Bag Check
Hate lines? So do we. So we’re doing things differently to speed up the bag check as well as reduce unnecessary bag waste.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN BAG! We will not have bags to provide if you forget. Those arriving at bag check without a bag will have the option to return your items to your car, carry them with you during the race, or leave them as a donation.
How It Works:
- Bring your own bag, such as a gym bag or backpack. Please do not bring a trash or plastic grocery bag – they are not durable. In addition, please avoid using reusable shopping bags, as there is no closure.
- Label your bag with your bib #, preferrable in 4" tall, black lettering. Please label your bag on BOTH sides. Please draw a line under your number so the volunteers know which way to view the number.
Bag Check at the Start:
- Warm-ups: If you like to wear warm-up clothes, bring two sets. Wear a “throw-away set” and put the other in the bag that you’ll check. Bring us your bag early. Minutes before the race begins, remove your throw-away and leave it on the side of the course. We’ll pick them up and donate them.
- Close your bag securely so small items (phone, keys, etc.) can’t fall out.
- Bags are not handled gently, so anything breakable should be safely padded or preferrably, left at home.
- When you provide us with your bag, we will verify the bag label matches your bib. Make sure your bib and your timing chip are NOT inside the bag!
- Don’t combine bags from multiple people. You may think it will save time at the end to just ask for one bag. However, if the “other” runner asks for the bag and doesn’t have the matching bib, we have to resort to other ways of verifying bag ownership that takes more time.
- Once you turn in your bag, please be prepared to not need it again until after the race. Our volunteers will likely not be able to find it in time for the start of the race. At the start, our priority is to receive bags. They will be organzied and ready for you to pickup at the finish.
Bag Check at the Finish:
- Volunteers will confirm your bag # matches your bib #. Please do not discard your bib until you receive your bag.
- If you ask for a bag and don’t have the matching bib, be prepared to describe what’s in the bag in detail. Similarly, don’t ask for a friend’s bag unless you have their bib in hand. You may request multiple bags but must have a bib for each one.
- Please don't forget to reclaim your bag! Otherwise, bag check volunteers will be waiting for you longer than necessary. Unclaimed bags are taken to the MCRRC warehouse in Rockville where they’ll be kept for 30 days before being recycled or discarded. If you think you may have a bag waiting there, please contact the Race Director to coordinate picking it up.
