Yesterday I had a long run on the docket. It was 28 degrees and falling. A fine coating of ice shellacked the pavement.
Do I wear a jacket? It’ll be the first time this winter that I’ve worn one. My inner pansy alert is sounding. I usually go without in 28 degrees but if it’s dropping…and there’s wind…
I gather my stuff: Garmin, which is usually on a kitchen counter where it charges…or in a kitchen drawer…or closet drawer.
Sunglasses (for wind as there is no sun..I’m pretty sure it overslept). Most likely on a mudroom counter…or kitchen counter…or dresser drawer or a closet drawer. Cannot find.
iPhone arm holder. Cannot find. Search all the usual haunts: kitchen counters and drawers, mudroom counters, cabinets and drawers, closet drawers and shelves, dresser. Nada. Now I’m pissed. Plus I’m wearing my jacket so I’m roasting which makes me extra pissed.
Finally, after an exhausting, cussword-riddled search (thank heavens I was the only one awake), I went out sans phone/tunes. Big deal right? Who can’t run 8 miles without music?
But it was a big deal because being organized is not brain surgery. Yet I can’t seem to corral my running stuff in one place for easy access.
After returning from my run, (which went great BTW, I managed to stay upright and my mood improved exponentially) I spent the day decluttering. I pulled out all the running gear I could find. Much of it is still at large. Note this does not include apparel, shoes/socks, hair accessories, or fuel. From now on I’m keeping it all in one, go-to place. But how? Where?
Oh and for the record, I found the iPhone arm thing. On a high-up closet shelf where I could not see without climbing. I must have whipped it up there. Sheesh.
Do you have this problem? Tell me how you store your running stuff!
RUnning stuff is stored in a mishmash of places–just like you. All belts are hung on the towel bar of the unused whirlpool tub. running sneakers are next to the unused tub. Hats, reflective gear and old bibs are on the edge of the unused tub. (thank god for that tub, I’d have no where to put things!). Garmin is downstairs on a windowsill charging. Sunglasses are in the car. Running clothes are stuffed in a too-full drawer or spilled over onto the floor. Any jackets are actually hung up in the closet. Imagine that. 🙂
I have a friend whose solution is to use his dining room table for all of it!
I have a little bin in the closet where I keep my gloves, hats, headlamp. I never take a phone or ipod, so that eliminates that, and all my long runs are supported runs (thank you running club volunteers) so that takes care of that. So I’m pretty freed up for the most part, which helps quite a bit, b/c I know I’d otherwise be a mess!
Im SUCH A DISASTER.
I am still telling myself when I unpack that box…the workoutcr*p box…this time I will be super organized.
I hope:-)
I have all my skirts in one drawer, shorts in another, and tanks in a 3rd. my warm clothes are in closet. For accessories (headlamp, gels, ipod, watch, chargers etc) I have one basket that stores it all. It may not be neat, but It is my quick go to.
Hey glad your 8 miler went well. As far as my running stuff to wear, its in the closet in different drawers since there is so much of it. lol. There is a dedicated drawer in the kitchen by the junk drawer for gels, etc. I usually plug my ipod in the pc right when I get home. Its a shuffle, so no arm sleeve needed. I tried running with those before, and it didn’t really work out. But as I accumulate more stuff, I would like to have it all in one convenient place some time.
I keep most of my running stuff sitting out in my office because when I run during the week, I usually just fit it in during my downtime. That does, however, mean that my office is full of non-work crap, which can be annoying.
Glad you had a good run!
I keep all my gear in one spot, if I cant find something, it is because someone else moved it ( and that is my story and sticking to it)
Now the challenge will be finding gear that I havent touched all winter when I need it for the outdoors later in a couple months
I honestly keep all of my gear in a big old, blue Speedo bag from swim team in high school.. I need organization ideas too!
This post is hilarious, and too true for me. Thankfully, like Amanda, most of my runs are very simple- just a Garmin and I go. But for long runs when I want music, a fuel belt, water, etc… it’s such a chore digging everything out! My husband started a bin/basket for all my running stuff (bothers him more than me, apparently) – so that has helped a bit. But electronics that need to be plugged in can’t be stored in a bin…
All of my clothes are in one place, my garmin, headlamp, and house key are in all different places.
