Not pictured: your finish line smile and endorphin rush

If you're mixing athleticism with travel and doing a destination race, we've thought of everything you need. We raced around the office and polled the marathoners on site. Here's your checklist for the road ahead.

for the journey

A duffel bag or backpack Pack light in something with functional pockets for all your gear.

Passport and plane tickets A must! Don't forget. We repeat - don't forget.

Breakfast Only if you have a routine to stick to.

Reading material We love magazine apps! (Did you know the Runner's World app is free?)

A comfortable, breathable travel outfit Wear layers to keep your cool when the temperatures change.

for the race

Shoes Not new ones - your old faithfuls. Use the ones you've been training in.

Athletic socks Again, pack what you've been training in.

Two or three race outfits The weather could misbehave so be prepared. Whatever you do, remember this: Now is not the time to break in that great new gear.

Hydration How you choose to hydrate is your call. Pack a belt or a hand-held bottle or simply rely on those friendly water station volunteers.

Fuel You won't make that goal time if your energy tank runs too low. All our running bottoms have pockets for gels so you can carry fuel hands free.

Disposable layers Keep muscles warm before the starting line and wear layers you don't mind parting with. Typically once the race begins, volunteers collect them and donate them to charity.

Race belt Spare your running gear and pin your bib to a race belt.

Lubrication Say no to chafing! Put it anywhere there's a risk of getting seriously uncomfortable. (May I personally suggest you put some between your thighs? If you're shaped like me, you'll thank me.)

Tunes, comfortable headphones & a charger Music will be your lifeline. Make sure your player is charged and ready to rock. (Don't forget an adapter if you're travelling far, far away.)

Enough tunes to keep you motivated You don't want to hit that last leg of the race and realize all you've got left is your bedtime playlist. We suggest the following...

Extra hair elastics Before you pack some, see if you've got an extra one on a zipper pull. Our designers may already have you covered.

Deodorant If there was ever a time to need it, it will be when you're sweating buckets at the finish line.

Sunscreen Make sure it's sweatproof.

A credit or debit card If nothing else, you'll deserve a cab ride to your hotel room.

A running hat Our accessories designer suggests a colorful one so your cheering squad can pick you out in the pack.

Sunglasses You don't want to be squinting the whole way.

A heart rate monitor Our Community Relations Manager Tracy suggests the Garmin 110.

A big smile for your finish line photo shoot.

The ultimate souvenir: an imported marathon bib (Thanks for the photo, Jen!)

after the race

Your "I-love-my-body" kit Think stretch cords, foam rollers, tennis balls, pain relievers, band-aids and epsom salts. They will love you back.

A yoga mat We dare you to do more than savasana after the marathon.

A cozy post-race outfit Whatever you choose, make sure it includes slippers. Fuzzy ones.

A celebratory outfit Commemorate in style but keep in mind your feet may not be up for stilettos.

Compression socks to keep your muscles comfortable for the plane ride home.

before you get packing

• Still looking for a destination race? We've listed our favourite marathons.
• Looking to break in some running gear before the race? See our latest offerings for men and women.
• Need something to pack in? We've got functional bags to get you there, yoga mat and all.
• Get inspired by Jen's story She blogged about her NYC Marathon experience.

We suggest making packing part of the event. Print this list, pour a nice glass of wine and rest assured knowing you've got it all together in advance. (Ok, maybe not a realistic pursuit but as long as you can get it done with half an hour to spare, you're golden.)

you asked

I am just getting into running -- well, jogging. After not exercising for 5 years I thought it was about time. 
I have a problem: I cant find good shoes. I have tried on about a dozen pairs and none feel just right. 
Could you point me in the right direction and tell me some good pairs.? Thank you so much for answering these questions, it's great for us beginners! - Dee

What are the best shoes to wear during running? Wendy

I can’t seem to find a comfortable pair of shoes. I know everybody’s feet are different, but after several pairs I still haven’t found a good shoe for me. I’m 40, 5′7″, 118lbs. Currently, I get numbness in the toes of one foot. The bottoms of my feet feel bruised after workout. All the running shoes I have feel too wide in the toe box and often too loose in the heel area. After a long workout, my knees hurt behind my kneecaps. Can you recommend good brands of running shoes to correct any of these issues? Thanks for your advice! - Elizabeth

Can you recommend a good running sneaker? - LuluLuver

What are the best running shoes to wear? Kim H.

a runner responds

Dee, Wendy, Elizabeth, LuluLuver, & Kim,

Finding good shoes are like finding a good man – you just have to keep on looking and trying until you find that sweet shoe that works for YOU – and then stick with it forever! My favourite shoes to run in are the Mizuno Wave Creation (check out their site for local retailers). I’ve worn Mizunos for 8 years, and they never disappoint.

