ASICS FrontRunner Jani du Toit recently ran (and won!) the Nissan TrailSeeker event at Buffelspoort - her family went along to support. Here’s what (and how) she packs when heading to an event with her toddler:
The trick (I’ve found) is to pack everything (well, where possible at least) the night before. This just eases unnecessary stress on the day, as you’re basically going to spend your morning making sure everyone is on time and in the car.
BREAKFAST: Prep breakfast and prep your family. Make sure everyone knows what time they must get up and be dressed for breakfast, make sure they know exactly what time you need to leave. I usually prep shakers with milk in the fridge the night before so we can all have a liquid breakfast in the car.
COFFEE: To wake up with and then (because it is tricky for my husband to stand in queues with baby) I pack premix coffee, a box of long life milk and a flask of boiling water.
SNACKS: Remember you’re running and the other people are waiting, so make the experience nice for them by ensuring they are all set with enough food to eat. Essentially since they will be dealing with baby giving them less stuff to think about is best. (When it comes to my husband, the old saying about ' men having a hard time multitasking' kind of rings true!)
BABY BOTTLES: I pack two bottles and prep each with already-measured sterile water. In addition I prep small containers with measured-off servings of formula for baby milk, all you then need to do add is hot water from the flask you already packed.
I also pack one 'sippy cup' for cold water in case baby is just thirsty.
BABY SNACKS: Kiddylicioussa coconut rolls are really handy single serving snacks for babies. Marie Cookies are a must, as is a chocolate for emergency situations.
*Pack everything into a cooler-bag or a picnic basket and place at the front door ready to go.
DIAPER BAG and PRAM: Get your pram ready to take with, it will come in handy when baby needs to take a nap at the race. Pack your normal baby bag with diapers and toys (more is better in this case, you never know what might happen - if you think you need three diapers pack six, and same with toys). Add this bag to the front door ready to grab and go.
PACIFIER: I pack two baby dummies. Baby has one and the other I hide somewhere in the diaper bag. I have been phoned a few times during a race by my husband frantically looking for a dummy, by hiding an emergency dummy you have a back-up in case they somehow lose the first one.
RUNNING GEAR: Also prep all your running gear the night before. Pack everything else you might need for afterward into a backpack, and leave it next to baby's diapers bag and the snack bag. (Becomes quite a bit of luggage but at least you are covered for everything!).
Once all of this is done I make sure my watch is charged before getting into bed. If you run with earphones charge those too and then check the google maps route to the venue, double checking starting- and registration-times. Set four alarms and you are ready to race!
