It's late at night or late in the Great River Relay... and you're scampering to find a snack or a clean pair of clothing among the gear and grub of your other five teammates in your van... what do you do? Plan ahead, of course.

When you are in the somewhat tight confines of a mini-van during a 200+-mile relay with five other persons, it's important to control for several things, but first of all, SMELL. The easiest way that we have found to do that is to use Ziploc bags (preferrably the gallon size as they can then be more versatile). And here's how:

Before packing for this racing adventure, lay out all of your running clothes, snacks, and recommended gear.

Next, sort out your running clothes so that you have a pair of shorts, shirt and socks for each of your three runs. Put each set in a Ziploc bag and then flatten it out and seal it. That way, when it's your turn to run, it's easy to grab a bag and get prepared. (especially at night, in the dark). Plus, the Ziploc is a great way to store your sweaty clothes after you've run in them and pack them back in your bag. Trust me, there is nothing more pungent than a vehicle with two days' worth of soiled running clothes in it.

Now, take a look at your snacks and food. The same thing can apply. Break down the packaging and group them together by kind or as "energy packs" after each of your runs. It seals in the smells and can be used as a refuse bag afterwards. Again, it just makes it easier to find your snacks amidst the sea of snacks by teammates... again, especially in the night hours.

Also plan on packing about 5 extra Ziploc bags. Why? For that unexpected ice pack that may be needed on a muscle or a joint. You may never need them, but better safe than sorry.

As well, sort out your lotions, gear and equipment and Ziploc them as well. Camera gear and extra batteries in one bag. Suntan lotion, anti-chafing creme and medications in another. One more bag for your night running vest, headlamp, and flashlight. You get the picture.

We'll all compress and press, so there's more room and less smells in our vans!

ZIPLOC: KEEP THE SMELLING AND SWELLING TO A MINIMUM!