Countdown to Detroit: What (not) to wear

It’s just seven days until the Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Marathon.  Most of you will not be surprised to know that I’m already starting to plan for my trip.  Today’s big effort is wardrobe planning.  It looks like it might be a chilly race, with Saturday’s low being only 36 degrees F. (2 degrees C) and the predicted Sunday high being only 53 degrees F. (12 degrees C).

A few things are certain at this point.  I’ll be wearing my Asics Foundation 8 shoes; they’re well-worn, but not so well worn that they should be replaced yet.  I’ll be wearing CW-X tights; the weather will determine whether I wear half-length Expert shorts or full-length Insulator Stabilyx tights.  If I wear the half-length tights, I’ll also be wearing Zensah compression leg sleeves.  I’ll be wearing WrightSock Running II socks.

The challenge at this point is figuring out what I’ll be wearing up top.  I would love to wear my Mizuno Front Line Racing Team (FLRT) singlet, especially given that I’m racing for FLRT in Detroit.

Seriously … I’m racing on a team.  I’m still trying to get my mind around that fact.  If you know me at all, you know that it adds pressure.

My concern is that it might be too cold to race in a singlet.  I’ve got a skin-tight adidas top I can put on under it, but then I get into the whole bit of wondering if white shirts, one with blue trim, match black tights.  Fashion does matter, after all; I want to look good when I cross the finish line!

Sidebar:  I realise that The Socks (my current pair of Zensah leg compression sleeves) don’t match the black half-length tights.  I haven’t yet decided if I will “ride the horse that got me here” or get a set of black Zensah sleeves.

Dear Zensah:

Please feel free to sponsor my running efforts!

Sincerely,

Darrell

It’s time to return from fantasy land, I think.

I’m seriously considering pulling on my long-sleeve Brooks top, adding perhaps a thin shell atop it, or perhaps a disposable t-shirt.

Does anyone know if the folks in Detroit are aligned with any charities that collect discarded clothing to donate to homeless shelters?

If rain becomes an issue, my Asics shell will likely be along for the ride.   Depending on the temperature, I’ll also have to consider gloves or mittens.

I hope the rest of the pre-race preparation isn’t so difficult!