* Slip a little good luck note on their bike or in their equipment bag.
* If you write a good luck message on the street, please don't use anything permanent, try washable chalk.
* Don't forget the camera with batteries or memory card.
* Check out the course maps in advance and plan where to watch each segment (if you're lucky, it will be a criterium course).
* Find out the projected times for each event.
* Let your athlete know where you'll be watching, it will provide a much needed pick-me-up for them to know you'll be there at say, Mile 3 and 13.
* Stay off the course, if you do need to cross anywhere, remember to look both ways.
* Listen and adhere to volunteers and course marshals' requests.
* Please, leave the pets at home.
* Pick a post-race meeting location.

After the race, don't forget to treat yourself to something nice, you've survived your own multi-event morning with logistics, time management, navigating the non-course area and and scanning a sea of wetsuits, rows of bikes and throngs of runners looking for your triathlete-you might suffer a bit from eye strain.

(Culled from various resources and Chicago Athlete staff)

RACE DAY CHECKLIST

GENERAL
Anti-chafing product
Bib number belt
Dry clothes
Flipflops/disposable shoes to get to the start
Heart race monitor
I.D.
Money
Registration packet
Bib, helmet, bike numbers
Chip/chip band, wrist band
Transition area (balloon/ribbon to mark transition spot, towel(s), extra water to wash off feet)
Watch
Waterproof sunscreen

SWIM
Cap
Goggles
Swimsuit
Wetsuit

BIKE
Bike
Cleats/Bike Shoes
Energy bars/sports gels; Food stash for longer races
Helmet
Pump/Tire change kit
Socks
Sunglasses (tinted or clear depending on weather)
Water bottles (For H20 & energy drink)

RUNNING
Hat
Running shoes/Racing flats
Singlet
Socks
Sunglasses (tinted or clear depending on weather)
Sunscreen (apply again if necessary)