The Great Race Shirt Debate : Part 2

Last Summer we wrote a post title The  Great Race Shirt Debate where we talked about when and where to wear the race shirt.  The post certainly did live up to its name because it did become quite a debate with everyone sharing their opinion ( which we liked, that's why we wrote the post).


Well, I for one have to admit that some of my opinions have changed since writing that post last year.
 I mentioned that after the race weekend, I rarely wore the race shirt again.  Actually, here are my exact words.......
 If we don’t wear the race shirt during the race, we have very little opportunity to wear it again. We don’t go to the store, the bank, or to work in our race shirts. We rarely work out or do training runs in T-shirts either. We prefer tanks.

Ok, I admit it. Since I wrote that post last year, I have gone to the store in my race shirt. I had gone to the post office, the bank, and physical therapy in my race shirts.  And yes, I have even done some training runs in my race shirts ( all tech ones of course). I'm beginning to think that maybe I've accumulated some better race shirts since I wrote the post last year.  I will admit that I have yet to wear the cotton t-shirt I was given from the  Disney Royal Family 5K.  And I didn't wear the  Disney Jingle Jungle 5K to race in either, but I did wear it to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party  while I was there but haven't worn it since.


We don't make a habit of wearing the race shirt on race day, but we have done it before and don't see anything wrong with it. And no, not just beginner runners wear the shirt despite what people may think.
As we mentioned in the previous race shirt post, we truly do believe that if the shirt actually says “finisher” on it, then maybe you should wait till you finish the race to wear it, but keep in mind that if you are picking up your race shirt at packet pick up, you have been given the shirt for “registering” not “finishing”.  The medals are for finishing.

    A reader found our post in a forum last year and had made the comment that
 
Real Runners" have better gear than to need to wear the race shirt and obviously with a name like "Fairytales and Fitness" we are not "real runners" so it is okay for people like us to wear the shirts that are provided.

What do you think of that?     ~M


If you would like to read the original post about the race shirts and read what others had to say about it, you can find it HERE


Which race shirt is your favorite? Which one do you wear the most?

Don't forget to enter the Shape up for Summer GIVEAWAY going on now!

45 comments:

  1. First, whoever wrote that comment in that forum is an ignorant jerk and not a real runner, because real runners don't put other runners down!

    Second, I don't have any real opinions about race shirts. I will wear mine wherever and whenever the mood hits. Tech shirts I will run in and workout it. Normal t-shirts I might wear around the house, or donate, depending on how many I have lingering around at the time :)

    Either way, race shirts are earned, they are a fun way torecgonize other runners (and other runners who have done the same races) and I think all runners should and can wear them. Badges of honor to wear with pride :)

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    1. I wonder if that person will read our "Part 2"...haha. I like the way you think that our shirts are a badge of honor, well put Alicia!

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  2. Umm... wow. That comment is so rude it's almost unbelievable. My first couple 5ks were fun runs and I just assumed you were supposed to wear the race shirt during the race. Why else would they give it to you during packet pick up? It was only this year that I heard some people believe you shouldn't wear the shirt during the race itself. I have to admit that I've stopped wearing race shirts during the race but it's because I now have tech shirts of my own that I am comfortable in and prefer to wear during a race. In the races I've run around here, I've seen plenty of people wear the shirt and plenty not wear the shirt so you'll be in good company whatever you decide!

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    1. Yes, I do believe I may have thought the same you did for my very first 5K!

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  3. Either way, people are out running. I don't do it because I've never worn the shirt before and if it chafed, that would be all I could think of. If they're good tech shirts, I'll wear them to other places and possibly to run in. Possibly because I'm extremely picky about the cut of shirts I'll wear while working out. Regular t-shirts become around the house shirts or PJs.

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    1. Yup, we both continue to wear the tech shirts, the t-shirts not so much.

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  4. My issue with the race shirt is more superstition than anything. After getting so sick at my first half and barely finishing, I save all the race gear for afterwards.

    And to the jerk who wrote that comment, get a life. If you actually read this blog, you would know these two girls ARE real runners and one is a pretty speedy marathoner! :) -C

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    1. Sorry you got so sick after your first half. Were you wearing the race shirt?
      Thanks for the kind words!

