Pre-Marathon Tips and Tricks

So you've done all you can do to prep for and train for a marathon and the big day arrives.  To help make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible (except the weather--you cannot control that) here are some things I've figured out over the years.  Some might work for you, others might not.  Of course, there might be even a few things I forgot or that I haven't thought of.  In no particular order:
1.)  A night light.  Yup, you might be taking on that marathon in the morning but tonight you are staying at a hotel and no one wants to go blind in the middle of the night from all that hydration by turning on the bathroom light.
2.) Stay off the painted lines in the road. Those little buggers get slippery when they are wet and can be a little slippery even when the roads are dry.
3.)  If you have to go potty at the start try to skip the first bank of port-a-potties if you can and wait for the second group of them.  Everyone seems to stop at the first group so if you can hold it for a few more miles you won't be waiting in line while minutes tick by.
4.)  Wear gear that you've worn for a long run before.
5.)  You just might want to hang onto that long sleeve shirt you planned to toss if the weather is on the chilly and possibly rainy side.  Tie it around your waist for later.  About 20 miles in you might want that shirt if the winds kick up and it starts raining.
6.)  Bring clothes you don't mind getting rid of.  Over sized sweat pants and a beat up old shirt will help keep you warm while you wait at the start.  I cannot stress enough the over sized sweat pants because you *will* have to pull them off over your shoes.  Go buy a cheap pair at Wal-Mart if you have to.
7.)  Speaking of keeping warm one of those disposable ponchos are the best for the start.  It acts like a wind breaker, keeps you toasty warm and dry.  If you don't think about this a garbage bag works just as well but it isn't as awesome.
8.)  Bring a towel or old blanket to sit on in the corral/start area.  You might be sitting around for a while before the start.  Why stand when you can sit but the ground can be chilly/damp in those early morning hours.  Plus you can use it to stretch on as well.