Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Expo Finds



Today I'm linking up with the wonderful ladies from
Tuesdays on the Run where the topic is race expo finds.


I'm not a fan of shopping.  Actually, I kind of loathe it.  So when I attend an expo, I'm usually looking for something I can't find locally or order easily.  I'm often on a quick hunt for unusual items or race mementos.  Admittedly, sometimes I have the occasional (not so smart) impulse buy.
 

This is my favorite expo purchase ever. 
Now I want a 26.2!

 
 
This dress was the worst expo purchase ever!
It was an obvious impulse buy.
What was I thinking?

 
 
This was my very first expo purchase at my 2nd half marathon.
Can you believe I bought nothing at my 1st half marathon?





This is my latest expo purchase.
I wanted a memento of my first marathon.
 





What is your favorite expo item?  The least favorite?




Thanks to our wonderful hosts:

Patty @ My no-guilt life!
Marcia @ Marcia's Healthy Slice
 Ericka @ MCM Mama Runs,












45 comments:

  1. I love that candy cane ornament! I bought an I Did It shirt at my first half marathon - which shrunk up terribly and now I only wear it to bed :( Much more than shopping, I end up signing up for nearly every race I think I can squeeze into my calendar because they are usually super cheap! Especially the newer races or 5Ks - I signed my daughters and I up for a women's race for $10 each and all three kids and I up for a Donut 5K also for $10 at an expo last winter! LOVE THAT!

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    1. I never wore that I Did It shirt one time! It didn't fit very well. I forgot I had it until I was thinking about this post. I've never thought about signing up for races at expos!

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  2. Most of my races don't have expos so I don't have anything from my first half or my best half.

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    1. Mine either. But my first half did have a huge expo. For some reason I didn't buy anything. I was so new to racing, I don't think I knew what to look for.

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  3. Your dress is too cute. Definitely not the worst purchase. :) You stand out!! Also, love your ornament. I need a 13.1 and 26.2 ornament. xxoo

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    1. The dress weighed so much when soaked with sweat and also stuck to my legs! I'm definitely on the watch for more ornaments.

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  4. I'm the same way with shopping. Not a fan. Usually, I go into Expos with a mission for things I want to check out instead of browsing around. I think the dress is cute too :)

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    1. I have bought things I've read about and wanted to try out. At least you get to see the product first as opposed to ordering on-line.

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  5. I thought expos would really test my resolve, but I've been fine at every one. I knew what I wanted to get at my first, but aside from snack bars or other food, I haven't bought any gear at expos.

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    1. I found I'm more prone to make a purchase at a small expo. I get overwhelmed at the mega ones.

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  6. ahh - I like the running dress :)
    I'd be a mad woman shopping at Disney expo... I'd need another luggage bag to take it all home. And another bank account :)

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    1. I've been pretty good with the Disney expos. They are so big, I usually buy very little cause I want to get outta there! Or someone is tapping their foot waiting on me. :)

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  7. You NEEEEED a 26.2 ornament!! Sorry but I'm snickering at the dress. I've worn a few outfits at races that, looking back, shout rodeo clown. Haha! My least favorite expo item was spending $130 on the Chicago Marathon jacket at my first marathon (because I was only running ONE) when it was 96 degrees out and it ended up being cancelled when I was at mile 22. I almost never wear that jacket because I think of that race as a cruel joke. The jackets ended up on clearance for $30. Ouch.

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    1. That's a horrible story, Marcia. I don't think I could've gotten past that - the cancellation and the $100 loss on the jacket.
      I'm guessing you've gone on to run other marathons though - that's probably the only way to get over an experience like that.

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    2. I love that dress as a swimsuit cover-up! It was way too heavy when it got sweat soaked. The length grew about 6 inches and stuck to my legs. Oh...I have no problem with bright colors. Ha ha.

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    3. That is awful about the Chicago jacket (and the cancellation)! You should wear it anyway.

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  8. I went to an expo for a biking tour that I wasn't even riding in that year and bought a Bontrager bike jersey for CHEAP. best buy ever!

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    1. That was a great find! I've never been to an expo where I was not participating.