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  5. Depending on if the race shirt is tech or cotton will depend on when and where I wear it. I usually wear the cotton ones around the apartment, whether while lounging or doing house work. I get a lot more use out of the tech ones, and especially love my two long sleeve ones from Marathon Weekend. I don't have a consistent pattern as to when and why I wear my shirts (often times it depends on what's clean), but they are all a great reminder of all the hard work and dedication it takes to be a runner.

    And in regards to the comment that was made in the forum last year, in the words of Michelle Tanner, "HOW RUDE!"

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    1. Don't you wish ALL race shirts were tech shirts. Shouldn't have all the race directors got the memo that running in cotton is bad?

      Haha, we were big Full House fans back in the day!

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  6. I can't believe that person wrote that comment. I am not a fan of the race shirt on race day because I typically have an outfit all picked out weeks before! :)

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    1. Do you wear your race shirt sometime after the race?

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  7. WOAH! That comment is ridiculous! Wow. I don't wear my race shirt on race day or before race day, but I have been wearing my tech shirts to the gym or when it's "cooler" out (although cool to us Floridians is warm to many other places). I don't see anything wrong with wearing the shirt after the event and I see many, much faster, runners wearing their tech tees from races during training runs! I even see other runners wearing old race tees from different races during races.. so it's not a huge deal!

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    1. Exactly! That was the point we were trying to make. Wear the shirt, don't wear the shirt, but don't judge people either way. Hope your leg is doing well Rachel!

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  8. 1) Has it really been a year since you did that post?! I remember reading that one but doesn't feel that long ago - man time flies!!

    2) Whoever wrote that comment is an ignorant and arrogant. They are either so good they think they are above everyone else, or someone who doesn't workout at all and doesn't have much support in life. Either way, you both are GREAT runners and athletes and don't deserve a comment like that!

    3) I agree that if a shirt says finisher, probably not the best idea to wear it at the race, but really to each their own. It's their choice and it doesn't affect me in the least lol.

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    1. It wasn't actually a year, but it was sometime last summer. Thanks for sticking with us for this long Lauren!

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  9. I'm sorry, who made this rule? Are people really that worried about what other people are sweating in? I have done it both ways. It seems like the really themed races have better shirts, and tons of people wear them during the race. I am not much of a runner. I struggle with my weight and plantar fasciitis. If I make it to the finish line of a 5K, it's because I worked to get there. I paid my entry fee, I got up early in the morning to trot my chubby bottom down the sidewalk in my neighborhood. Anyone judging my shirt can kiss the fattest part of my aforementioned bottom.

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    1. This is great! And I agree, the better themed races usually have the better shirts. Like I mentioned earlier, I have done it both ways before too! The race I just ran in Atlantic city, I wore the race shirt ( it was tech) and there were a ton of other runners wearing it as well. And good for you for getting out there and getting to the starting line of the 5K!

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  10. I don't wear race shirts for races because I usually have an outfit already picked out. Shirts fit me funny sometimes and if I relied on a shirt I received at an expo, I might meet a disaster! LOL
    I do wear them after though...and I like to work out in them. My marathon shirts are kind of like a badge of honor for me. :)
    That persons comment was rude and completely uncalled for! However you decide to wear your shirts is your business. People amaze me, really.

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    1. Yes, I love wearing the race shirt after the race or when we go out that evening. You are right. It is like a badge of honor.

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  11. I'm a new runner and never realized people had such deep seeded feelings towards race shirts :-) For the most part, I don't wear the race shirt until after the run. Depending on the shirt design and race, I may wear them all the time - my Disney PHM shirts (both race and I Did It) are regulars in my wardrobe, as well as my the shirt from my second half a couple weeks ago. Since it would be frowned upon to wear my medals around all day, everyday (it would be frowned upon, right? Or, am I just being paranoid) I feel like it's my chance to humble brag about my accomplishment. So much hard work, sweat and tears went into training for those races, I like being able to remind myself that I accomplished a goal I never imagined I could.

    I work at home and keep an eye on my babies - I wear t-shirts and jeans almost every day. Race shirts are just a natural fit into my wardrobe. Most of my cotton 5K shirts are sleep shirts actually.

    I honestly don't care what people think about me wearing race shirts. I'm a rookie - I'm lucky if I remember running etiquette while I'm on the course - I don't have the energy to worry about possible etiquette regarding race attire.

