Races with the BEST Race swag ever!

As sisters, we do tend to run a lot of races together. However, for various reasons there are races that we each choose to do on our own. This isn't a bad thing because we can each share a unique perspective on that race.

For this post, we each want to share a race (or race series) that we thought gave the best race swag!

I have to say that the best race swag I received came from the Run For The Dream Race in Williamsburg, VA. -M

This races swag wasn't necessarily in " race items" received but in the "experience" we were given. Not only did we get a race discount at a beautiful resort, but we also received the following.

1. This was not the best part of the race swag but I thought I would include it since it was included:  Backpack and cotton t-shirt which I never wore.

2. Free day passes for Colonial Williamsburg.

3. Free Tickets to Busch Gardens.

4. Free meal vouchers ($15 per person)

5. Free Transportation to and from Busch Gardens or the neighboring water park. 

6. Great post race party with Beer Garden and pulled pork sandwiches. I didn't have the beer but the pork sandwiches were yummy.

7. And of Course the beautiful medal.

I think the best race swag I received cam from the J &A race series.  In 2014, I was able to complete all the J&A races and this is what I got. -L


Of course all these races came with some pretty sweet medals too.

1. Virginia is for Lovers 14K- A wine glass, a Koozie, hat, and tech shirt

2. Shamrock Marathon - A blanket, beach towel, hat, and tech shirt.

3. Crawlin Crab-hat and tech shirt

4. Wicked-insulated mug and tumbler, and long sleeve shirt.

5. Surfin Santa- Long sleeve hoodie.

For completing all the J&A races in one calendar year I also got an insulated tote (shown above).

Of course our dream swag would be at a Disney race. We both agreed that those who complete a Disney race of  a half marathon or longer should get a free meal voucher for one of the Disney restaurants or better yet, a free park ticket.  We know that they did give out park tickets one year and we understand why they don't do it anymore, but we can d
ream right?




We will be linking up with the gals from TOTR.

39 comments:

  1. Free tickets to Busch Gardens sounds amazing! That is worth running a race for I think :)

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  2. That Williamsburg one sounds like a lot of bang for your buck! What was the race distance and how much did it cost?

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    1. There was an 8k and a half marathon. I don't remember the cost. Unfortunately they aren't doing it this year but maybe in 2017!

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  3. The Williamsburg race does sound like a great experience! I checked out their website and it looks like they had to cancel it for 2016 :( Hopefully they're back next year.

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    1. I did see that too. Apparently the stadium where they had the finish line is under construction. Maybe you can make it to the 2017 race if they do it.

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  4. Well now I just feel cheated by all the races that I've done, lol

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  5. The shamrock race sounds like it had some really fun stuff!! Love the idea of getting a blanket and beach towel, that's really fun useful things to give. I need to hunt down some races with fun swag like this!

    I totally agree about the Disney races. It would be nice to see a voucher for a free meal or something. Or even give a gift card for all of the races like they do for Wine and Dine. They typically give a $15 gift card with the wine and dine half, and I think that would be a nice touch for all of their races if nothing else.

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    1. I agree, they should give the $15 gift card out at all the Disney half marathons (and full), not just wine n dine!

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  6. The Ky Derby half marathon always has a virtual bag & I never take advantage of it. I need to do that this year.
    It doesnt take much to impress me - I got a Starbucks Cold Brew sample one time & I thought I hit the lottery :) haha

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  7. Dang, that was a lot of great swag! I wonder if they're still as generous?

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  8. I have not done any of those races! You have racked up a lot of swag though

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  9. Wow! That's so awesome! All of the sudden I feel that I need a beach towel and blanket in my life!!

    Hershey Half gives two park tickets per person to Hershey park, which has been the best swag I've gotten in a race. They are for the Hershey in Dark Season, but still, each worth $25 each!

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  10. Wow, the swag for the run for a dream race is awesome!! Love it! I ran the WDW marathon the year they gave out "marathon Monday" tickets...it sure was a nice perk!

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  11. I like that you included the "experience" as part of the swag. After you've gotten a few medals, the other stuff starts to become important. The experience definitely helps me decide what races I'm doing more than the medal.

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  12. Experience gifts are the BEST gifts! Because, we really don't need one more tech shirt. I'll take a visit to Busch gardens over a shirt!

