What You Do Not Need at a Race

• Soda – Unless you enjoy the sensation of carbonated regret sloshing in your stomach at mile two
• Candy – Your body has enough natural sugar panic without added fuel for the chaos
• Energy drinks – Spoiler alert: they won't give you wings, just heart palpitations and buyer's remorse
• Swim shoes 
• Tablets – Your training is the only device you need; everything else is just dead weight
• valuables

Focus on what actually matters: proper hydration, adequate nutrition, and the mental fortitude to ignore every questionable impulse your pre-race jitters throw at you.