Thursday, May 14, 2015

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

Happy Friday!  We all know having our running gear organized saves precious time.  For me, it's about the small items.  I don't have to look very hard to find shoes - there are several pairs sitting around.   And, it's easy to find running clothes.  My problem arises from all that little stuff I've amassed.  Here's what I do so I DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF.
 

Headbands

As a wearer of headbands in all weather, I have tons of them.  Underneath, I also wear the narrow, tight bands that control flyaway hairs.  I keep both kinds together in a bin that slides easily into a drawer or onto a shelf.  It is so frustrating to search for these items when they are mixed in with everything else.  {I need my solid black headband!}


Hair Accessories

I keep all my ponytail holders together in one place.  These days, I'm wearing a double pony tail so I always need two.  I can easily select the colors I need (yes, they need to match!).  I keep a supply of my favorite barrettes in the same location for when I've just had a haircut and need that extra help.  {Oh no, she cut my hair too short!}

ONE OF MY STORAGE BINS


Arm Sleeves, Calf Sleeves and Gloves

I have a larger bin (yet short enough to slide into a drawer) for arm sleeves, calf sleeves and gloves.  These are paired items so it's important to always keep them together.  How frustrating it is to only find one of a pair!  {Now I've got to rethink my race outfit because I can't find the other pink sleeve!}


Socks

This is another paired item you always want to keep together!  I have a drawer dedicated to socks, but I will absolutely not put them in the drawer without their mate.  I've never lost a sock!  Match them together before you store them and you won't be searching when you are in a rush to get out the door.  {I can't find but one of my good rainy day socks!}

The Necessities

I keep my Garmin, Shuffle, Yurbuds, GU, Salt Stick Caps, and chargers in the same place at all times in my kitchen nook.  On a normal training run, everything I might need is right there ready to go.  My handbag lives there too, so if I'm headed out to a race I can't miss these items.  If it's a local race, I go ahead and put it all on me before I leave so I won't stress out at the race.  {Where did I put that Shuffle?}


Please tell me your tips for small running items! 



I'm linking up with the awesome ladies from the DC Trifecta: 
Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC,
Mar from Mar on the Run!.

 Please visit or, even better, join in on the Friday Five.




39 comments:

  1. I need to get a drawer divider for my socks and such! Great idea! Have a nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It saves a little time. Have a wonderful weekend.

      Delete
  2. You are quite organized. I'm sure it definitely alieviates the stress before your runs/races. I put my headbands on a hanger that I have my tank tops on. That way they are all in the same spot and I never have trouble finding the one I want.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like the hanger idea! I'd give anything to have enough room in my closet to hang my tanks. Unfortunately they are folded up in a drawer.

      Delete
  3. I don't have a lot of small gear. I don't wear / have headbands (afraid they won't stay in place) or sleeves (do they really work ?). What are your favorite brands ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most of my headbands are from Hippie Runner. Most of my sleeves are either Forza or Gypsie Runner. Yes they work. I prefer them with a tank instead of a long sleeved top. You should try!

      Delete
  4. I have a bin right next to the back door that holds all my necessities like shuffle, Garmin, Road ID etc. This usually keeps me from forgetting anything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! It helps not to have it scattered around in different places.

      Delete
  5. I put small stuff into bins as well. One for summer and one for winter gear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't thought about separating by weather. That is a good tip!

      Delete
  6. I've got a drawer dedicated to headband, sunglasses, phone armband thing, HR straps etc. and a sock drawer and another drawer with compression socks, sleeves, and all my chargers with Garmin in the kitchen, yet I still seem to fumble around looking for stuff. I had a winter headband fall behind the dresser I just recently found. I think I have my stuff in too many places. Or gasp! too much stuff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm missing a headband that I wish would magically appear. Maybe I should check behind the dresser! There is no doubt I have too much stuff.

      Delete
  7. I stopped paying attention after I saw the Half Fanatics shirt haha! So jelly. I hope someday to be a member of HF.
    As for headbands, I guess that's the beauty of having super short hair, I never have to worry about headbands and accessories!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! Actually, that is not a shirt. They are Half Fanatic arm sleeves. I've worn them many times. I'm not a fan of their shirts - too compressiony. I got in initially by running 2 in 13 days. You can do it too!

      Delete
  8. I've got to et some of those small organizing boxes that fit in the drawer because they seem like a perfect solution for hair accessories and compression gear. As for the other little things, I tend to keep them all in my gym bag. My garmin, flipbelt, armbands, etc. all live in the gym bag :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I need some more bins! That's a perfect place to keep everything if you use one often. I don't go to the gym, but should.

      Delete
  9. Oh no way could I put a sock in without its match... now I do have a basket full of Unmatched socks :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's like I'm on a mission if I can't find a sock. I will find it! My husband and kids have tons of unmatched socks though.

      Delete
  10. Oh, the necessities...they sort of take over, don't they? Good grief. I cleaned out my drawer full of necessities as I was preparing my post on this topic - ha! Did you find yourself reorganizing/cleaning up, too? I need to get some additional bins or these organizing things that you're talking about to help keep it all in line, H! Thanks so much for the ideas and I hope you have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did re-organize a bit. I found I have so much stuff they give you at races that I don't know what to do with. I need another bin for that.

      Delete
  11. Apparently, I need to get myself organized! I like to think of my running gear as organized chaos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I admit my clothes and shoes are not very organized. I would need a big purge first.

      Delete
  12. I like how you have all of your headbands organized - I swear I lose more time getting ready for a run trying to find a headband or hair pins!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Finding all those little things wastes so much time. Now if I could organize my big stuff.

      Delete
  13. YES! The headphones and gear for a run have to be in the kitchen and always have to go back to their "home". My teenagers have borrowed my running earbuds a time or two and at 5am that does NOT make for a happy mama when I'm trying to get out the door. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This mama wouldn't be happy at 5 am without her headphones either. I guess I'd be waking up some cranky teens! Ha ha.

      Delete
  14. I always put my small running items in my closet so that I can grab them after I dress for running. Running food like gels are in the kitchen pantry in a small box. My hair things are in the bathroom drawer. As soon as I finish up with something, I return it to the place where I store it so I don't lose it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I try my best to put it up as well because it's so frustrating to have to hunt for it.

      Delete
  15. I'm with you! Socks will not go into the drawer unless paired!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right! If I can't find one I'm then on a mission to hunt it down.

      Delete
  16. I have taken over our kitchen nook too! I bought a handing closet organizer with shelves and drawers that I use for my smaller running gear - gloves, hats, headbands, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I always wear a headband when I'm working out. Flyaways are the worst!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't do without a headband. Too bad I can't wear them to work!

      Delete
  18. It's quite an accomplishment that you've never lost a sock! Now that my hairs getting longer, I need to think about storing hair ties. I also keep my headbands, hats, gloves, etc. together though I store them in shopping bags I reuse. I just cut the handles off, and they make great vertical storage pices that take up little space.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well I didn't say it was easy! Ha. Sometimes I hunt for days! Great idea on the shopping bags.

      Delete
  19. I don't have a lot of space either. I wish I had a whole closet to devote to running! Yesterday I couldn't find my Garmin. I found it outside on the porch railing (where I always put it to find a satellite). I just couldn't REMEMBER I had already put out there 10 minutes earlier. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like having my things near the kitchen so I can grab them as I leave, too. It just seems to work well for me. Where do you keep your sparkly skirts? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ha ha! In my running drawer. Just in case you need to know, they don't take up much space at all!

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy reading your comments. Thanks for taking the time to leave one!