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Wearing the race day t-shirt at the race... Cool or uncool?

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  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,282 MFP Moderator
    Also - I don't wear the shirt until I've completed the race. I DNF'd a half once. I have the shirt from it, but haven't worn it... I think I have some sort of mental block. LOL!
  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,445 Member
    I would have no problem wearing a shirt from a DNF race. But for my spring DNS race I didn't even bother picking up the package. I figured I wouldn't wear the shirt anyway.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    I generally put my shirt on after the race if I am hanging around for post race festivities, usually over top of my race tank to keep me warm.
  • BasicGreatGuy
    BasicGreatGuy Posts: 857 Member
    edited October 2016
    It shouldn't matter what other people may think about something as stupid as whether or not someone runs in the race t-shirt. If you want to wear it, feel free. Life is meant to be lived and experienced in a meaningful and fun way, not lead by and or dictated by such trivial things as this, in my opinion.
  • Naija82
    Naija82 Posts: 345 Member
    Most of the races I've done I've only gotten a T-shirt at the end of the race but a couple of races (Royal Parks Half in the UK) I have gotten a T-shirt beforehand and I have worn these on race day, don't consider myself a newbie, not sure what the big deal is to be honest!

    Also I have volunteered at a few races where I've taken home left over finisher t-shirts, as far as I'm concerned it's an extra T-shirt that I can use to run.
  • silverfiend
    silverfiend Posts: 329 Member
    All the races I have entered have given a shirt in the pre-race packet along with the time-chip bib. Yes, I see many people wearing the shirt in the race and I never gave it a second thought. I don't wear it in the race because I already have my clothes picked out (and I'm wearing them) and the race shirt is an unknown. Some cotton blends can be much rougher and being unwashed it could be a lot rougher than it would be normally. I prefer proven, known items when I race.
  • rrcoffey
    rrcoffey Posts: 72 Member
    I don't, mainly because, 5K fun-run or half-marathon, I don't wear anything new on race day. I see plenty of people that do, though, and I can't say that I've thought much or made any judgements (i.e. dorky or not) about it.

    Races around here (MA/NH) give them out with packet pick up.
  • 99clmsntgr
    99clmsntgr Posts: 777 Member
    edited October 2016
    Pretty sure Droz sums it up the best...

    dontbethatguy1.jpg

    (FWIW, I wear the shirt that has my coach's logo when I race or my Clemson sleeveless tee)
  • Gouldy_locks
    Gouldy_locks Posts: 10 Member
    I ran a local 5k that was to raise money for a lady w cancer and we all wore the t-shirt for that... but other than that... not cool. You can't wear it until you earn it! Total newbie move!!
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    edited October 2016
    Some crazy *kitten* judgement going on...
    You earn participation shirts by paying the fee. You earn finishers shirts by finishing.

    @BasicGreatGuy summed it up best.
  • brandiuntz
    brandiuntz Posts: 2,717 Member
    MNLittleFinn wrote: »
    I don't, mainly because it's a new shirt, and even if it's from a proven brand, I only wear stuff I've worn on training runs already.

    ^^This. I always wear a shirt I trust on race day.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    Ran my 6th Race with Grace 10K today, and this year's race shirt is now hanging in my closet. I actually wore the 2013 shirt under last year's 25th anniversary jacket for this years race. Saw there was one race shirt left for sale from last year, when I didn't get a shirt because I registered early enough to get the jacket. Plopped down my $5, bought the 2015 shirt, and it became a dry shirt to change into after running 10K in the rain. Absent purchasing last year's shirt, I would have had no problem changing into this year's shirt to be dry while I waited for the awards ceremony. Many other runners did just that.
  • Kadi82
    Kadi82 Posts: 361 Member
    I did for my 1st ultra as I used it to motivate myself to the finish but generally no I don't. I tend to go with what i train in
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    While the "nothing new on race day" is a good guideline, a 5K is not long enough to worry about holding to this rule for a shirt.

    My last 5K I wore a shirt I had never worn before, a 100% cotton shirt no less!!!, and in spite of that stacked against me, I still PR'd.

  • KateRunsColorado
    KateRunsColorado Posts: 407 Member
    All I'll say on the subject, is that if you DO wear it, you're much more likely to get your picture used as marketing for the race!
  • daj150
    daj150 Posts: 815 Member
    I treat the shirt like a medal; it's my prize for completing the race. I'll usually put on the event shirt AFTER the race b/c I am either freezing or need something dry. Personally, I don't wear anything for an event if I haven't completed it...I feel it's an item to show my accomplishment...even if I am the only one who cares about that accomplishment. I used to judge others a long time ago for wearing the shirt or event clothing during the race, but it's so common now that I don't even care anymore. All that matters is you have fun or achieve your goal. Keep on racing!!!!
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