lose your bag. But for the duration of your flight you’ll be adamant that THIS is the day that it’s going to happen. Helpful people will tell you about their friend or their auntie or their neighbour whose bag ended up in Australia when they were just trying to get to Brussels. If you have too much stuff, keep your race essentials in your carry-on luggage and check the rest in the hold.
• Take a couple of weather options.
  Weather forecasts get it wrong. I found this out when I trusted one, packed my bag accordingly and then had to run Venice marathon in 30mph winds, rain and a pair of short shorts. Take a long and a short sleeve top, a cap, shorts and a long pair of tights just to be safe.
• Limit your civvies.
  You’re going away Friday to Monday, but one of those days you’re essentially going to be spending in your running kit. If you’re wondering what to pack – running kit, jeans, underwear – you’re good. Hopefully you won’t need that pair of tights so you can wear them with your finishers t-shirt on the way home.
• Smelly clothes.
  That goodie bag full of leaflets that you’re handed at the expo or after the finish line – hold onto it. Your running kit will stink by the time you pack it. This is where you’ll put it for the return trip.

For more advice on how to take the stress out of racing and focus on enjoying the event, you can download my free e-guide here.