Packing

As I sit in a hot bath here on Tuesday night, I’m thinking about all the things I’m going to forget at home when I leave for Mont Tremblant in a couple day’s time. It’s inevitable I will. At least something. And more likely many things. But the question is, will they be important? Or expensive? Will they be “luxuries” I can do without? Or essentials I need to replace while on the road? I won’t know until the moment that I realize what they are.

So why I am contemplating those things? Well, it only makes sense as I’ve spent the better part of the evening packing. Moving from nook to cranny. Digging out all those things that have their place in places around my condo… And finding them new places inside my transition bag, or luggage. Making sure they’re all organized, accounted for and readied.

There’s lots to think about too…

Clothes — those I’ll need for the “perfect” race conditions as well as those I *might* need if conditions are less than ideal. I’m committed to wearing my new Lifetime Tri kit … Nothing like representing the brand I am proud to be a part of. In all the years I worked at RIM I never once had the luxury of wearing kit that was branded with BlackBerry. But now that I work for a company whose primary raison d’etres is to profligate a “Healthy Way of Life” for any and all… Well… I have the kit. But if the weather turns south, I also need arm and leg warmers, a rain coat and other items to ensure I stay warm and dry and safe out there on the race course.

Equipment – clearly I need things like my bike, and race wheels and wetsuit. But I also need to remember the smaller stuff… Extra tubes in case I blow a tire. Extra CO2 cartridges for the same reason. My swim goggles and a spare set… Just in case. I need my helmets, my sunglasses… Sunscreen. There millions of little things that I need to ensure I remember. Things that could make or break the day. Things that I need to ensure I don’t forget for fear of having to replace them while on the road.

Nutrition – I need to pack all my race day nutrition. All the gels, chews, chomps, powders, pills and other arcane and interesting items that will keep me moving forward after so many hours out there on the course. I need to decide what I’m going to put in my “special needs bag” on the bike and run courses… Stuff I can dive into should I really need a change. Some sort of treat. Something to make me deliciously happy and fill my empty belly – and even emptier spirit – out there on the course.

Food – this is more the stuff I want to eat in the lead-up to the race and the moments after. The breakfast I’ll eat race-day morning. The dinner I’ll eat the night before. The celebratory dinner I’ll eat afterwards… When, of course, my appetite returns. It’s as important to ensure my system is kept happy prior to the race as it is on race day itself. So eating from stuff I know and that agrees with me is essential.

Cameras and electronics and just general other stuff — then there’s the catch-all of other stuff I need for both the race and for the time I’ll be away. I need some “street clothes”. I need my computer and its chargers and cords. I need my BlackBerry (do I really?! Hmmm). And my heartrate monitor. And my bike computer… The hydration system I’ll use on race day… Epson salts and drinks to celebrate with afterwards… Lots of stuff that just seems like an endless list. But in fact, is very finite.

All in all, I know what I need. I know what I’ve packed already, and what remains to be collected and put in a bag. And yet, the question remains… What will be forgotten? Something for sure. But what?

Let’s hope it’s not important.

As with all my posts this week, I am closing them with an appeal for your support in helping me raise funds for the American and Canadian Cancer Societies.  I appreciate and thank all those that have already given.  I thank in advance all those that will give now or in the coming days.  And I ask that if you cannot give… please simply share the links to this post or others with your friends and family to give them the opportunity.

Donations for the Canadian Cancer Society –
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