Race morning is not the time to think. It is the time to execute a plan you finalised days ago. This marathon gear checklist covers every category, from the bib on your chest to the sliders waiting in your gear check bag, organised in the order you will need them.
One rule cuts across every section: if you have not tested it on a long run, it does not belong on your body at the start line. That applies to shoes, shirts, socks, fuel, and sunglasses equally.
The non-negotiables
These items are race-critical regardless of weather, course, or experience level.
- Race bib and timing chip. Without these, your result does not count. Pin your bib to your race top the night before so you are not fumbling with safety pins at 5 a.m.
- Tested shoes. More on this below, but they go first on the list because forgetting them is the one mistake with no fix at the start line.
- Moisture-wicking top and shorts or tights. Non-cotton fabric with flat seams and a slim fit reduces chafing and drag over 42 kilometres.
- Running socks. Proper running socks help prevent blisters. Pack a spare pair in your gear check bag.
- GPS watch. Charge it fully the night before, along with your phone, heart rate monitor, and headphones if you use them.
- Race nutrition. Gels, bars, or chews you have already trained with.
- Anti-chafe balm and nipple tape. Apply before you leave for the venue.
- Sunscreen. Apply before you leave for the race. Reapply if conditions are sunny and the course is exposed.
- Running sunglasses. For Australian marathons especially, most courses run straight into morning sun. A pair tested on long runs prevents glare, bounce, and the distraction of squinting for 42 km. Re. sunglasses are built specifically for running, with a no-bounce fit and UV400 protection for race-day conditions.
- ID and emergency contact details. Tuck them into your belt or pin them to your bib.
Shoes: worn-in, not worn-out
The shoe decision sits on a narrow ridge. On one side: brand-new shoes that have not been broken in. On the other: old or overused shoes that cannot provide adequate support and cushioning for 42 kilometres.
The right pair has enough training runs behind it for the fit to be settled, but enough life left in the midsole to do its job through the final 10 km.
Your goal shapes the shoe choice too. A speed-oriented shoe suits a PB attempt. A max-cushion shoe suits runners prioritising comfort over the full distance. Whatever you choose, test your choice on at least one long run.
Clothing: the fabric test
Test your outfit on at least one long run to make sure it can go the distance without issues like seam chafing, fabric irritation, or shoe discomfort. A shirt that felt fine on a 15 km run may cause raw patches by km 35.
The basic kit:
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Race top | Wicking, quick-drying, flat seams, slim fit |
| Shorts or tights | Tested on long runs, no inner-thigh chafing |
| Sports bra | Supportive over the full distance, no strap movement |
| Socks | Running-specific, blister-preventing |
| Arm sleeves | Optional for cool starts, easy to remove mid-race |
| Gloves | Lightweight throwaway pair for the first few kilometres |
Consider packing a spare race top in case of rain or a pre-race spill. A full marathon kit list also includes a running belt or hydration pack if the course aid stations are spaced far apart.
Fuelling and hydration
Nutrition failures account for more mid-race collapses than fitness failures. The pattern is almost always the same: a runner tries a new gel on race morning because someone in the start corral offered one.
Use energy gels or bars to keep going strong, but make sure you have tested your fuel of choice during your longer runs. The gut adapts to specific products and specific timing. Change either variable on race day and you risk nausea, cramping, or worse.
Key timing windows: carbohydrate-rich foods at kilometres 21 and 32 help reduce fatigue and maintain pace. That means carrying enough fuel for two to three intakes beyond what the aid stations provide.
Electrolyte supplements are essential in long-distance races and help reduce fatigue and the risk of cramp. Tablets or sachets weigh almost nothing, and a long-run fuelling strategy built weeks before the race removes all guesswork.
Sun protection
Most marathon gear checklists treat sunglasses as weather-dependent. If your eyes are sensitive to the sun, sunglasses might be essential for a comfortable race, runs the typical advice.
For runners in Australia, the framing needs to shift. Most major marathons here start at dawn and finish mid-morning, which covers the window when UV exposure climbs fastest. Sunscreen should be applied before leaving for the race, and potentially reapplied during the race on exposed courses.
Sunglasses belong in the same tested-in-training column as shoes and fuel. Make sure you have already done a few long runs with them and can carry them for the whole 42 km. A frame that slips, bounces, or fogs is a distraction you do not need. If you are looking for a pair built specifically for running, Re. sunglasses are designed with a no-bounce fit, UV400 protection, and lenses made for the light conditions you actually run in. The Adaptor lens is worth considering for marathon day specifically, as it adjusts from near-clear at dawn to full tint as the sun climbs.
Lip balm with SPF rounds out the sun protection kit. It weighs nothing and prevents the cracked lips that most runners notice around the 30 km mark.
Start-line kit: throwaway layers
Most marathons begin early in the morning when it can be cold. You might wait 30 to 90 minutes between arriving at the venue and crossing the start line. Standing still in pre-dawn temperatures burns energy you need for the race.
The solution: wear old clothes you do not mind parting with. An old sweatshirt, old sweatpants, a beanie if it is cold, a poncho if it is raining. Most races collect and donate discarded clothing.
A black bin bag to sit on before the start is one of those small details that separates comfortable waiting from miserable waiting. Wet grass before a marathon is not where you want to be sitting for an hour.
Gear check bag: what to pack for after the finish
The 15 minutes after you cross the finish line are when your body temperature drops, your muscles start to seize, and your feet swell. Pack for that person.
Your gear check bag should include:
- Warm top layer. A jacket or hoodie you can pull on immediately.
- Clean change of clothes. At minimum, a fresh top.
- Sliders or Crocs. A change of shoes for feet that will not tolerate anything snug.
- Clean socks. Your feet will thank you.
- Hygiene essentials. Wet wipes, face wipes, deodorant.
- First aid. Plasters, anti-chafe, cooling gel.
- Plastic bag. For sweaty race kit.
- Post-run food and drink. Salty snacks and a protein shake beat whatever the finish-line tent is offering.
- Portable phone charger. Your watch and phone have been running GPS for four-plus hours.
- Compression socks. Optional, but many runners swear by them for post-race recovery.
- Foam roller. A compact one fits in most gear bags and makes the drive home less painful.
The night-before checklist
Prepare everything you need the day before, or even a few days prior, in case you need to buy something. Race-morning adrenaline narrows your focus. If your bib is still in the envelope and your watch is uncharged, you are already behind.
The night before:
- Lay out or pack all kit. Physically place each item where you will grab it in the morning.
- Pin your race bib to your race top. Check the number is right-side up.
- Charge all devices: watch, phone, heart rate strap, headphones.
- Prepare all race nutrition. Count out gels, load electrolyte sachets, fill flasks.
- Pack your gear check bag with everything from the list above.
- Confirm your start time, wave assignment, and how you are getting to the venue.
- Set two alarms. The second one is insurance.
Weather-appropriate clothing is the final call. Check the forecast one last time before bed and adjust your top layer if conditions have shifted.
If your marathon preparation has been thorough, race morning should feel like a rehearsal you have already run. The gear is packed. The plan is set. All that is left is to run it.
Tim Golubev
Founder, Re. (Re Your Run)
Tim built Re. after years of running in sunglasses that bounced, fogged, and ended up on his forehead. After discovering the UV damage that builds up without eye protection (even on cloudy days) and hearing the same frustrations from hundreds of other runners, he decided it was a problem worth fixing properly. With a background in Product across multiple industries, he approached it like any product problem: figure out what's broken, then build something that actually fixes it. He runs daily, co-founded Rose Bay Run Club, and Re. is his attempt to make one less thing that gets in the way of a good run.
