What a Marathon Photographer's Race-Day Bag Looks Like

You will be on your feet for five to eight hours, in the cold, in a crowd, with no way back to your car. The right bag is light, organized and built around one rule: everything you carry has to earn its place.

Camera and lenses

One or two bodies. A second body saves time if you want a wide and a tele option without swapping lenses in a crowd.
70-200mm f/2.8. The workhorse for runners.
24-70mm or a 35mm prime. For crowd, signs and context.
Lens cloth and a rain cover. Weather changes fast, and a cloth is the cheapest insurance you will carry.

Settings and lens strategy are covered in How to Freeze the Action: Camera Settings for Fast-Paced NYC Sports.

Batteries and power

Carry at least two spare batteries per body. Cold drains batteries, so keep spares in an inside pocket close to your body.
Bring a power bank and cable for your phone, since you may use the tracking app and notes all day.
Charge everything the night before and check each battery's level.

Cards and backup

Bring more cards than you think you need, and swap cards by wave or by spot so a failure costs you one spot, not the day.
Use a card wallet and keep used cards separate from empty ones.
Shoot to dual slots if your camera allows it.
Plan the backup: copy to two drives before you format anything.

Clothing for a cold start

Race-day listings show a chilly start in the 40s Fahrenheit, warming into the 50s by afternoon, and clocks go back an hour that morning. Check the forecast the night before, then dress for standing still.

Layers you can add and remove, with a windproof outer layer.
A warm hat and gloves that still let you use buttons, or fingerless gloves with mitten covers.
Warm socks and comfortable, waterproof shoes. You will stand for hours.
Hand warmers for your pockets, and a spare for your batteries.

Small items that matter

Water and snacks, since food lines near the course are long.
A small notebook or phone notes app to record each spot, street and time you start and stop.
Ear protection if you stand near bands or loud cheer zones.
A MetroCard or contactless payment, and a small amount of cash.
Any media credential or ID, if you have one.

What to leave at home

Tripod or big monopod. The crowd is too dense, and it blocks other spectators.
A large bag. Check NYRR's and the city's rules on bag size for spectators and finish areas.
A full lens kit. Two lenses are plenty.
Drones. They are not allowed at most events and are tightly restricted in New York City.
Valuables you do not need.

After the race: the bag that matters is the backup

Copy your cards to two places before you do anything else, cull while the day is fresh and upload within a day or two. Runners search for photos right after the race. Upload your set to Surf Snaps and they can find it on Explore by sport, place and date. Joining and uploading are free, there is no storage bill and the Surf Snaps fee of up to 10% applies only when a photo sells. You can pass it on to the customer. Check NYRR's media policy before you list race photos for sale.

Share your list

Every photographer packs differently. Post yours in your photography group, and tell us what you would add.

Marathon Photographer Gear FAQ

What lens should I bring?

A 70-200mm f/2.8 covers most of the course. Add a 24-70mm or 35mm for crowd shots.

How many batteries do I need?

At least two spares per body, kept warm in an inside pocket.

Can I bring a tripod?

Leave it at home. Crowds are dense and a tripod blocks others.

What should I wear?

Layers, a hat, gloves and warm waterproof shoes. Check the forecast the night before.

Where do I sell my photos afterward?

You can list them on Surf Snaps, tagged by sport, place and date.