So you’ve decided to commit and take on the infamous Ragnar road challenge. After booking vans and trying to organize every important detail such as who’s driving, who’s running what leg, and potentially booked a hotel for some much needed rest, you’re in for an adventure of a lifetime!
However, before you take on this incredible feat there are still a few tips, tricks and crucial items you will need in order to maximize your weekend experience.
It can be easy to forget something when so much is happening, so with this essential Ragnar packing checklist you can be assured to not go astray. Lastly, some of these links may contain an Amazon affiliate link of which I do earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These are items I personally have used in the past.
What to Pack
For the most part you want to go minimal on your personal belongings and be respectful of the limited space to store your things in the van amongst your teammates.
*Download the Ragnar App* Trust me, it’s a lifesaver.
Clothing
- Socks ☐
Listen to me when I tell you, a good pair of socks that don’t give you blisters, are odor resistant and don’t slip down past your heel while running is ESSENTIAL. Do not use cotton socks. Obviously, you could easily make it through a two to three-mile recovery run with a pair from a 12-pack, but on hot or wet days you’ll quickly realize cotton absorbs an incredible amount of water and easily causes blisters.I can’t recommend highly enough these Balega Silver Antimicrobial Running Socks. They are 🔥 - Three Running Outfits ☐
This may seem like a no brainer, but often people tend to just bring one change of regular clothes. You should have three different running outfits for each of the legs, because after your run you’ll be sweaty and stuck in a small van with your other teammates. Don’t be that person who stinks up the van. - Warm Jacket ☐
- Shoe insoles ☐
Comfy feet means happy feet. - Custom team shirts ☐
- Running Shoes ☐
My hands down favorite shoes are the Saucony Freedom ISO 2. If the thought of running on clouds seems like it’s your jam, you won’t go wrong with these bad boys. The style comes in men’s and women’s and your feet will thank you as you rack up miles. Remember, comfort equals fun. If you have two pairs of running shoes, awesome! But by no means is it necessary to have two. - Sandals ☐
Let your toes be free. I love a good pair of Havaianas. They’re comfy, relatively inexpensive and allow air flow through my toes in all the right places. - Underwear ☐
The chafe-free kind. And fellas, get a pair with ballpark support. BodyGlide is a safe bet as well, it works wonders for a chafe-free experience. - Comfortable Clothes ☐
You’re going to be spending a lot of quality time in the van. It might as well be comfortable quality time. You’ll also want some comfortable clothes for post-race festivities as well.
Accessories
- GPS Watch/Heart Rate Monitor ☐
Having a GPS watch is nice to have but not necessary. I personally love to see my stats and keep track of how I did. If I had to recommend a watch (I’m biased as I’m a triathlete) it would be the Garmin Forerunner 935. This watch is my pride and joy. It’s never let me down. 🥰 - Sunglasses ☐
Any cheap pair will do. You probably want to avoid bringing fancy shades in the event they get lost or damaged. - Extra cash ☐
- Pillow ☐
A simple fluffy pillow will do the job just fine. I have a pair of these blow up camping pillows though. - Blanket/Sleeping Bag ☐
Of course this is relative to the location, but it can get pretty chilly at 3am. And of course some may just have an emotional attachment to their blankie. - Wireless headphones ☐
I don’t know about you, but I love going on a run with my favorite jams. Powerbeats are my goto. - Phone Charger for the Car ☐
- Foam Roller or Stick ☐
Often overlooked, foam rollers or the travel size sticks will help soothe your muscles.
Safety Gear
- Reflective Safety Vest ☐
Ragnar requires each person to have a reflective safety vest. This is important! - Headlamp ☐
Running at night can be a little daunting for some. Having a clear view of what’s in front of you is very important. Get a decent headlamp with at least 150 – 300 lumens such as the PETZL – ACTIK Headlamp. - In case of emergency contact list ☐
- Taillight (2 per van) ☐
Toiletries
- Hair Ties, Bobby Pins, Visor or Hat ☐
Ladies (and dudes with long hair) there’s nothing worse than having your hair get in your face while you’re mid run. - Toothbrush and Toothpaste ☐
- Antacid/Aspirin ☐
You’re probably going to be sore after this endeavor. Stock up on some pain reliever just in case. - Toilette Paper and Hand Sanitizer ☐
- Deodorant ☐
This one is pretty self explanatory. Do everyone a favor and choose stink-free. - Baby Wipes ☐
Because your body is a temple and you deserve to be clean. It’s unlikely you will have a place to shower after your run so these will DEFINITELY come in handy. One order of these wipes is probably good enough for both vans. - Sunscreen ☐
Depending on your location, you can never go wrong having some sun ray and cancer fighting spray. Lather up because it can get toasty! - Lip balm ☐
Food
- Water ☐
Stay hydrated! Get the gallon jugs of water. - Snacks/Fuel ☐
Protein bars and other snacks such bananas, Cliff Bars and trail mix just to name a few. - Electrolyte tablets ☐
Nuun really comes in handy, especially if it’s hot. Water alone sometimes isn’t enough. Make sure to replenish your body with electrolytes through the weekend. - Protein powder & recovery ☐
You want to be able to recover quickly for your next leg. Progenex has a Peanut Butter Smash Recovery Protein that is AMAZING! They had a booth at one of the Ragnar events I raced. I took one sip of their sample and was hooked. Also, this stuff really works. I feel it definitely helped stave off the soreness.
Van items
- Van Decorations ☐
One of the most fun parts about Ragnar is decorating the van. On your run keep track of the number of people you pass, those are called “kills”. When you finish your run leg, make sure to tally up the number of kills you got for your overall team and mark them on the outside window of your van. These window markers work perfectly. - Cooler ☐
- Trash & recycling liners ☐
- First aid kit ☐
- Ice ☐
