It’s an age-old question and the topic of this week’s Tuesdays on the Run. Should one wear the race shirt TO the race? AFTER the race?
For me, the answer has always been you EARN the shirt by FINISHING the race. You wear the race shirt as a badge of honor for completing the race. Similar to a Boston jacket, you don’t put it on until AFTER you’ve crossed that historic finish line on Boylston.
That said, it seems like at every race I go to, a good amount of runners are already wearing the official race shirt.
At RnR Vegas many ran in the official race shirt, but not a single blogger!
This was the case at RnRVegas. I sort of understood, because the hi-viz yellow was perfection for a nighttime trek down the strip.
At my most recent St. Patty’s Day race, the vast majority of runners wore this green race tee. Again I understood, because it too was pretty festive and perfect. Although it required a layer or so underneath since it was too cold for short sleeves.
At my marathon last fall (Twin Cities) there was NO race shirt given at packet pickup. No siree. You needed to FINISH the race, then go over to a special tent in the finish area with a wrist band to claim your FINISHER’S shirt after the race. I was a little worried my marathon-addled brain would completely forget to even think about a race shirt at the finish line, but I did indeed make my way to said tent to retrieve the coveted shirt that says “finisher” on it.
What’s CORRECT race shirt wearing etiquette?
I say you don’t wear the shirt until AFTER you finish the race.
I also say I couldn’t care less what other people do. If anything, I think race-shirt-wearing runners look, shall we say…a little less seasoned in their running? But really, who cares? Despite how it may look, I say go ahead and do whatever floats your boat. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
Your turn: Race shirt TO the race? Or AFTER the race? Do you like getting a FINISHER shirt after crossing the finish line?
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Just like the runners in Vegas who justify wearing their bright colored race shirts, and the runners who wore their st paddy’s day shirt, I am sure every runner has their reason for why they wear the race shirt.
I do like to wear the race shirt after the race after I’ve showered and am out and about. However there are always exceptions to this. Weather plays a role in what I wear. If I ‘m at a destination race and I packed a tank. I may wear the race shirt if it’s cooler than expected. I’d be curious as to how the rumor got started that less than seasoned runners wear the race shirt? It just so happened that my sister wore the race shirt for RnR Dallas this past weekend because the weather was cooler than expected. So I guess every runner has the reasoning. -M
I’ve never raced in a race shirt, but I also very seldom wear the race shirts LOL. Part of handling race anxiety for me is to wear clothes that I know work, so I’m not a fan of adding the shirt wild card to the mix.
I can’t wear a race shirt until after I finish the race too. It’s just tempting fate that I’ll trip and fall before I finish the race! For one of my races earlier this year, the packet pick-up was the entire week leading up to the race. I saw a few people running in the race shirt days before the race. I would be terrified that I’d fall and break a leg before the race! I always bring the shirt with me and usually wear it home 🙂
I wrote my post yesterday and we had the exact same title! 🙂 I’m with you. Race shirts are best not to race in. The ones that have two shirts like a race shirt and a finisher shirt, I usually try to remember to get one or they’ve had them at the finish line.
Agreed! You earn the race shirt by completing the race. I think it’s bad luck to put it on before the race!
I do think the people wearing the race tee in a race tend to be new racers or “recreational” runners, but I’m with you — you gotta finish to sport it!
I’ve worn the race shirt before. Once I think it was because I needed a short sleeved tech shirt that didn’t stink and BOOM new race shirt, there ya go! I don’t think it’s a big deal. I mean, unless it says “Finisher” on the back but again I really don’t care what people wear.
I actually wear a shirt for a race I never even started!! It’s a really thick shirt and it is great for training and since I paid my entry fee, I got my packet, got my shirt, and now I wear it. It’s not a big race that anyone has hard of, just a rando trail race, but if anyone asked me about it I would be sure to tell them I never actually ran it.
100% agree that you have to earn your race shirt! I really love the idea of giving a finisher shirt like the Twin Cities Marathon.
I wore the race shirt to my first race ever, which was a half, not knowing any better. Now I don’t wear it until after, but I think as long as you plan on running/finishing the race its ok to wear it. Part of me also feels like if you paid the race fee than you should at least get to wear the shirt, even if something came up and you couldnt race. I have a shirt from the dc half last year that I didnt race due to injury, but its mixed in with about 10 similar shirts so I do wear it when I strength train and I don’t even realize that I didnt run the race that year.