I would suggest that you try a specialty running store for your shoe hunt. They usually have a good return policy in case you give your runner’s a trial run indoors on a treadmill. They are an important investment, and a good fit is critical. A good shoe should feel great as soon as you have it on, and it should not give you blisters. I do not believe in a “break in” period for good runners. Some great running shoe brands to try are Asics, New Balance, Mizuno, Saucony, & Newton. But be sure to have a running shoe fit expert from a specialty run store look at your run gait and follow their advice.

Ainslie

Ainslie is the first run expert featured in our Ask a Runner series. Check out her Triple Threat Training website to get to know her better.

Upcoming run post from Ainslie:

- How to stay motivated – May 28

It’s been a long time since I’ve laced up my shoes to go for a run. But recently some of us from the lululemon Ala Moana store volunteered to pass out water at a local half marathon. We cheered on runners and passed out water before dawn. I was so inspired to see this massive group of runners pushing themselves so early in the morning.There were people of all ages and abilities pounding the pavement. Running, walking, smiling and laughing… we even saw one man who was running the entire half marathon backwards!

I felt the urge to get my butt into gear and start running. If all of these people could do it, so could I. But getting started can be difficult, especially when the word "run" is barely in my vocabulary. I wanted to share my plan with all of you, to get your advice and hear your experiences, and hopefully get motivated by all of the other people out there who want to start running as well.

lululemon athletica Ala Moana Run Club Coach Claire was on the other side of the race.

set a goal

First things first, set a goal. Inspired by the half marathon we volunteered at, I've decided to run a half marathon by February 2010. Setting and sharing a goal helps to keep us accountable.

start to train

Now that you know the direction you’re heading, next comes the fun part… starting to train. There are a lot of running clubs, groups and clinics in the community. If you live near a lululemon store, you've got a wealth of information at your fingertips. Many locations, like the Ala Moana store that I work at, have run clubs or clinics that you can join. If not, we can help point you in the direction, whether it's finding a safe route for you or even joining you for a run!

what to wear

Another important part of starting to run is to find the proper fitting clothes. lululemon has an extensive line of high performance and moisture-wicking run products. (If you live in a colder climate, read this blog post for more on layering your run outfit).

Finally, hang in there. I know it won’t always be fun nor easy, but if you set your mind to do something, there is nothing stopping you from finishing!

Never thought about being a rock climber? Try it! Do one thing a day that scares you!

Here are the basics:

• Find a local rock climbing gym. Every rock climbing gym I've ever been to has an introductory class that will teach you the basics and how to stay safe. REI also has beginner outdoors trips to local crags such as Joshua Tree in CA, Patagonia in South America, Rumney Rocks in New Hampshire, and Crescent Rocks in Virginia.
• Grab a friend or a group of friends to go to the gym with. It's best to have even numbers of people so that no one has to sit around and watch while everyone else is climbing or belaying.
• A comfy harness. This is what will connect you to the rope (i.e. your lifeline), so make sure it's a good one. I say comfy because if you are a newbie, chances are you are going to fall and be hanging by said rope quite a bit, so you want something that isn't going to dig into your legs. In the beginning, you can rent a harness from the gym, but don't count on it being comfortable.
• A chalk bag and chalk. Chalk is ESSENTIAL. It dries out the sweat on your hands and helps you grip the holds better. You need the chalk bag to (obviously) hold the chalk.
• Climbing shoes. Do not go out and buy the most expensive shoe you can find. As a beginner, you do not need the $155 high-performance shoe. You can rent a pair of shoes from the climbing gym, but you can usually find a good deal at an outdoors store like REI, EMS, or MEC (if you’re in Canada!). Climbing shoes should be slightly tight since they usually stretch out a bit, but not so tight you can’t walk in them. As you get more experienced at climbing, you learn that tighter = better, but for now, stick with what feels good on your feet.

Not a necessity, but a really good idea is to get a pair of crops for climbing. Women head to the climbing gym in shorts and usually regret that choice once the harness starts to ride up in an uncomfortable place. I like to work out in crops, but pants would be the next best thing.

I wore my Groove Crops for the first time last weekend when we went climbing at Red Rock State Park near Las Vegas, Nevada, and they were amazing. I always wanted to wear them since they’re so great for everything else, but I was afraid to because they’re black. Sure enough, I got chalk all over them, but I was pleasantly surprised to be able to completely dust them off before going to dinner.

Above: Your must haves for a great climb, including our Groove Crops!