1 Day left 'til Rock-n-Roll Seattle

Gear Bag Checklist

Race day morning is not the time to fumble around for gear at 5:00 AM. Seriously, showing up to the start line without your gels, or race number, or your lucky socks, or your running shoes is not a good way to start the morning off. Yes, forgetting your running shoes may seem like an impossible task, but when the alarm clock goes off on race day morning and you're rushing around gathering gear that you didn't put together the night before things get left behind. Doesn't matter if you're in a hotel, at home, or sleeping in a tent. Race day morning, if left unplanned, is chaotic.

Today, clear a spot on your bed, or the floor, just anywhere that you can step back and take a full look at everything you're taking to the race. Lay out first what you'll be wearing during the run. This may include a hat, shirt, sports bra, shorts, socks, and shoes. Take out you race number that you picked up at the expo, attach your D-tag timing tag to your shoe and your race number to your top. Lay out all of your gels and make sure you have them attached to your running belt, in a pocket, or however you're going to be carrying them. Make sure your watch's battery is fully charge, you have your heart rate monitor, your sunglasses, and anything you'll be using on during the run. Set your race day wear aside and pack a bag with a change of clothes, shoes, and anything else you'll be using after the race.

Remember, the best way to ensure you have everything you need is to make a list of what you'll need, set it out the night before, and on race day morning put it all on and check things off the list as you go.

Contest Alert: While you're filling out your race day goals with us at our expo booth write down your predicted race finish time, take a picture with us at the expo, and the runner closest to their predicted time will win a free pair of shoes. Yes, a free pair of shoes...lets repeat that again: A Free Pair of Shoes! Submit your official chip timed result on our Facebook page and good luck! As a bonus, if you're wearing a Balanced Athlete t-shirt in your expo photo and you win the contest you'll receive an additional surprise along with your free pair of shoes. If you have any questions about the contest ask us at our expo booth. Also, be sure to submit your race day photos on our Facebook page in your Balanced Athlete t-shirts to be eligible for special prizes.

Having trouble attaching your tag? Check out this video from the official timers of the 2011 Rock-n-Roll Seattle Marathon:

Good luck, tomorrow!