Top 5 Things Every Runner Needs on Race Day (and Why bibSNAPS Are One of Them)

If you’re like me, you know the night before race day hits different. You’ve trained, you’ve pushed, you’ve pictured that finish line a hundred times. But when it’s go time, most runners still miss the basics.

Here’s the truth. Your race is won or lost in the small stuff: what you wear, what you eat, how you prep. It’s not about fancy gear or luck. It’s about getting the details right so you can focus on what matters most, running your best race.

These are the five things every runner needs on race day, straight from experience, not theory.

1. Comfortable Gear That Moves With You

Real talk. If your shirt rubs or your shorts ride up, you’re thinking about that the whole run. Not your pace. Not your breath. Just the problem.

You want gear that disappears when you move. Light. Breathable. Moisture-wicking. Nothing that holds sweat or slows you down. And definitely not cotton. Cotton is the rookie mistake that turns a good race into a painful one.

Test your gear before the race. A few runs. A few washes. Make sure it fits, feels right, and doesn’t distract you.

Pro tip: Comfort always beats style. Leave the “cool outfit” for the after-photos.

2. Running Shoes You Already Trust

You wouldn’t test a new invention at full scale without trying it first—same rule for race shoes.

Every blister I’ve ever seen came from someone who thought new shoes meant fresh energy, wrong move. Wear the shoes you’ve trained in. The ones that know your stride, your rhythm, your grit.

If you have new ones waiting, break them in over the weeks leading up to race day. Let your body adjust.

Pro tip: Double-knot your laces. One small detail can save you from a mid-race stop you didn’t plan for.

3. Weather Gear You Can Count On

Weather is the variable you can’t control. You can only prepare for it.

Here’s my quick checklist. Sunscreen, hat or visor, no-slip sunglasses, and anti-chafe balm. Simple, but it matters. Check the forecast the night before. Don’t guess.

Hot day? Hydrate early and often. Cold morning? Layer up, then peel down as you warm up. Build your comfort like you build your plan — flexible, tested, ready.

4. A Better Way to Attach Your Bib

Here’s where my inventor brain kicks in. I used to poke holes in every shirt I owned because that’s just how it was done. Safety pins. Rusty, sharp, annoying. I thought, “There’s got to be a better way.”

So we built one.

bibSNAPS on clean, hold tight, and come off without damage. No holes, no pokes, no trash. Just brilliant, simple, reusable design.

They’re used by more than 2,000 races, 500 brands, and over 5 million runners, not because of hype, but because they work. They solve a problem every runner has faced at least once.

That’s the inventor mindset in action. See the problem. Fix it. Make it simple so people actually want to use it.

Grab your own at bibboards.com. Use them once and you’ll never go back.

Pro tip: Practice snapping them on before race morning. You’ll be ready in seconds, not minutes.

5. Fuel and Hydration That You’ve Tested

You don’t experiment on race day. That’s rule number one.

Eat what you’ve trained with. Simple carbs. Light protein. Oatmeal, toast, fruit. Keep it clean. Drink water early, not right before the start.

During the race, fuel with what your body already knows. Gels, chews, whatever works for you. Don’t grab something random from a race booth and hope it’s magic.

After the race, rehydrate and refuel fast. Your body needs it. Chocolate milk, smoothie, banana with peanut butter — whatever helps you bounce back.

Pro tip: Plan your hydration strategy just as you plan your route. Every step counts.

Quick Takeaway

Key Takeaway: Preparation is power. You don’t need more stuff, you need the right stuff. Add bibSNAPS to your gear list and stop poking holes in your shirts for no reason. Run brighter, cleaner, and more confident.

The Real Talk Wrap-Up

Running is like building a business. You put in the work, test your setup, and then trust it when it matters most. The small stuff matters. The things that seem simple are usually what set you apart.

Race day isn’t the time to question your gear. It’s the time to perform.

So here’s the move. Lay out your gear tonight. Test everything. And if you haven’t already, get your bibSNAPS from bibboards.com.

They’re built by runners, for runners, in a family business that believes in making things better, not more complicated.

You’re ready. You’ve done the work. Now go prove it.

You’re closer than you think.

Brian Goodell
Founder, BibBoards