How to Travel for a Marathon: Packing, Expo Strategy & Pre-Race Food

Traveling for a race? On this week’s episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci are joined by Jessy Carveth live from Michael’s living room in Toronto. They’re there for Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend, and the crew breaks down everything you need to know about racing away from home.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro: A Toronto crossover episode with Jessy Carveth
5:08 What to pack in your carry-on for race day
8:02 Super shoes on the backpack and the airport medal debate
9:10 Sponsor: Wahoo KICKR RUN treadmill
13:29 Why Alex never checks a bag
14:22 Jessy’s case for checking luggage (and using an AirTag)
21:46 Sponsor: CEP Running
23:23 Race expo strategy: hit the expo, skip the sightseeing
28:37 Chicago Marathon expo vibe check
31:55 What to eat before a race when you’re traveling
47:26 Sponsor: Orion Sleep
48:44 Jessy Carveth’s running comeback story
58:10 Race day mindset and visualization
1:00:24 How to push through when the half marathon hurts
1:05:58 Tips for a crowded start line
1:09:02 Toronto race weekend and New York City Marathon events

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:

We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to wahoofitness.com and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.

Marathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout.

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Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon

TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
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NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
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