Race Day Kit List

A race can easily go from eager excitement to bitter disappointment when you've realised you've forgotten that crucial something from your race kit. Here'a a handy list, by no means exhaustive, of things to pack in your car before you set off for the event, to ensure the day is a success.

Firstly, assume minimal facilities at the event, that way you can plan for every eventuality. You don't have to spend £££'s on designer OCR post-race items - a large beach towel does just as well as a £120 Dry-Robe - remember getting changed on the beach? Well, there's not much difference! Same goes for a kit bag - your kit's all wet and muddy, so why mess-up an expensive bag? A plastic bin-bag does the same job for less than £1.

Make sure you've got the following items in the car:

• ££ for car park

• Completed Race Waiver Form

• Safety Pins for race number

• Spare set of kit to change into (incl.warm fleece and waterproof top)

• Something to stand on whilst getting changed (rubber mat or even just a big plastic bag)

• Towels x 2 - incl. big one you can wrap around to get changed under

• Wet-wipes (there are some giant ones available online, just type 'extra large wet wipes')

• Tissues

• Water - to drink, and a few litres to further wash if needed

• Food - plenty of post-race snacks. Include something hot in a Thermos if it's a cold-weather event. A cheap post-run sports drink is a shake with milk and bananas

• 1st aid kit - in case of any cuts or scrapes

• Roll of Zinc-Oxide plaster for taping feet

• Big plastic bag to dump all your minging kit into!

This doesn't include any of your actual race kit - I'll assume you've already got that sorted...

Remember the '7 P's' - Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance!

So, check, check and check again for a happy race day.