Plan your race day. Enter your distance and goal finish time, drop in your aid stations or checkpoints, and get the arrival window at each one to stay on pace – plus a carb fueling target that front-loads early and tapers as the race wears on. Great for crew, drop bags, and pacing.
For general race planning only — not medical or nutritional advice.
How to use the Race Checkpoint Planner
- Enter your race distance and goal. Set the distance, then choose Time (a target finish time) or Speed (a target average pace) — the planner works out the other one for you.
- Add your checkpoints. List each aid station, crew point, or drop bag by name and mile/km. Add a cutoff time and a note (e.g. “headlamp,” “crew here”) for any that need one.
- Enter your own fueling targets. Put in the carbs, fluid, and sodium per hour from your own race plan. Add a taper if you intend to front-load early and ease off later.
- Read your plan. You’ll get an arrival window and cutoff buffer at every checkpoint, plus exactly what to carry to the next stop. Copy the plan link to send it to your crew, or print it as a crew sheet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my arrival time at each aid station?
Enter your race distance and either a goal finish time or a target average speed, then add each aid station by mile or kilometer. The planner shows your projected elapsed time and clock arrival at every checkpoint, with a window for going a little faster or slower than even pace.
How do aid-station cutoffs work?
A cutoff is the latest time you’re allowed to reach a checkpoint. Enter each one and the planner shows your buffer — how much time you’ll have in hand on arrival (green) or how far behind you’re tracking (red) — so you can see which checkpoints are the tight ones to push for.
What’s the difference between even pacing and a negative split?
Even pacing covers each mile at the same speed; a negative split means riding or running the second half faster than the first. Use the Pacing control to model a negative split or a realistic late-race fade, and your checkpoint times update to match.
How do I know which checkpoints I’ll reach in the dark?
Add your start time plus sunrise and sunset, and any checkpoint you’re projected to reach before sunrise or after sunset gets a moon flag — handy for knowing which drop bag needs a headlamp and warm layer.
Can I share my race plan with my crew?
Copy plan link turns your whole plan into a link you can text to your crew or open on another device, and Print plan produces a clean checkpoint sheet for the cooler lid. Your plan also auto-saves in your browser, so it’s there when you come back.
Does it work for running and cycling, in miles or kilometers?
Yes. It works for any distance, on foot or on the bike, and you can switch between miles and kilometers at any time.
More tools: all Maklin training & race tools · training zone calculator.