Happy Tuesday! I’d like to apologize in advance if this post is kind of short. I’m currently in a food coma for my birthday dinner and going to bed early sounds really good right about now, lol.
Anyways….let’s talk race swag. For the purpose of this post, I’m excluding race medals from this category, so I’ll be focusing on the other swag – clothing, hats, etc. Let’s discuss!
This week’s Tuesday Topic: What’s the best and worst race swag you’ve ever received? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post!
Best Race Swag
Let’s start off with the good stuff first!
Shamrock Marathon 2018
Yes, we got the typical race shirt, but we also received an awesome hat and a beach towel! I love when races give out unique swag and this was my first time receiving a towel.
NYC Marathon 2016
If you don’t check a bag for the NYC Marathon you are gifted with an awesome poncho. I have to say that this kept me nice and warm after the long walk from the finish line to Central Park!
Hot Chocolate Philly 15K 2016
This race always has awesome race swag! I like that they always offer zip up jackets, as opposed to typical race shirts. Also, who doesn’t enjoy some chocolate goodies at the finish line?
I’m running this race on Saturday and I’ll be earning the zip up hoodie on the left!
Worst Race Swag
With the good, comes the bad..
Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia 2018
The race shirts, all 3 of them, were horrible for race. It’s a shame because I always love running in Philly but these shirts were just…not good. That year I ran all 3 races – 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Needless to say they all made it to my race shirt quilt from Project Repat. At least now they serve a purpose!
Fred Lebow Half Marathon 2015
I ran this race the year I completed 15 half marathons in 2015. This was my first race in that quest. A half marathon, in January, in Central Park just screams fun, right?! I remember that it was super cold that day and back in 2015 they didn’t give out race medals. We received a bright yellow cycling cap at the end of the race…which made absolutely no sense because it was January…
Tell me: What’s the best and worst race swag you’ve ever received?
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Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
Those NYC ponchos are sweet! My friends are doing a Hot Chocolate race at the end of the month. I can’t do it but i’m definitely gonna have FOMO over it! I have run a half with chocolate at the end though (of course!).
Darlene says
Jeri is doing the 5k and Deidre lost her roommate. Just sayin’
kookyrunner says
I really, really loved that poncho. It definitely feels like a nice warm hug, especially after running 26.2 miles!
Wendy says
ZOOMA gives great race swag, but you pay for it! Right now, my favorite swag is that stocking cap I got at the Shuffle on Sunday.
kookyrunner says
I’ve heard that their race swag is awesome!
Kimberly Hatting says
I don’t really have a best swag to mention…there’s been a lot of sweet stuff (1/4 zip jackets, full zip track jackets, pom pom beanies, etc.). But the bad….I also have one of those Philly RnR shirts LOL I don’t know if you remember, three years ago I ran a 10K on an airport strip…beautiful medal, but my AG award was an aviator scarf with the race logo (??????). I still have not piloted an airplane, so the scarf is hanging with my medals…
kookyrunner says
Umm…I definitely missed the aviator scarf story but that gave me a great laugh this morning LOL
Darlene says
I love when your swag is not a shirt. I hope I get a poncho in Nov.
My favorite is a jacket or sweatshirt or even a hat.
kookyrunner says
You’ll get the poncho if you don’t select the gear check option.
Darlene says
hmmm…It will depend on the weather.
Thanks for the info.
Chaitali says
I love the blanket that they give out at the Richmond Half. I might be biased since that was my first half 🙂 But I love it and still use it all the time. Functional swag is the best.
kookyrunner says
I’ve seen those blankets and they are awesome!
Sandra D Laflamme says
How awesome that you have been to races where the swag is a zip up fleece. Love the shamrock hat too. So cute! I hate when the race shirts are ugly colors or just fit weirdly.
Cari says
Mm food coma. Happy birthday! I think I might have said that on the Run Down, but can never say it too much
Love your Shamrock Swag. Still hoping I can do Bk Hot Cocoa because everyone raves about that
Ugh, Lebow. Glad they switched to stocking cap. My worst is also NYRR — ugly ballcap for summer 5K. No thanks. I gave it away immediately
kookyrunner says
Yes I’m glad that the Fred Lebow half now gives out much better hats for the race!
Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner says
Those ponchos are great! I like it when races offer hats or blankets instead of shirts. They never seem to fit me the right way
kookyrunner says
ME too! I think blankets are the best. I’m hoping to run a race that will give out a blanket eventually.
Denise @ runheartfit says
Those Hot Chocolate races do have some great swag. Unfortunately the year I ran one, I think it was the first year they had them, I got a quarter zip that I couldn’t get over my head. :-/
kookyrunner says
Oh that’s a bummer 🙁 Hopefully if you run again you will have better race swag!
Zenaida Arroyo says
I would love to get a towel too! Ugh, those shirts from RnR Philadelphia! I am convinced that they should fire their designer and they truly suck.
kookyrunner says
They really should. Most of the shirts last year were pretty bad which is a shame because when I first starting running the series in 2015 the shirts were awesome!!!
Laurie says
The Shamrock marathon always give out such great swag! I came home with a bunch of good stuff from there too. I think the worst swag I ever got was a race that I ran where they gave us shirts from the previous year’s race! And all the sizes were either XL or XXL. Ugh!
kookyrunner says
They really do – it’s such a great race!
OMG getting shirts from a previous year’s race?? That’s horrible!
Coco says
LOL, I’m sure I’ve gotten lame swag, but I’ve forgotten about it. That cycling cap is so odd!
kookyrunner says
haha right? such a weird item to give out for a winter race!
Debbie says
I’m trying to think what my best and worst swag experiences are, but maybe because of my stupid headache, my mind is blank. I did get an awful t-shirt at a local race I did recently. White, cotton, with just some words as a decoration.
kookyrunner says
I really hate the white cotton t-shirts – so unoriginal!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude says
Hmmm I’m not sure what they thought you all were going to do with that cycling cap! LOL! The worse swag I received was a pair of cheap gloves from a local half marathon – they gave them out instead of medals.
kookyrunner says
LOL right? And the race was in January so it wasn’t like I would be using it anytime soon haha.
Umm those gloves sound awful lol
Becca | Rabbit Food Runner says
I agree with NYC poncho – it was great to wrap myself up in! My Boston jackets are my best race swag, followed by these fuzzy pajama pants I got at a 10k turkey trot around THanksgiving. They’re so cozy. Worst is the tech tee for my first marathon – it was a puke green color and the logo was off center!
kookyrunner says
Those Boston Marathon training jackets always look awesome!