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    1. Haha, you wear that race shirt proudly Janae, wherever you wear it! And don't you wish you could continue to wear your medals around? For some reason I think that Disney is the only place we can wear our medals a few days later and people would completely understand! :)

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    2. Love your name. I have a beautiful niece named Janae.

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  12. So many opinions on this. . . so many guidelines, haha! BUT it's only for me. I should write a post about it :) Honestly, I don't care what others do anymore. To each their own.

    I love wearing my race shirts because I agree with Karen, they're a badge of honor for me. It's also a fun distraction to read other people's race shirts when I run in the park. So, I try to wear race shirts in case it's fun for others, too. But then again, my plain ol' UA blank shirts that fit better usually win out.

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    1. I agree. I do think its fun to read other peoples race shirts. Sometimes I discover races that I didn't even know existed and sometimes its a great conversation starter when you see someone who has a shirt on from a race that you ran too!

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  13. I wholeheartedly agree that a shirt you get a packet pickup is not the same as a finisher's shirt and can be worn during a race, if you choose to. I respect the "nothing new on race day" rule, but definitely over the winter there were times when I wore my race shirt over a long sleeve tech shirt so there were no worries about chafing, etc. I like to see it in pictures, it helps me remember which race I was running!

    I have definitely also worn race shirts after the race. I typically wear them on 'casual Fridays' at work, or on weekends. But it depends on how attractive the shirt is. I've also worn some to train in - I love the 2014 PHM black tech "I did it" shirt that we were able to order online after the race - I think it looks lovely with one of my SparkleSkirts.

    However, I will continue to assume that people wearing race shirts on race day with their bibs pinned to their backs ARE newbies. :)

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    1. I have only seen the bibs pinned backwards a few times and wondered if there was a legitimate reason for it. The only thing I could think of was that maybe the runner thought they would be better spotted by the photographer if their number was on the back, but that didn't really make sense either, so I really don't know why people would do that.

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    2. Is it bad to be a "newbie?" I find running very intimidating online, people seem to be very critical of one another. I used to run (before the internet was so prevalent), I've had an injury and hope to run again one day--I'll be nervous that people will be thinking I'm stupid or "a newbie" based on what I've read on the internet.

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  14. That comment - geez. Gotta *love* those judgmental people, right?

    I still don't wear race shirts on the day of the race because A) I have a specific outfit already picked out; and B) Nothing new on race day. That said, if it's a cute shirt, I will wear it around town, and to train in. If it's ugly, well...maybe once after the race is over (usually that day, after I've showered) and then it's relegated to a hidden corner in my closet.

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    1. Yup, those shirts that I haven't worn during the race definitely get worn on race day after the shower!

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  15. Augh that comment! If there are some set of rules/standards I must follow to be a "real" runner, then I don't want to be a "real" runner! The two race shirts I wear the most while training are my Baltimore Marathon short sleeve (cause I don't have many short sleeve tech shirts) and my 2009 Boston (because it is BRIGHT YELLOW and awesome for trail running in PA).

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    1. I know right. So many people have so many rules. where exactly do these "rules" come from?

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  16. My first half was the Princess in February, and I regularly wear both my tech shirt and my I Did It Shirt to work on casual Fridays. Throw that together with a cardigan and I can humble brag about the race once in a while around the office. :-)

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  17. Wow... that comment...
    I actually wear my race shirts that are t-shirts more then tech shirts. I wear them as sleepwear usually :)
    I will usually wear my race tech shirts the NEXT year of the race. So I wear a 2013 shirt for the 2014 race... it really will confuse me looking back at pictures later in life :)

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  18. Umm, okay, really? Who CARES what shirt anyone else is wearing? Egads, if I like the shirt, I'm wearing it! It's that simple! Now if it's cotton, then the only place I'll wear it is to knock around in or as a jammie top, but the tech tops go everywhere. I've never worn one to a race as Iike to wash them before I wear them. My only battle comes at the expos with the I Did It shirts. I'm afraid if I buy one before I actually finish, then I'm jinxing myself. Why don't they sell those AFTER the race? Can you imagine all those happy runners crossing the finish line on adrenaline highs? It'd be like the shirt vendors hit the lottery!

