January 01, 2026
Race Day Swimming Checklist: Warm-Up, Gear, and Mental Cues
A meet-day checklist used by competitive swimmers: what to pack, how to warm up, between-race routines, and simple mental cues.
The gear list (keep it boring)
Bring two pairs of goggles, two caps, a towel, water, carbs, and something warm. ‘Boring’ gear prevents chaos.
Warm-up: activate, then sharpen
Start easy, then include a few short bursts at race tempo. Finish feeling fast—not exhausted.
Simple cues you can remember under pressure
Pick 1–2 cues per race: ‘long line’, ‘fast feet’, ‘finish through’. Too many thoughts slows you down.