So I just got done running 5 day series of trail races called EurAfrica Trail. This race covers 85km, 3 countries, and 2 continents. But how on earth does one pack for such an event?

The weather plays a huge factor. When I went (2024), I got “blessed” with rain and wind almost every day and muddy conditions on the trails. This made for particularly challenging race conditions, but I was eternally grateful for looking at the forecast before packing my bags.

Believe me, I didn’t know. Truth be told, I am bad at packing for anything, I always over or under pack. So while the brain is still hot off the press, here are some things I would recommend, apart from the obligatory material:

Clothing

• Race outfits for 5 days
• Raincoat and windbreaker meant for running
• More socks then you think you need
• More underwear than you think you need
• 2 or 3 outfits for normal life while you aren’t running

Pack for 5 races, assuming that your clothes will be drenched and not reusable. Also make sure to pack for down time so that you are comfortable for post-race activities.

Shoes

• At least 2 pairs of running shoes
• At least 1 pair of shoes to walk around in
• 1 pair of sandals/flip flops

For the love of god, pack more than 1 pair of running shoes. I only had two pairs, one for trail and one for asphalt, and I am glad I brought them both. The trail shoes ended up being wet and muddy until… probably still today.

Sandals are a good idea for generally walking around inside the accommodations and also for showering/sauna if available.

Good walking around shoes are also nice for excursions or for when you are on the ferry. It’s not great to have to rely on your running shoes in this scenario if they are caked with dirt.

Bags

• An easy to carry duffel bag
• A backpack
• A wet bag
• Plastic bags for wet clothes and shoes

Imagine every single day you’ll be wet from rain, mud, and sweat. Now pack enough bags to make sure you can segregate all the wet stuff from your dry stuff.

This race also spans two continents, so you have Spain/Gibraltar and then you go on a ferry to Morocco. This allows you to plan with bags for each location so that you don’t necessarily need to cart around both bags to all the stages.

Running related bits

• Running watch with GPS track capabilities
• Portadorsal / A method to attach your bib
• Lightweight/retractable running poles and somewhere to put them
• Trail running backpack
• Running belt
• Some kind of recovery kit (roller, small massager, balms, pills…etc)

I brought running poles and they were great for me in the mud and to avoid exacerbating an injury I am nursing. However, they can be annoying to have in your hands during all kms. This is why I suggest making sure your backpack or belt has a place for your poles.

Some races are also shorter than others and do not require you to bring all your material. This is why it is good to also have a smaller belt to bring your water or reusable cup in.

The GPS on the watch is a lifesaver when there are conditions like thick fog. On stage 4 in 2024, we had such thick fog and wind that the race markers where either (a) hard to see or (b) blew away.

Everything else

• Hairdryer
• Clothes pins
• Little plastic or reusable silicon baggies
• Tissues
• Snacks
• Bugspray
• Sports sunscreen
• Tweezers
• Nail clippers
• A mini first aid kit with band-aids/Compede, hydrocortisone cream, Neosporin, and Imodium.

The race does its best to be a “green” and sustainable race, so make sure you are prepared to hold onto your gels during the race. Little plastic bags will help you keep things from getting sticky while serving as a small trash container.

The hydrocortisone cream and the Neosporin are essential for running through zarzas (thorny bushes), which will inevitably happen.

Imodium is just good to have on hand in case your stomach gets upset from all the gels, running, traveling whatever. Luckily this time I didn’t need to use it, but there were definitely some people who did and I am sure glad I had it just in case.

A hairdryer and clothes pins will come in clutch when you’re dealing with wet clothes and shoes. Don’t rely on the accommodation to have these for you.

Tissues are for when things inevitably get emotional. It gets quite dusty towards the end of the races.