Being a travrunner is tough

Vacationed in another country? Check. Travelled out-of-town for a race? Check. Then why is the mind racing with abandon as a combination of the two is nigh? It’s much more taxing, lists are made and items crossed off, then double-checked; damn, going to need a break to recover.

This is where we are at, dear travellers and runners. Tomorrow a flight to San Francisco will be caught, Sunday a marathon will be attempted, Monday a Jays game captured and Tuesday evening back to Victoria.

Normally, packing for vacation is easy. Pair of shorts, one pair of linen pants, swimwear, some t-shirts, one dressier shirt for dinners and rain jacket. Oh, a hat as well. Plus couple pairs of shoes – espadrilles, sandals and running shoes. That’s the standard for the annual trip somewhere hot, damn hot.

And all of the races outside of Victoria have been in Vancouver – so a journey by ferry or seaplane, requiring only one night away from home. But even then there’s a backup for everything: socks, KT tape, Voltaren, hats, shirts, ginch and shorts. Call it a superstition, but I like to be prepared. However, the closeness of home and familiarity with Vancouver shears it so no real peril exists.

Combining the two, though, is proving exhausting.

There’s only so much suitcase space and conflicting needs. And the fault clearly lies with San Francisco.

Putting the race aside, for a moment, the city is a smorgasbord of attractions. As a lover of crime noir and Bogie, dining at John’s Grill is a necessity – so can’t show up in flip flops. Then there’s the fine dining aspect, where Gary Danko is on the agenda and that requires more than dress shorts. Staying downtown, walking the neighbourhoods and hitting restaurants like Kokkari Estiatorio and Anzu before scoping out funky bookstores & boutiques, then some comfortable shoes and shorts are required. Then there’s just the weather: sun or rain, warm or cool – stay awhile and it could be all of the aforementioned according to people who should know. So need jackets and umbrella.

Then there is the race itself. In the definitely must pack category: singlet, sleeved-shirt, warm-up jacket that can double as rain protector if needed; shorts, back-up shorts, compression shorts, two pairs of socks (one thicker than other); and the ‘bag’ – which contains all the accoutrements needed to prepare – oatmeal (taking my own), granola bar (again, taking one my system is acquainted with), tape for knees, some Vitamin I, bandages, gels and Nuun for water bottle.

See the challenge? Air Canada allows one-checked bag and one carry-on bag. Still not accounted for in what must be lugged aboard: running shoes, utility belt and caps. Plus, want to take my man-bag with me. And need a few books for the flights.

But then, like a dream, an email from Aeroplan, that answers the question I didn’t know I was really asking.

Wanted to race to the music player and start blasting Jeff Buckley’s tribune to Leonard Cohen. The answer to my prayers. Carry-on bag and man-bag are each allowable – which means nothing gets left behind.

Then an idea: what if the carry-on bag heads south nearly empty and becomes full as time goes by in San Francisco? Looks like a lot (of $) might get left behind in the City by the Bay – with apologies to Tony Bennett.

But now, it is too late to worry. Time to be adventurous and see what happens. Bags packed, race ahead – that’s the plan.