Race Day Checklist: Everything You Need (and What You Don’t)
Meta description: A simple checklist for a stress-free race morning, from what to pack to what to do in the start area.
Race mornings feel hectic because you’re trying to remember ten small things while nervous. Use this checklist once, and you’ll never have a chaotic start again.
The night-before checklist:
- Race email / confirmation details (screenshot it)
- Bib + pins
- Shoes + socks you trust
- Outfit laid out (including a warm layer)
- Charge your phone / watch
- Pack a snack for after
- Set two alarms
- What to bring with you (the sensible list)
- Warm layer for before/after
- Light snack you know sits well
- Small bottle of water (for sips)
- Plasters / blister tape (optional but smart)
What not to bring:
- a brand-new gel you saw online yesterday
- anything that needs “figuring out” on the day
What to do when you arrive:
- Find the start area first (remove uncertainty early)
- Use the toilet early (then again if needed)
- Do a gentle warm-up
- Get into the right place at the start (don’t get swept into a pace you can’t hold)
- The best first-race mindset
- Your job is simple:
- start steady
- keep moving
- finish proud
