What to Buy for a 12-Hour Run

A 12-hour run needs more than race numbers and water. You’ll need supplies for registration, course marking, repeated laps, changing light, refreshments and waste, plus enough equipment to keep volunteers moving throughout the day. Use the shopping list below alongside your route and safety plan. Check quantities against your expected runner count, the number of aid stations and whether the course will still be operating after dark.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 3
Foldable tablesqty 10
Folding chairsqty 30
Start and finish arch
Waste binsqty 8

Sports equipment

Traffic conesqty 80
Crowd barriersqty 20
Route arrowsqty 40
Kilometer markersqty 12
Bib numbersqty 150
Safety pinsqty 300
Stamp cardsqty 150
Stopwatchesqty 6
Round board
Prizesqty 6
Medalsqty 150

Equipment

Sound system
Wireless microphonesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 6

Lighting

LED lampsqty 12
Battery lanternsqty 10

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 250
Reusable platesqty 180
Reusable cutleryqty 180

Kitchen

Water jugsqty 12
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Serving tongsqty 6
Ice packsqty 30

First aid

First aid kitsqty 3
Blanketsqty 20
Disposable glovesqty 50
Blister plastersqty 100
Cold Packsqty 20

Office

Clipboardsqty 8
Pensqty 30
Printer paperqty 250
Name stickersqty 100

Cleaning

Broom setsqty 3
Bucketsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Spa Blauw - 240 bottles
- Spa Red - 60 bottles
- Isotonic sports drink - 120 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange juice - 12 cartons
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 2 kilograms
- Bananas - 12 kilograms
- Apples - 10 kilograms
- Oranges - 8 kilogram
- Grapes - 6 kilograms
- Dates - 3 kilogram
- Muesli bars - 200 pieces
- Energy bars - 150 pieces
- Raisin buns - 100 pieces
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White rolls - 100 pieces
- Wholegrain rolls - 100 pieces
- Butter - 2 kilograms
- Mild cheese - 3 kilograms
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Jam - 3 jars
- Turkey breast - 2 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 4 kilogram
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Pasta - 8 kilograms
- Pasta sauce - 8 jars
- Vegetarian pasta sauce - 4 jars
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 8 kilograms
- Yogurt dressing - 3 bottles
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Paper napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles

Tips

Plan drinking supplies for the full 12 hours, not just the start. Set out reusable cups, water jugs, coolers and thermos flasks so volunteers can refill the station without interrupting runners.
Buy enough bib numbers and safety pins for every registered runner, with a small spare batch for late changes or damaged numbers. Keep them together at the registration desk rather than packing them into the course supplies.
Mark the route with traffic cones, route arrows and kilometre markers before runners arrive. For a long event, check the markings again after several hours because signs and cones can be moved or knocked over.
Prepare lighting for the finish area and any dark sections of the course. LED lamps, battery lanterns, extension cords and power strips should be checked before setup, with cables kept away from running lines and walkways.
Treat food service as a separate stock check. Reusable plates, cutlery and cups, cutting boards and kitchen knives need a washing and storage plan, while waste bins should be placed at registration, refreshment points and the finish.

Frequently asked questions

How much water do I need for a 12-hour run?: Calculate water for the expected number of runners, volunteers and support staff across the entire 12 hours, then add a reserve for warm weather and spills. A practical starting point is to plan several refill cycles at each water station rather than buying only one supply for the opening hour.
How many bib numbers and safety pins should I buy?: Provide one bib number and one set of safety pins for every registered runner. Add at least 5–10% extra so you can handle late registrations, replacements and numbers that are lost or damaged.
When should I set up the course markers and lighting?: Set out cones, arrows and kilometre markers before registration opens, then walk the route once more before the start. Test LED lamps, battery lanterns and power connections before dusk, ideally several hours before they are needed.
What equipment is needed for a 12-hour run registration desk?: Prepare bib numbers, safety pins, stamp cards, stopwatches and the printed run sheet at one clearly marked desk. Set it up at least 60 minutes before the first runners arrive so volunteers can check materials and answer registration questions.

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