Complete Checklist of Everything You Need Before, During and After the Race
It’s a racing weekend. You’ve been training for months, spending grueling hours and surviving obscene irritations. You overcame the candle madness by making a mental plan (when to wake up, what to eat, what to wear). You finally get to the start only to realize that your watch is not charged. Or you are wearing the wrong sports bra. Or worst of all: you forgot to trim your toenails.
Whether you’re traveling for a marathon in an unfamiliar city or preparing for a local 5K race, here’s your ultimate weekend racing checklist.
Before the race
- Race confirmation
- Hotel confirmation
- Plane / train / travel tickets
- Proof of vaccine or negative COVID test result (double check your specific race rules)
- Mask (check your race policy – will masks be required when transporting participants, at the start pens and / or during the course?)
- Identity card (and passport if necessary)
- Raincoat (get ready for any weather, regardless of weather forecasts)
- Flight headphones
- Chargers for headphone, watch, phone, etc.
- Course map
- Race route and number collection
- Safety pins
- Water bottle and hydration plan
- Healthy, Carbohydrate-Rich Travel Snacks
- Guide to restaurants and events
- Extra cash or credit cards
- Streetwear and footwear
- Toiletries (including travel first aid kit)
- Deodorant
- Earplugs
- Road signaling
- Toilet paper (who knows)
- Nail clippers
- Hair ties (or whatever you need for your hair – two braids for me!)
- Tweezers
- Anything you want to download from home, like your running playlist or race tracker apps (like RaceJoy , which your supporters will need to download too)
Race
- Clock or GPS
- Jersey / shirt with short or long sleeves for the race, depending on the weather
- Sports bra
- Weather Shorts / Tights
- Old sweatshirt or T-shirt that can be thrown away after a few miles
- Socks
- Shoes (insoles if necessary)
- Patches or NipGuards if needed
- Vaseline or other anti-chafing lotion
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm with sunscreen
- Hat or visor
- Sunglasses
- Gels or sports drinks (ONLY if you trained with them)
- Energy bars (if you stand for hours before the race)
- Fanny pack (if you run with one, in which case you are cooler than me)
- Running belt, hydrating vests (whatever you train with)
- Checkout bag containing post-mount gear (although many races provide this at the exhibition or upon receipt of the bib)
After the race
- Extra socks (including compression sleeves or socks)
- Extra shirt and shorts / pants
- Waterproof jacket
- Food (if you are not fed at the aftermath)
- Towel
- Ibuprofen
- Plastic bag for ice, dirty clothes, etc.
- Someone will take a picture of you and your medal
As you pack, keep in mind one of the most agreed-upon rules in the running community: nothing new on race day. Don’t learn it the hard way by trying a new tasty gel or installing a new fancy outfit. Trust us – and trust all the hard training you’ve put into this race. Have you received it.