Hello Reader!
For me, running the NYC Marathon is one of those canon event moments that changed me forever. For starters, I signed up in March 2020, two weeks before the start of the global pandemic. $3,000 was the most I'd ever committed to fundraising and I was so nervous, I threw up. To fundraise while sheltering-in-place inspired a lot of the fundraising tips I've shared through Run. Wander. Wear. It made me think outside the box and get creative for how to share my passion for a charity. And sharing these tips has been so fun; it's been a journey!
Even though the 2020 race was cancelled, I ran a DIY Marathon that is probably one of my favorite marathons ever. I was able to run NYC in 2023. I wasn't sure what to expect when I headed to Staten Island that day. So this week, I wrote the guide I wish I'd had back in 2023. Let's get into it.
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tl;dr
I know you're busy! If you want cut to the features without having to read the extra details, here are the links for these posts!
- Featured Post: What to Bring to the NYC Marathon Start Line
- #TBT: Why Chicago Should Be Your First Major
- Prime Picks: Staten Island Start Line Must-Haves
If you have a friend who would benefit from these tips, please forward this email!
Featured Post
What to Bring to the NYC Marathon Start Line
Between the trip out to Staten Island and the wait in the start village, you can easily spend three or more hours outside before your first step toward the Verrazano. That stretch is where race day either stays strong or quietly goes sideways: cold hands, too much standing, a forgotten breakfast.
The good news? Every one of those is fixable with a little planning.
Inside the post, you'll learn:
- The throwaway layers that will keep you warm (and what to do with them before the race)
- What to pack in your clear bag, including the one item you need to bring home a NYC Marathon Dunkin’ hat
- Why I would seriously consider packing two breakfasts
- A night-before checklist you can screenshot and check off
Not running NYC this year? Save it anyway. If NYC is on your vision board, future you will thank you.
#TBT
Why Chicago Should Be Your First Major
Speaking of World Majors: the Chicago Marathon lottery is open right now, and it closes October 28. If 2027 is your year, this is the window.
Back in 2013, I stood on the sidelines of the Chicago course and fell in love with the whole electric scene. I knew if I watched it again the next year, I would regret it. So in 2014, I grabbed a charity spot and ran my first Chicago. Twelve years later, I still tell everyone it is the best first Major, and this post explains why:
- You do not need a qualifying time. There are four different ways to get in.
- The course is famously flat and fast (seven world records have been set there).
- Charity fundraising minimums are often lower than Boston or New York.
- Over a million spectators across 29 neighborhoods will carry you through the hard miles.
See all four ways to get a Chicago bib →
Don't wait until the 28th. Read it, enter the lottery, and then tell me you did so I can cheer for you in October!
Prime Picks
Everything here can fit in your clear bag and costs less than a post-race brunch. These are my favorites from the NYC start line guide:
- Disposable hand warmers: Tuck a pair into your gloves and your hands stay toasty through the whole start village wait. Pack an extra pair, just in case.
- Cheap hat and glove set: Throwaway-friendly, and the gloves can stay on for the first few chilly miles over the Verrazano.
- Sun Bum sunscreen stick: When I ran NYC in 2023 it was so warm I barely needed layers, but I definitely needed sunscreen. This one is small enough for your clear bag or your pocket.
- Plug-in phone battery: Plugs right into your charging port. Hours of travel, waiting, and filming will drain your phone before mile 1.
- Individually wrapped bathroom wipes: 60,000 runners. The porta-potties will run out of toilet paper. Trust me on this one.
- SaltStick gummy chews: My go-to race fuel. Bring what you tested in training, because race day is not the day to try something new.
Shop my full NYC start line list on Amazon →
Or browse everything in my Amazon storefront.
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See you at the finish!
-Liz
