What I realized from my race bibs

I have all these cool ideas of what I would like to do with my race bibs, but for now they are just stuffed inside a scrapbook. They are not placed neatly on pages, they are literally in a pile and just shoved in there.  As I was adding another race bib to my collection, I took them all out and took a little stroll down memory lane seeing if I could remember which race each of them were from. You would think that was a no brainer, but really it wasn’t.


As I was shuffling through them, I realized a few things.


I love the bibs that are colorful or have graphics on them that represent the race.

I’ve only used my “Gear Check” ticket off my bib one time.

Although most bibs have a “Gear Check” ticket on them, only a few have beverage tickets and food tickets on them.

I ran one race that had 4 beverage tickets on it. WOW, is THAT much post race beverage necessary? 
Just to note, I have never used a post race beverage ticket. I may have removed one to give to another runner though.

Some bibs have the date of the race on it, some do not.


In order to determine which race I did which year, I would have to look at the timing chip and look at my age.  This worked in some cases.  In some cases my age was wrong.  It’s a good thing I was never close to placing in those particular race.

I have since put the name of the race and date (if it wasn't already on the front of the bib), and wrote my time on the back of each bib as well.

I don't know what I will ever do with these bibs (or why I even save them), but it's fun to look back on once in a while and another way to document little events in life.   -M

What are your thoughts?

43 comments:

  1. I pretty much only keep bibs from my halfs now, but they just live in a folder. I like those coasters you can make from bibs -- but who needs that many coasters?

    I've never used any beverage tickets either. I don't drink & Mr. Judy is usually not interested that early in the morning. But Mr. Judy is usually my gear check. :)

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    1. Yea, there are some pretty unique things you can make with those bibs. I'd be afraid to make those coasters myself. I feel I woulld mess it up then my bib would be ruined .



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  2. You've never used the drink ticket!? I don't think I've ever NOT used it lol. I agree that 4 is a lot, but some bigger races have concerts and fun stuff afterwards so I can understand people staying around (and maybe giving a drink to a family member who came to cheer you on).

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    1. Yup, I've never used one! I've torn a few off and gave them to other runners.

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  3. I think they are cool too! I keep mine on a couple cork boards in my gym!

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  4. After a race, I write on the back of the bib the date and my times so I can look back at races I run multiple times

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  5. I have all my bibs filed away but I write the finish time and AG placement on each one.

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  6. I used to save them, but I just don't. Takes up too much room! lol! If it was a special race, I saved it and wrote the details on it. But now I just have a list of my half and full marathons and dates and finish times. And I do have all my medals. It's fun to hear what runners keep and how they remember all their races.

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    1. I was shocked when I saw a runner toss his bib in a trash can after JUST crossing the finish line of the WDW marathon. You are right, it is fun to hear or see what runners keep or toss.

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  7. That is fun to look back at them! I don't save my bibs, just the shirts/medals. I rarely use bag check as well and I'm hit and miss on using the beverage ticket. Four is definitely a lot!

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    1. Haha 4 is a lot but it was definitely the hottest race I ever ran. I went straight to the bottled water though.

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  8. I had my bibs in a big poster frame and hung it up at work. Since I moved, I put them in my college diploma before packing everything up. I don't know what I want to do with them yet, but I won't get rid of them.

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  9. I cant handle the things hanging on the bottom - drink tickets or gear check in - I'm always tearing them off & tossing. I did learn to take my drink ticket & tuck away if anyone was looking for one at the finish - I'm SOOOO not a beer girl - someone can have my ticket every time.

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    1. Why is it that they always offer beer? Can't we get a race that offers free Starbucks at the end? That seems more reasonable for a morning race anyway, right?

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  10. I have a few hundred bibs in a folder. I always use my gear check and food/drink coupons!! Free is free!

    I love the bibs with my name on them but only the big races do that.

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    1. Oh I definitely would use my food coupon. I think I only ran one race that had a food coupon,

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  11. I've been trying to keep up a scrapbook where I post the race bib and at least once picture from that race on a page. Sounds easy enough but sadly, I'm about a year behind! :(

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    1. That's sounds great. I'd love to see what you've done. You should do a blog post about it.

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  12. I love bibs!!I have tons of plain ones, but my favorites are the ones with my name on them!!

    In my head, I plan to put them in a binder someday... but I have never written on them ! is that strange? the first year of them, I didn't even take off the safety pins!

    I never use my beverage tickets either! I have given mine away to friends!! See, the R'n'R bibs are huge! So I fold the beer and bag check in part!

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    1. A lot of my bibs still have the safety pins on them too. I don't know why, perhaps it was just laziness on my part.

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  13. I've saved every single race bib, and I always write the date and my finish time on it (and the name of the race if it's not printed on the bib), and I have them on a ring - it's been great fun to see that stack of bibs grow over the last seven years.

    I always tear off the extraneous stuff from the bib (the gear check/food/drink tabs), plus I take off the chip if it's thick (some have a layer of foam over them).

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  14. I save my bibs! On it I write the name and date (if not already printed) as well as my time and placement. I have to admit though, I'm behind on my record keeping.

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  15. I save my bibs too. They just in a pile in a folder.
    I had a few ideas years ago whenever I buy my forever home and get my awards room aka family pool table fun room. I want to either turn them into a table (well they'll all modgepodge to the surfaces) however I've also thought of converting them into the pooltable and overhead light design. or I'd like to do a unique wallpaper design on the sports wall.
    I know it sounds weird but if done in the right way I think it will add to a trophy room in a fun way. However I reserve the right to change my mind lol lol.

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    1. I'm glad you save your bibs too! I'd love to see what you end up doing with them.

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  16. My husband frames all of his race bibs and hangs them in our extra room. I shove all of mine in a drawer. It's pretty stuffed, I've been racing since 1994! I used to write my time and finishing position on the back, which is nice when you pull them out after a long time. Somewhere along the way I seem to have stopped doing that.

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    1. I bet you do have a lot of bibs! It must be a great trip down memory lane when you get to go through them.

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  17. I have all of my bibs in a folder. Extraneous stuff hanging off the bib really bugs me so I usually pull them off...but I always hang on the the drink coupon :)

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    1. I try to tuck those things under my bib while I'm running!

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  18. I also never use post race beverages as all I want is water - the wine comes much later that night. However, I do give them to others.

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    1. Haha, yes I go right to the water and could probably handle a Gatorade but that's it.

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  19. I have a similar issue, with the exception of my very first race. I accidentally melted that bib. #rookiemistake I still WANT to do something with my bibs, but right now they're just... stuffed in various places.

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    1. I tried to "smooth it out" for my scrapbook with an iron not really realizing what it was made out of (and I really should have realized given that it was a triathlon and it was obviously not paper because it survived water).

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  20. There are a few newer ones that I need to go back and write on.

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  21. I only got a medal holder last year! My bibs are stashed in a drawer. I do write my time and any AG placements on the back before shoving it in there. Once in a while I do go through them so they are worth keeping for now.

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  22. Which race did you run that had the four drink tickets?! I might need to look into that race in the future.

    I love race bibs that aren't too big. The Rock 'n' Roll race bibs are always massive so it's always hard to fit on my race shirt, lol

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  23. My race bibs are in a giant felt envelope until they get some sort of creative way to be saved or displayed. I also write the race name, date, my time/pace, and if I placed (in age group) on the back of the bibs so it's easy to remember!

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