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  19. Well I would just ignore the race forum comment! Some people just go online to complain, and no one can please those types of people:)
    There are so many bits of everything goes these days in running. Everyone probably has an opinion, but things have changed, so I don't think it matters as much anymore. I mean half the stuff people run in (certain sexy costumes, or half naked, or naked even barefoot running) are things I wouldn't be caught dead doing. But to each there own....
    I've never worn a race shirt during a race, I think my dad wouldn't speak to me if I did:) He is from the generation that you just didn't do things like that, and he loves it when I run races that hand out the shirt after just to the finishers. LOL
    But mostly, I don't do it because I like to pre-test my running clothes and make sure I have things that won't chaff or drive me nuts in the race:) However, I have worn past race shirts in races, many times actually!
    However, do I wear my race shirts in other times. Yup, you pretty much won't find me in anything but race shirts unless I am forced to dress up for something, LOL

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  20. Real runners are people who go out and run. A mile, ten miles, in the park, on the street...even in Disneyland. As far as the shirts go, I sometimes wear the long sleeved tech shirts on training runs, but beyond that, they sit in a drawer. I don't pick up shirts anymore if they're cotton men's cut since they won't fit. I'm just not a fan of walking around wearing an advertisement.

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  21. People are so rude!

    I wear my most recent race shirt to work sometimes because it's long sleeved and not a terrible color. Other ones (especially non-tech ones) I wear when I'm being lazy at home.

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  22. Wow, I wonder who gets to decide who is a real runner. It's obnoxious when people get snobby about what others are doing. Personally, I have a superstitious side, so I don't typically wear race shirts to races, but I spend zero time thinking about what other runners are doing. If I see you out running, well that makes you a runner in my mind!

    Just ask the girls at Team Sparkle what a real runner is. They're crazy fast Boston qualifiers and wear costumes. Pretty sure they're "real runners" even though people love to bash on those that wear costumes.

    If I like the shirt, I wear it. I don't care what anyone thinks. And if they fit well, I run in them. Why not put a good free tech shirt use? Sorry some jerk made a rude comment. There's always going to be those that feel superior to everyone else, right?

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  23. Some people have no tack and write rude comments while sitting at their computer. I think anyone can wear a race shirt for practice runs, to the bank, the store whatever. I do wear some of mine to the gym mostly because I prefer other shirts when I am running.

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  24. I never wear my race shirts to the race, but I don't think anything less of people who do. I just normally have a cute outfit ready that I would rather wear. I do wear my shirts afterwards to class or to workout in. I feel like it's a good way to show off what I have done without wearing my medal everywhere because that would be too much :)

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  25. Um, what is wrong with people? If they don't have something nice to say, just be quiet!! Jeez!!!! I wear my race tech shirts to train in. My favorite shirt was my Baystate Marathon shirt but now its my Boston Marathon shirt.

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  26. Wine & Dine Half from last year is my favorite race shirt, although the Expedition Everest shirt from this year is pretty awesome! I don't wear my race shirts to the race but I do workout in them and wear some of them around on casual errands. And that jerk who criticized you two as non serious runners is just an idiot who doesn't deserve any of your attention or energy! You're both awesome runners!

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  27. I've never done it, but it doesn't matter to me if people wear their race shirts during the race where they received the shirt. I remember wearing a race shirt for another race during a half marathon and someone came up behind me and started a conversation about that race after seeing my shirt. That was great!

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  28. Well... that comment was pretty rude! If he/she was a runner, I would think they would be more supportive and friendly!

    I usually don't wear my race shirt on race day, though there have been exceptions. Example: I ran in a Crosstown Classic, where you chose your 'team', which was either North Side or South Side. On race day, you were required to wear your 'team' shirt. The only reason I don't race in my race shirts provided for that specific race, is because if I haven't tried it on a run and I am weary of it causing issues during the race (chafing, doesn't fit quite right, etc.). I don't look down on those who do – it's a personal choice. I do, however, wear almost all of my race shirts for training runs. Most of them are such a good quality, I don't really have the need to buy other tech shirts and am able to 'save' money (obviously spending a bit because of the races, but I think it's worth it). And if it's a shirt I don't like to run in, I'll wear it around the house or to run errands. I like to get my money's worth :)

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