I’m an over-packer. There I said it. I can’t go away for a night without a decent-sized suitcase, I take things ‘just in case’. So my hydration belt is kinda no different. You will see runners who carry nothing with them, not even a bottle of water, running care-free wherever their feet take them. Well not me, what if I’m far from home and need something?!!?
I wear my belt for all my runs, even if the run is less than 5K. The one I am using just now, and really love, is the Nathan Trailmix plus 2 hydration belt in Cockatoo colour (https://www.nathansports.com/trailmix-plus-2-hydration-belt-4637n). I’ve had a couple before this one, but this is by far my favourite. I love that it has a clip at the front rather than Velcro – for me the Velcro wouldn’t stay put on runs, and over time lost its stick. The pocket is big enough for my Samsung phone, and all my extra necessities. I do pull it pretty tight around my waist (I hate it when the weight of the water makes it bounce around – that drives me mad) and most of the time it stays in place.
So what do I carry in my hydration belt?
On an average run, so not a race, I would carry:
Phone
iPod & headphones
Some cash
Bus pass if I was running far from home
Health card & insurance card
Tissues (for my nose, or a grazed knee, or an unexpected bathroom break)
Plasters/band-aids
Whistle
Raisins/gels/beans/granola bar
Small plastic bag (this is just in case it starts raining, I don’t want my phone getting wet)
2 filled water bottles, normally one with water and one with a nuun electrolyte
For race day, I will take all of the above and:
More gels/raisins/beans/granola bar/a wee treat to help me get through a tough time
A couple of painkillers
A small chafe stick
Extra safety pins
Sometimes a phone charger
*if it’s a half marathon or marathon I will likely attach my additional fuel pouch to help carry all my stuff. I bought this a few years ago (https://www.amazon.ca/FuelBelt-Ripstop-Pocket-Belt-Loop/dp/B002OLZ69S/ref=pd_sim_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=YKB8KVP7A67NFNPSYGN6), it sits nicely on the front of my Nathan belt.
Oh and for night running, my belt also has room to hang a reflective strip that I can snap round my arm if need be. Also, I bring a small light that I can either have blinking behind me, or attached to my shoe.
So yes, I over pack ALL THE TIME, but its stuff that I might need, and I would rather be prepared than caught short. Do you run with a hydration belt or run free with no worries that you might need something whilst out running? I’d love to know.
Thanks for reading, G
