What you need for a family run

A family run needs more than drinks and finishers’ medals. You will also need supplies for registration, route marking, volunteers, safety and the finish area. Use the quantities on this page alongside your participant list and route plan, then shop early enough to chill drinks and pack checkpoint supplies. The items most often forgotten are safety pins, spare power banks, waste bins and enough cups for the busiest part of the morning.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 40
Bar stoolsqty 4
Registration tablesqty 2
Waste binsqty 6
Coolersqty 4
Storage cratesqty 10

Equipment

Wireless speakersqty 2
Microphone
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Power banksqty 4
Phonesqty 4
Stopwatchesqty 4
Walkie-talkiesqty 8

Sports equipment

Bib numbersqty 180
Race bib strapsqty 180
Safety pinsqty 400
Finisher medalsqty 180
Conesqty 30
Barrier tapeqty 8
Route arrowsqty 30
Water cupsqty 500
Clipboardsqty 8
Stopwatchesqty 4
First aid bagsqty 2
Emergency blanketsqty 10
Safety vestsqty 20

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 150
Coffee cupsqty 80
Platesqty 120
Cutlery setsqty 120
Serving spoonsqty 8
Thermos flasksqty 6
Water jugsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 12

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Scissorsqty 4
Ice packsqty 20

Decorations

Start-finish arch
Buntingqty 12
Balloonsqty 100
Tableclothsqty 10
Welcome sign
Direction signsqty 8

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 4
LED lampsqty 6
Flashlightsqty 8

Cleaning

Broomqty 2
Litter pickersqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Microfiber clothsqty 12
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Spa Blauw - 240 bottles
- Spa Rood - 48 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Lemonade syrup - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Decaffeinated coffee - 2 packs
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Coffee creamer - 6 tubs
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Sweetener - 2 boxes
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Herbal tea honey - 2 jars
- Cinnamon - 1 jar
- Stir sticks - 200 pieces
- Tea bags - 100 pieces
- Croissants - 60 pieces
- Mini currant buns - 60 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White rolls - 60 pieces
- Multigrain rolls - 40 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Young matured cheese - 3 kilos
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Chicken breast - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 12 tubs
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Strawberry jam - 4 jars
- Chocolate sprinkles - 3 packs
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Apples - 180 pieces
- Bananas - 180 pieces
- Grapes - 8 kilos
- Mandarins - 120 pieces
- Muesli bars - 200 pieces
- Raisin buns - 100 pieces
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salted sticks - 6 bags
- Popcorn - 6 bags
- Mini rice cakes - 8 packs
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Gluten-free crackers - 4 packs
- Gluten-free sandwiches - 12 pieces
- Vegan spread - 8 tubs
- Vegan sandwiches - 20 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Sambal - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Ice cubes - 20 bags
- Napkins - 600 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 80 pcs
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Wet wipes - 8 packs
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Freezer bags - 2 boxes
- Paper shopping bags - 80 pieces

Tips

Allow 2–3 drinks per participant for the first hour, plus extra for volunteers and anyone waiting at the finish. Chill them the day before and keep a separate reserve in coolers.
Buy at least 1 safety pin set per bib, with around 10% extra for lost or broken pins. Sort bib numbers before race morning so registration does not become a bottleneck.
Prepare one clearly labelled route kit for each checkpoint: a clipboard, phone or walkie-talkie, stopwatch, cones, route arrows and safety equipment. Pack these at least 24 hours before the run.
Provide enough high-visibility vests for every route volunteer, including replacements. Keep first aid bags and emergency blankets at the start/finish area and confirm who can access them.
Count power needs before loading the equipment: speakers, microphone, chargers and coolers may require extension cords, power strips or power banks. Charge phones and radios fully the evening before.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a family run?: Plan 2–3 drinks per participant for the first hour, then add 10–20% for volunteers, children and delays. Bring extra water if the weather forecast is warm.
How many safety pins should I buy for race bibs?: Allow 4 safety pins per bib and buy about 10% extra. For 100 participants, that means at least 440 pins, packed with the bib numbers before registration opens.
When should I prepare the family run shopping?: Buy non-perishable supplies 3–7 days beforehand. Get chilled drinks and fresh snacks the day before, then check the full shopping list again after the weather forecast is available.
What do I need for marking the family run route?: Prepare cones, barrier tape and route arrows for every turn, crossing and checkpoint. Pack the route signs and volunteer vests at least 24 hours before the event so missing items can still be replaced.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.