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  13. Oh my goodness, I need to start doing the races that you both do! I have never in my entire life run a race that offered even a tenth of the swag that either of those races did! I've gotten so used to just getting the race shirt, maybe a medal, and nothing else. OMG if Disney gave out park tickets for their races, it would be impossible to register! It already almost is, LOL!

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  14. Wow, the swag from both of those races sounds great! I don't think I have gotten anything too memorable. I like getting something besides just a t-shirt!

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  15. The best swag I ever got was from the Space Coast Marathon - I loved getting a beach towel. Plus the shirt rocks and the medal is insane. I think the A1A Marathon has the best expo I've ever been to, and awesome post-race booths etc. I love when small races give you one really nice item in a bag. One 10k I run yearly gives us really nice water bottles screen printed with the race info. It's such a nice extra!

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  16. hehehe, yay for race swag! That definitely sounds like a lotttt of awesomeness piled into one race! I've only ever done one race, but it had pretty sweet swag as well (Tiffany's necklace for the Nike Women's Half presented to us on silver platters by the SF firemen! :P )!

    A meal ticket (or park, *coughcough*) would be so wonderful. *-* One can dream indeed...

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  17. Great Swag! I love that giant Medal from the Williamsburg Race. I have to chuckle a bit about Run Disney... I have done the marathon there 3 x's and the medals are awesome, esp. the one that celebrated the 20th year of the Disney Marathon, but a free meal voucher in one of the restaurants would be Awesome!!! We can dream right? Have a Great Week!!! :-)

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  18. You received some great swag! I assumed Disney runners got a free pass to the park. Bummer they no longer do. Thanks for linking up!

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  19. Free park tickets would be amazing race swag!

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  20. That's a lot of free stuff. What better way to recover after a race than at Busch Gardens or Colonial Williamsburg? Sounds like a great experience.

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  21. The last year that Disney gave out the free park ticket was 2011, the year I ran my first full (and it was the wdw marathon) and I remember being so proud to show my medal to get into the park!
    That being said, a local NOLA race that is held every Easter called the crescent city classic has great swag as far as experience. It has a great course through NOLA, free food and beer samples at the expo, t-shirt, and the post race party has great live NOLA bands, free beer, free food (think red beans and rice, etc) and the top 500 finishers get a beautiful poster from the race that an artist creates every year. It's so much fun! (and the race is just a 10k!)

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  22. Kinda, sorta, maybe makes me want to take up running?! LOL!

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  23. I was very impressed with the J&A swag when I ran Shamrock last year. They definitely give you a lot for the price of race registration.

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  24. That's quite the set of swag. I love the idea of getting a wine glass. I would love a pint glass from a race, but all the ones I've seen let you buy one, but don't include it.

    I'm to the point where I have enough t-shirts unless one is super unique or a great color // fit. But things like drinking glasses I'll always use. Or a food voucher. Nothing excites me more than a free finish line beer. It's the little things. Haha.

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  25. Wow, that Williamsburg swag bag was awesome! I've enjoyed all my VA races though. If only Disney would follow suit for as expensive as their races are.

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  26. The first year I ran a Disney half, they gave a park ticket to the marathon runners. I wonder why they stopped? I love the perks you received in Williamsburg! A beach towel is one of my favorite extras.

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  27. I did Run for the Dream in Williamsburg last year and loved it - so bummed that they weren't hosting it again this year!

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  28. Dang, thats some SWEET swag. I love the Williamsburg perks. What a cool way to bring (and keep) runners to your town!

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  29. Oooh, lots of great stuff from Williamsburg! I loved running there a few years back when we were visiting (even though it was abnormally hot).

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    1. I wonder if you ran the same year we were there. It was SO hot then!!!

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  30. For what you pay for a Disney race you should be allowed to stay in the park! Sweet swag on that race series!

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  31. I'd love to run Disney race just to get their medals!!!

    Should You Run With Or Without Music? https://candiesandcrunches.com/2016/04/25/should-you-run-with-or-without-music/

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  32. Free park tickets and I would sign up in a heartbeat. I love, love Disney but it's so pricey! Run for the Dream sounds really awesome, though. I want to look into it!

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  33. all of the free paces and food sound great! I also would love if disney gave out something for finishers-especially of the full!

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