My Race Day Essentials

[@satareppe]

I am not planing on going on a big race this year besides some 10k or HM distance races but just wanna let you know that you are one of the most sympathic guys out there on social media and an erichment on the runners community

[@svenja5596]

For anyone interested or running with a belt anyway there's belts (Decathlon for example) with enough space to fit 0.5l flask, gels, phone, keys etc and you can attach your bib to them. I don't like possibly ruining my shirts with safety pins.

[@Kaisersozze]

Best belt imo is the Salomon Pulse. Its also often on sale but even full price its not badly priced. I tried several belts from Decathlon and non of them worked nearly as well.

[@Juangarage213]

Ben, this video came in at the perfect timing! I will be running my first half marathon this weekend. Cheers! 🍻

[@craigbartram4495]

My first race on Sunday. this couldn't have come at a better time!

[@KonstantinLoginov-Norway]

My first marathon race (Rome) is on Sunday - perfect timing! (+ love all your content!)

[@TheKobaltBlue]

The NYC Marathon does offer drop bags. You get it at the expo when you pick up your bib. The main difference since COVID is that you have to drop your bag in Central Park the Friday ahead of the race. In the past runners dropped their bags in the start village.

[@spencer-edelman]

Thank you so much Ben! Gearing up for my first marathon in Chicago and this was super helpful!!!

[@Kaisersozze]

I hope the socks video is coming out soon. Hopefully socks that I can purchase in Canada as well. Soar is super expensive. Some of the shorts are $270 CAD, yikes. Never seen shorts anywhere near that price before.

[@Feanaro5503]

I have a half marathon in April, and I will wear a running tank top with arm sleeves, and I'll throw away the sleeves when I get too warm. For my last half 5 years ago, I wore a long sleeved shirt, and had to roll the sleeves up past my elbows after a few miles. That extra weight and heat did not help, but back then I hadn't heard of/thought of wearing disposable layers.

[@jasonreid6791]

Love the race day checklist - with a few small additions, I use it for every race I travel to! 😊

[@Simston]

Thanks for the video of Boston Ben! I did it hoping to smash my PB…..LOL…Didn’t quite achieve this, but I learned a valuable lesson, respect the course and conditions…and enjoy the day, rather than smash myself to pieces trying to attain something that could actually inhibit my ability to finish! Boston had an amazing atmosphere, both before and after the event. Well done, I was desperate to see what your thoughts were.

[@sleeutube]

the downloadable check list is awesome!! thank you, your channel has helped me a lot. wish me luck!

[@BenParkes]

Good luck!

[@tweakLeeds2006]

I still prefer the clips for the race number - hate the thought of safety pins.

[@bikashsherpa2489]

Sacrificed my gloves and socks 😂😅

[@mad8298]

Glad I am not the only one who takes Imodium before a race (all races). I am also a big glove wearer and wondered what gloves you were wearing in your videos. Now I know. Thanks for your videos.

[@Warriors_and_Wanderers]

I swear by it! Got the tip of FordyRuns about 4 year ago!

[@jeanines_channel3246]

The expos I have been to (so far) have supplied ample amounts of safety clips, but yes, I still bring my own just in case! 😊

[@eulogyforadream]

Great video as always. Not to nitpick but the NYC Marathon does do bag drop. However, is super inconvenient. You have to drop it off at Central Park the day before the race.

[@scott_strool]

NY does have drop bags, just not at the start.

[@andywyrobek902]

Ben, your videos offer good clear guidance for runners. Have you any tips around a work/run balance? I've just purchased one of your marathon training plans and looking at the hours per week it's going to be a struggle for the mid-week mileage

[@Guybrush99]

Not the Alphafly 3? I’m l trying to decide which one to buy for Edinburgh in May. Normally I would be vapour, but heard such good things about the new Alpha

[@laetitiaking2134]

I didn’t expect to stop the video to go to your website to order one of your 5 panel caps! I’ve been looking for one that had that much air gaps (don’t know how else to describe it lol) so jumped on it right away. Thanks for the race day packing advice too!! 🤜🤜

[@richardantrobus7186]

soar jacket is incredible for cold races, don't think I've had anything like it and years later it's still going strong (they patched it up when it wore through in the back pocket)

[@chucky1golf]

Soles on VF3 have gapes inbetween the rubber, perfect for stones going through the foam 5mm. Fast trainers but odd sole design.