I have one of those 3 drawer rolling container things. But it’s over flowing at this moment. I’ve also lost my favorite ear cover for winter, looked in my bags from previous races. I do want to blame that on my husband because there is NO way I could lose it ever.lol
I am organized to the nines – everything has a place and everything is in its place! Thanks for the post, though, because I spent 3hours cleaning & organizing my daughter’s room, today – and I didn’t even touch her drawers or closet!
My husband recently relegated all of my running stuff to a drawer in the bathroom. Before that it was all over the place (bin in the coat closet, basket in the kitchen, my backpack etc.). And you know what? It works! He’s smart–I knew I “done good” when I picked him. :^)
I’m big on everything in it’s place (anal might be the word!!!).
I love plastic storage bins, organizers, baskets. I have a basket in my work-out room of all those little necessities.
Good job on the COLD 8-mile run without music!!!
I’m getting better about being organized. I’m big on bins for things like clothes, fuel belt, gloves, hat, etc. and I’ve got a drawer in the kitchen for GUs, Chomps and bars. I keep my sunglasses and keys on a shelf by the door. Electronics that need to be charged still get misplaced though…work in progress!
I have bins for each type of clothes in my bedroom – long running pants, capris, shorts, short sleeve shirts, half zips, long sleeve shirts, and socks each have their own bin. (Yes, I have an entire bin of socks).
Everything else with the exception of my garmin and my sunglasses reside in a drawer in my living room. The garmin is dying so it has to always be on the charger, sigh, and the sunglasses are in the pile of sunglasses we keep by the phone.
We have finally designated a cabinet in the kitchen for sports nutrition and “stuff” (like fuel belt, etc). I’m not saying it is always put where it’s supposed to be, but the spot helps! 🙂
all over the place, I need some organization too!
I now have a plastic bucket for headbands, gloves etc because that is what I lose – in the mud room.
I am a neat freak. Had to be when living on the boat with such little space. Now I have bins on my closet shelves for my ‘running stuff’ and my shoes and clothing are neatly stored in closets and drawers.
My hubby & I each have a “running box” – some sort of storage box in our living room. I keep everything except my Garmin in it, and he keeps pretty much everything. Mine is a little smaller, so I’ll rotate seasonal items out.
We have bags/backpacks for each of the gyms we go to – e.g. I have my “gym bag” and my “yoga bag,” each with exactly what I need for each one!
I keep all my stuff in the laundry room in a bucket in the cabinet. Except for the days I didn’t put it back, which is almost always, and have days exactly like yours!
28 degrees sound like heaven!! -3 when I woke up today…hello treadmill!
That is a nightmare! I always prep my running stuff the night before (sometimes sleeping in my gear!). But I always keep my garmin, lap counter, ipod and body glide in my purse…you never know when you might want to do some laps!
I am guilty of being completely cluttered! We moved into a new that is much smaller than our last and despite purging what felt like half of our stuff, we still are overflowing with junk. I need to do another purge and figure out the right containers to organize the things I use frequently. Gah! so many things to do! Modern life is overwhelming!
I stand a whopping 4’10” and it annoys me to no end when stuff ends up on a high shelf. But since I live alone – i can’t blame anyone but myself. I’ve been good about organizing the running gear, but am forever misplacing my glasses. I have a little entry way table with small drawers – garmin stuff in one drawer and ipod in another. With my glasses problem -luckily I have several pair of glasses so don’t spend a lot of time looking for my lost pair.
hahaha! I usually only bring my watch and a belt, so I keep those in the same place every time. (Desk for my watch, a hook in the basement hallway for the belt). I do have the shoe-shelf for all my running shoes too.
I had the same issue, plus the stuff I left in the corner of the kitchen counter began to take over. I put a small bin in the kitchen with all the small stuff, ipod, belt, garmin, gels and gloves and hat in the winter. Next I got a 3 drawer plastic storage thingy (?). All my running gear goes in that in my closet. Shoes, well, they could be anywhere……