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  9. I saw those candy cane ornaments at a local running store last year and thought they were so cute. My favorite expo purchase was my Boston Marathon jacket!

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    1. I would definitely buy some serious stuff at the Boston Marathon expo! I haven't seen the ornaments in local stores.

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  10. I could not wait to buy my 13.1 magnet for the back of my car! No comment on that outfit :)

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    1. And other people I've seen running in a dress were so cute...

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  11. If I ever run a full marathon, you damn well better believe I'd buy something to commemorate it with! You deserved it.

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    1. I really planned on buying more, but just didn't see anything that appealed to me.

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  12. I have a love-hate relationship with expos. The smaller races don't seem to have too much but the bigger races seem to have expos that overwhelm me with the crowds. I have to admit, the Boston Marathon expo was incredible! I wasn't even running but I loved every hour we spent there. :) LOVE that new 26.2 magnet - amazing!!! -C

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    1. I prefer a small expo and notice I'm more apt to make a purchase. I agree! The large ones are overwhelming! But Boston? Oh, yeah!

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  13. We have few race expos here that are exciting. I don't buy much because everything is so expensive !

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    1. I think most of the stuff can be purchased locally or ordered on-line much cheaper. But I do see specials occasionally. (Buy X and get 1 free.) Now, I typically look for a memento of the race itself or something unique.

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  14. hehe, the dress made me giggle. I don't think I could run in a dress? I won a skirt sport skirt at my last marathon, and it's my all time favorite!!!

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    1. I know! It's been retired to a swimsuit cover-up and works very well. I'm wearing a SkirtsSport Skirt at the marathon (zebra print). Love, Love, Love. Great pockets!

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  15. I'm not really a fan of shopping but I do enjoy the larger expos when they offer games, photo ops, and speakers! I really like that ornament!

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    1. I have seen a few of the Biggest Losers speak at their expos a couple of times. That was neat.

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  16. I am still on the hunt for a 26.2 small round magnetic to match my 13.1 I may have to get the big oval cause that's all I see. I personally like the dress course coming from me who wears loud skirts a lot.

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    1. My biggest problem with the dress is that it grew 6 inches and stuck to my legs after being soaked with sweat. And weighed 10 pounds. I think most people thought I didn't like the print. Ha Ha. Looks great as a swimsuit cover-up!

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  17. I like the dress! But I'm all about bright fun colors. I usually splurge on race shirts at the Chicago marathon expo. Other expos, I just breeze through.

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    1. See comment above. I had no problem with the bright fun colors, just it's performance. Too much soggy material. I do better with small expos.

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  18. My favorite expo find was a print at my tenth marathon, which happened to be the MCM. It's of different scenes along the route. The artist was there and signed it for me. It and a few other marathon posters hang in our basement.

    Since you don't like to run in the dress, could you wear it as a coverup on the boat after water skiing? It's very cute!

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    1. A signed print is a wonderful find! That is exactly what the dress was retired to. It works great as a swimsuit cover-up. I'll even run errands with it on too.

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  19. I wear that dress now as a swimsuit cover-up. At least I didn't completely wait my money. Yes, the Disney Marathon shirt is red and fits great!

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  20. I don't have much luck finding bargains at expo's. I do find interesting things that I want, but don't really need, so I usually take a pass on purchasing them. I think the dress is cute, but probably wouldn't be able to run in it....and I'm pretty free-spirited LOL Swimsuit cover-up is a great idea...or even a casual summer top with capri leggings ;-)

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    1. The worst thing about the dress is that is stuck to my legs, after growing in length about 6 inches once soaked with sweat. It is now a swimsuit cover-up and works perfectly! I'll also run errands dressed in it before heading to the lake. I'm glad it wasn't a total waste of money.

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  21. I love that ornament! Now I'm wishing I had an ornament to celebrate my first race. :)

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    1. I'm definitely on the lookout for a 26.2 ornament!

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  22. I bought that same magnet for the same reason! Congrats!

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    1. Mine is attached to the refrigerator. I'm too afraid someone would steal it off my car!

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I enjoy reading your comments. Thanks for taking the time to leave one!