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| The latest addition to my collection. This one will never be worn at any time. |
Years ago as a new runner, I read Runner's World from cover to cover every month. Same thing with Women's Running. So, I'll hold one of them responsible for teaching me to never wear the race shirt on race day. If I remember correctly, I believe the article(s) said you had to earn the shirt first by finishing the race. That makes good sense. I'm not superstitious enough to think it would cause you bad luck, but here are a few other reasons not to wear it:
It's too big
It's too small
The shoulders are not wide enough (always a problem for me)
It's cotton
It's ugly (come on, you know some of them are!)
It doesn't match
It stinks (and why, pray tell, is that?)
The neckline is too high
It makes you feel itchy
I have worn the shirts immediately after a race. If you are cold, they
certainly help warm you up. It's also nice to travel home in a dry
shirt if you have a good distance to go. I've sat on them in the car on a hot sweaty day as well. Mmm...I'll also admit to using them as a napkin while inhaling post race food.
Some of them are slept in and a rare few are worn on training runs. An even rarer few make it to the grocery store or are displayed on a casual Friday. Many are now part of a king-sized quilt. But NEVER have I worn the race shirt during the race. Have you?
Some of them are slept in and a rare few are worn on training runs. An even rarer few make it to the grocery store or are displayed on a casual Friday. Many are now part of a king-sized quilt. But NEVER have I worn the race shirt during the race. Have you?
Thanks to our wonderful hosts:
Patty @ My no-guilt life!
Marcia @ Marcia's Healthy Slice
Ericka @ MCM Mama Runs
We've been very fortunate that we've received some great race shirts, they are a nice design and always fit well. I think that's because a majority of our shirts are from Disney races or rock n roll races.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Most of my Disney shirts are wonderful.
DeleteAll good reasons not to wear the race tee to the race!
ReplyDeleteI was like you -- in fact, I'm like that with anything I'm interested in -- I read the heck out of it before ever trying it, so I knew even as a beginner not to wear something new to a race or a cotton tee.
Thankfully cotton tees are now the exception, not the rule!
I still receive cotton Tees, usually at 5ks. My kids get a lot of them if I trade up to a larger size.
DeleteI did wear a race shirt earlier this month for a St. Patrick's Day race since I didn't have anything green. That was the only time I've done it. But it's a company where I've done their races before and they always use the same type of shirt so I knew it would work for me. I like the idea of saving some of my race shirts for a quilt.
ReplyDeleteI would wear them in a special circumstance as long as they fit. That is usually my biggest problem.
DeleteI feel the same way! The most wear I get out of them is to sleep in them. Very rarely do I wear them on training runs. Usually they just sit in a drawer for a while before I send them to Goodwill.
ReplyDeleteSome do make nice sleep shirts but others make me feel itchy. I'll scratch all night!
DeleteIf I had had the pumpkin spice shirt with me at the race site, I would've worn it post race. It was such a cold day, with brutal wind. But I didn't pack it, and I was already wearing all the layers I brought with me.
ReplyDeleteI normally get my race packet on race day but that is not always an option, especially for larger races.
DeleteI did it when I first started running... & then learned the etiquette & now I've become one of those people that see people running in the shirts & am like, NOPE, you're not supposed to do that :)
ReplyDeleteIt's actually nice to sometimes see all the people in the shirts. It usually means they are new and that's a good thing!
DeleteI've never worn the race shirt in a race and I never will. I won't put down anyone who does, but I can't help it if when I see someone who does and I think they must be new to running.
ReplyDeleteBesides, I like to wear mine either the evening of the race out to dinner, or on the plane ride home and sometimes even to work the first day back. I couldn't do that if it was all sweaty and gross.
It's fun to wear them later in the day...if they fit. I have wide shoulders and most often the shoulder seams are too narrow.
DeleteThat's a good point - it could definitely be convenient to have your race shirt after the race, especially if it's long sleeved. I've been fortunate lately that most of my race T-shirts have been technical so I'd actually want to wear them!
ReplyDeleteI like the tech shirts and if they fit well I enjoy wearing them. That boils down the a very few for me.
Deletenot a huge fan of race shirts, and I Never wear them on race day. Usually they end up as jammie shirts, lol
ReplyDeleteYes, I definitely wear some of them to bed.
Deletesame here - never worn one to a race, just after if they fit or give away.
ReplyDeleteI do swap up for larger sizes and give to the kids sometimes. I'm saving all of my half shirts for my next quilt.
DeleteCotton ones become my pjs. When I travel, I leave them behind to lighten up the luggage. Most tech tees I never wear. The long sleeve marathon ones I do. Never at a race though. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite would be a long sleeve tech in a women's cut. But even then they may not fit right.
DeleteI never wear the race shirt during the race, but usually afterwards once I have cleaned up. Usually my shirts end up in quilts too, but there a few that I would never cut up (Boston, NYC marathons). I really hate it when runners wear a finishers jacket before the race but the shirt, even though I would not, I don't care. But the jackets drive me bonkers!
ReplyDeleteI've met a few runners wearing half fanatic gear when they haven't qualified yet. That's not right. You need to earn that first.
DeleteFunny! I've used mine as a bag for all the post-race stuff given out!
ReplyDeleteThat's an excellent idea.
DeleteLOL ! Agree with all your reasons. And Tina has a good idea too... post race bag. I know some races here have started to question if they are going to do them and if we would prefer paying less if there were not a shirt.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Holly !
They could just give me a square for a quilt!
DeleteI definitely never wear the new shirt on race day and I'm always surprised at the number of runners that look like seasoned runners who do. But I definitely love wearing nice technical T's on training runs and in races. I also enjoy looking at other runners' shirts during a race to see which races they have done The cotton t-shirts are great for sleeping in, as you said, and for yard work, etc.
ReplyDeleteI do like reading the shirts other runners wear! I forgot about that.
DeleteNEVER! and I love my queen size race shirt quilt! One of the best gifts I have bought for myself :)
ReplyDeleteThe quilts are such a great way to remember the races without hanging on to the shirts.
DeleteI've only once worn the race shirt on race day and that was when I was traveling for a race and had severely underdressed/underpacked for the cold weather. Beyond that, I am too worried about potential chafing and other issues to wear an untested shirt. Heck, I have problems even with well-tested gear giving me issues on race day. Funny how that works, eh?
ReplyDeleteI definitely like to test all of my clothing too. I can see where I would wear the shirt if I wasn't dressed warmly enough.
DeleteAfter reading many of the posts I think the only exception is wearing a virtual race shirt during your run! I'm saving a lot of my shirts to get a quilt made too! :)
ReplyDeleteI want to make my next quilt out of half marathon shirts only. I intentionally left them out of the first quilt.
Deletei love all of your reasons. I usually end up donating shirts that are cotton
ReplyDeleteI've sized up lately and given them to my kids. They like to wear them.
DeleteWhy are some of the graphics so stiff and thick and HUGE? Those are the ones that smell too. It's almost like plastic or something.
ReplyDelete