For today's Tuesday On The Run we are talking about race swag: what we liked best and what our dream swag would be. I've run my share of races (over 150), but have run few where we received anything noteworthy other than the usual T-shirt. Although, I must admit to having a tiara, boa and a few tropical leis! You won't see me at the grocery store in any of those.
The most common extra I get in my swag bag is a reflector or a blinking light. I'm very touched that so many organizations are concerned about my safety! {Hey, I could use them as Christmas ornaments, don't you think?} But seriously, it's definitely not what I consider dream swag.
It is nice (and different) to get the extra swag of a toboggan or throwaway gloves when it's cold. But, it's still not something I'm wishing for. Yes, the dark green fleece hat has come in very handy for winter runs. Dream worthy? No.
If we are talking "extra" -- how about the EXTRA large medals we are now receiving! Are races now trying to outdo one another? I thought the Nashville boots and Denver mountain were gigantic, but they pale in comparison to the recent Destin sunset.
And speaking of Destin, the flip flops we received at the finish line of this half marathon were a nice touch. We even got to choose the design we wanted. I went with patriotic. Am I dreaming of shower shoes? Nah.
If I had to pick my favorite swag item, it would be the colorful full sized beach towel from the Mercedes Half. I can never have enough beach towels around in the summer. Naturally, I won't let anyone use this one! Ha!
The one item I'd like to be given, is a piece of commemorative jewelry. A silver bracelet. Earrings. A necklace with charm is OK too. Is that too much to ask? {Probably!}
Tell me about your favorite extra!
Thanks to our wonderful hosts:
Patty @ My no-guilt life!
Marcia @ Marcia's Healthy Slice
Ericka @ MCM Mama Runs
I'd also love jewelry! Socks aren't exactly the stuff of dreams, but I do wear mine a lot. I never wear the shirts and wish there was an option to not get one.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a nice way to try out different brands of socks. They are just as important as shoes in my book!
DeleteI am so jealous - I never have gotten any of these cool things. The flip flops are my favorite!!!
ReplyDeleteMedals do seem to be getting bigger & bigger, aren't they?
The flip flops were a very cool item and so appropriate for that race! Some race directors are trying to outdo each other with the size of the medal, I think.
DeleteI love the beach towel! I'd also love a fleece stadium blanket, since I've been finding myself freezing on bleachers at track meets for hours on end. I got one race necklace, I believe it was Zooma's first year, but it's so tiny and meh. I feel picky saying that but it is what it is. Thanks for linking!
ReplyDeleteA smaller travel blanket would be nice too! I'm always cold on car trips.
DeleteYou are right about the beach towel! I got one at Celebration half and that sucker is nice! Hands down, probably my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I'm going to say this, but some of my beach towels are too thick. The Mercedes towel is just right!
DeleteI've never gotten safety blinkers as swag, so that's a new one. Medals do seem to be getting bigger, and there's a series in Dallas where the medals are huge.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to wear my Disney Marathon medal in the parks afterward, who wouldn't -- right? I had to give it to one of my kids. It felt too heavy! At some point, they WILL be too large.
DeleteOK, first I have to chuckle because I am currently taking a Linguistics Class and we were just talking about words that people use in one part of the country that mean something else. And "tobogan" was one of our words today! To my husband, it means a knit hat as well. Where I am from, a tobogan is a sled. Anyway,I think flip flops after a race is great swag. I also love beach towels too, as does my Labrador! I love the big towels I can wrap her in after she's done swimming!
ReplyDeleteHa! Toboggan is both items to me! And, I've always thought that was so weird! My dogs can't use the Mercedes towel. Hands off!
DeleteI love that beach towel. I wouldn't let anyone else use it either.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I wish I got more blinky lights. I use them when I bike ride & just pitch the cheapo ones when the batteries die. It makes riding at dusk a lot safer.
That is a good use for the lights! I have a couple already on my bike. When they wear out, I'll have to remember the ones I have from race packets.
DeleteI would love a beach towel!! Also a blanket! does anybody do Yoga mats? That would be an awesome bragging mat!
ReplyDeleteA yoga mat would be a very nice and different item to receive. I haven't heard of anyone doing that though.
DeleteOoh, jewelry would be sweet! I need to run the Nike race that hands out the Tiffany necklaces one of these days.
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely love to received one of those! Unfortunately, they don't have those races near me. Ooohh...racecation!
DeleteI love my Nike necklace. I think some of the other women's races give jewelry too. That towel is pretty sweet though - one of the beach towels we use is from my senior year of high school. I could use a new one LOL.
ReplyDeleteHA HA! My husband still uses a monogrammed beach towel from his high school graduation. I am very impressed how well it held up all these years!
DeleteI've only got safety lights once! Of course I don't race as much as you do.
ReplyDeleteI want shoes like all the ZOOMA Ambassadors are getting (although I don't want to be a ZOOMA Ambassador).
I've thrown most of the reflector and blinky lights in Goodwill boxes over the years. These are what I received recently. I'm not sure why I get so many!
Deletethe flip flops from Destin are adorable! I think the idea of clothing over than shirts is really nice!
ReplyDeleteI thought the flip flops were spot on for a beach race. And different!
DeleteOh a beach towel would be a nice addition...I love your Destin medal too!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a crazy medal? The light shines through the orange sun too!
DeleteThe towel is a great idea ! I have NEVER seen a reflector light. I got a bag of apples once and a neck warmer that I still wear.
ReplyDeleteThe size of those medals ? Crazy !
A bag of apples? That is certainly different. I have not received a neck warmer. I'd like that!
DeleteI love the flip flops! I've never gotten any cool stuff. Around my parts the swag bags usually have a cup of water bottle and lots of flyers promoting local stores. I would love some jewelry or even a cool pair of socks!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's typical to get an energy bar, a bottle of water and YES flyers. Other common items are plastic cups, step counters, Biofreeze, and road ID coupons. I want socks too!
DeleteI like the towel! Especially because it's something different than what you would normally get. That Destin medal is huge! My favorite will probably always be the Tiffany's necklace from Nike Women's San Francisco half. I was sad that they discontinued it as I would have loved to have gotten another now that I not too far from SF.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the different items you get. It means somebody thought outside the box. It would be very nice to get a Tiffany necklace!
DeleteI'd love blinky lights - I always lose mine!
ReplyDeleteI need to remember I still have a few if I ever need any more for my bike! I don't wear them running as I stick to my neighborhood and might see ONE car that early in the morning.
DeleteYou know I could be wrong but I think my towel from the Mercedes is different. I think that was a very useful race swag. I keep mine in the RV and everyone knows it's hands off!
ReplyDeleteThat Destin medal is just the bomb! I am still in awe of it!
I think it's the perspective. When I spread it out and backed away to take the picture -- it did look different than I remembered! I had no idea that much white was on it. I love how the light shines through the Destin medal. I'm saying that race is a REPEAT.
DeleteI'd like someone to give out a small blanket for road trips. I'm always freezing in the car. OOOH! Shoes tags! Yes!
ReplyDelete