[@71heff]

Square or circle of Kinesiology Tape is perfect for nipple protection, as long as you are dry when you put it on it survives the sweatiest marathon!! Thanks for the Imodium tip, I could have used that for Palma Marathon, Majorca last October....😱

[@FritzBraun2]

No running underpants? For me Runderwear's long boxers are an essential now, they fixed all my chafing issues down there.

[@hahaheslop]

New York did have a drop bag option last year, but it was for the day before. 👍

[@lukepaulson3428]

Would love to see a comparison of open/conduction headphones vs. earbuds in transparent mode for outdoor running.

[@Warriors_and_Wanderers]

I have, and use, both. AirPods are great for sound quality no matter what’s going on around, but can be dangerous. Shockz are great as long as there isn’t loads of noise around you, if there is you can’t hear them at all. I mostly listen to podcasts and it really depends on how loud they were recorded/mixed/bounced etc. it seems that the podcast world doesn’t auto boost podcasts to the same level as each other etc. shockz are also great because you can hear everything going on around you. So safe In short - AirPods loud but dangerous and they have to be at max so can damage your ears // shockz - safe and good when there’s not so much traffic noise or the thing you’re listening to is loud.

[@grahammethold]

Hi Ben - what external microphone do you use on the GoPro?

[@MateuszPatyk]

Lot of hugs from Poland! 🙌

[@SimonLundLarsen]

Looking forward to seeing what watch you end up getting... and why

[@dziadpaskudny]

Can you say a bit more about the issues you're having with the epix 2 and why you gonna change it for 965?

[@Exjapter]

Excellent suggestions!

[@kristof165]

I'd also add to your great list Hirschtalg (by Scholl) to avoid blisters on your feet or in case you already have blisters after the race. It really helps. And what may sound funny - you can lubricate the nipples with it instead of using patches 😉 saved my life few times, starting from Camino de Santiago, where people recommended it to me

[@tagoresanketh5938]

Great Video 👌🏽👌🏽. So you prefer the vaporfly 3 over the alphafly 3 ??

[@timos9756]

Which GoPro do you own? Great Video!❤

[@abernardes2]

Hi Ben, I have a question! I just watched Sarah’s video running the 50 Chiltern wonderland. I want to do my first ultra this year and I have this one on mind. Do you think it’s a good one for beginners? I ran 5 marathons and my PB is 4:30, I haven’t done one since covid but I’m currently training for London Marathon and I think I’m in a good shape.

[@alfdickinson1971]

Leeds marathon had better have drop bags???

[@steveh8758]

Do you prefer the vaporfly 3 to the alphafly 3 ?

[@johanrg70]

Nipples for men, it's always good to have an extra pair packed just incase the current ones wears out from all the chafing 😉

[@7Wardy]

Do you wear the Naked band when racing the marathon?

[@faulposter]

What's happened to "Hello Everybody!"?!

[@Ichiblox]

Too late bruh I searched for this 1m week ago

[@Lou45833]

Gels are a waste of

[@SantaCruzRunner]

I only wear things I purchased on Leap Day from Ben Parkes using the links above!

[@MedicineRunner]

Ben I always thought you were balding bc you’re literally ALWAYS in a hat. You have a great head of hair man wth 🤣 I’d sport that way more if I were you. I’m 33 and mine is on its way out 😢

[@LindyBreaksTheStigma]

I don’t get why people wear the hats backwards to run. The sweat strip is in the front. And my facts watching people squint while the hat is backwards 😂

[@Warriors_and_Wanderers]

I wear mine backwards, keeps the sun off my neck, I don’t really like having the peak over my face all the time, and as daft as it sounds I don’t like the way it looks having it forward. If it’s a bit sunny I’ll wear some sunglasses, if it’s mega sunny I’ll put the peak forward. Stops sweat dripping down no matter which direction it’s pointing.

[@Morfeusm]

I do that very rarely on windy days when I don’t have any wind breaker with hood. Helps to not get your cap yanked off your head by the wind gusts

[@Hughdoggy]

Thank u Ben for reminding me that shoes are important for a race... Almost left mine at home

[@jackcollo7738]

Love this guy, although hat attachment seems pathological 😂 poor chap

[@bikashsherpa2489]

1st😊