NEVER EVER EVER NEVER WEAR THE RACE SHIRT IN THE RACE. For one thing, you have not washed it, so what if it gives you a rash or chafes? And for another, you will look like a newbie instead of a pro. Last and most importantly, it’s bad luck!
I never wear my race shirt before. Technically, you aren’t supposed to wear anything new day of, so you shouldn’t be wearing it anyway!
At my most recent race, my mom asked me why I wasn’t wearing the race shirt. I explained to her that it was kind of taboo and that you really should run the race before you wear it. She looked at me kind of funny.
I’m with you on this one.
I see people get SO fired up about this. Yea, I don’t ever wear the race shirt b/c I’m always paranoid about trying something new on race day. This is a perfect time for my new favorite life mantra… “good for her, not for me.” 🙂
I feel the same way about race shirts. I love that some races wait until after the race to distribute shirts, but by that time I’m too preoccupied with beer and food and would probably forget about it!
How was the Twin Cities? It’s another race I’m considering 😉 I ran Grandma’s Marathon last June…and we got our shirts at the finish line (along with the medal and a long-stemmed rose). I’m in total agreement with you. I hate to sound like a race snob, but it is easy to spot the newbies because most of them are sporting the event shirt at the start line, even the cotton shirts (#ugh). I received an event shirt from a race I wasn’t able to participate in last spring (my MIL had passed away and I wasn’t able to do an all-day relay event with some co-workers), and I feel weird wearing it (only worn it once), even though I did the same event the previous year and this shirt is much nicer. #runnerprobs
i usually don’t wear race shirts at all–I usually don’t like the fabric, fit, color, or all those things. But the handful of times I’ve worn has always been after the race. I agree that it’s usually newer or recreational runners who wear them to races. But I also agree that people should do what they want!
I’m with Suz…you aren’t supposed to wear anything new on race day, so you shouldn’t wear the race shirt until after you’ve finished said race. Also, it’s bad juju if you ask me, LOL!
I don’t wear the race shirt until after, and I wash it beforehand. I never know where the boxes have been. I did a race in 2012 that gave a participant’s shirt, which was the worst shirt I’ve gotten, then a finisher’s shirt. When I picked up my checked bag, they directed me over to get my finisher’s shirt.
I don’t worry too much about what other people are doing, but I really hate when people wear shirts that say “finisher” during the race. You haven’t finished yet!
I don’t wear race shirts until after the race, partially because there’s no way I’m running 13+ miles in a brand new shirt – don’t try anything new on race day!
I agree but I do see lots of runners wearing the race shirt. If it fits, I wear it after.
I tend to agree with you. It’s one of those unspoken rules! I do think that if it’s a more fun/festive race then it’s cool to wear the T-shirt.
Such a great question! I was always told not to wear it until after the race. But for themed 5Ks, it seems like that rule was meant to be broken. Not like I’m not going to finish a 5K. That said, our running club usually goes out for beer after runs so I save the race shirt to change into after the run.
I agree with you-I dont wear the shirt before but I dont care if others do!
I would vote for after as well!
I’m loving these topics! Great one this week and I’m glad I could join in, even if I’m somewhat late to the party. For me I don’t wear race shirts until I have run the race, course if I had a wardrobe malfunction I may… Let’s hope that doesn’t happen! Have a great Tuesday Marcia!
I’ve never worn a race shirt before I finished the race. Usually I put it on after a shower. But, I try to follow the nothing new on race day philosophy & race shirts are no exception to that!
I agree the shirt should be earned. I see a lot of shirt wearers in local 5ks. Even when its cotton! Yuck. I have participated in a few races where the shirt was given out after the race. I have no problem with that.
Agreed 100% on this! I don’t wear the race shirt until after I’ve earned it, and I don’t really care what others do if they decide to wear it.
On a side note, I have a bit more respect for the races that hand out the finishers shirts after the race, I know several still do it that way and I admire them for not going the cheaper route and handing them out before. (cheaper because it takes more volunteers and organization race day.)
Great topic! But I am of the firm belief that race shirts are finisher shirts you happen to get before the race. I love that TCM does the shirts AFTER! Makes more sense! I don’t even want it if I didn’t run it!
I think the race organisers dictate what the etiquette should be. In a race I ran recently the organisers actively encouraged participants to wear the shirt in the race and then they use the photos of this sea of blue to promote next year’s race. I get it. But I also get having to earn the shirt.
I’m with you on this one! I think you need to earn the shirt – plus I would never chance anything new on race day!
I’d be worried I’d forget a shirt handed out after the race too!
I don’t wear them for the race, but I’ve been tempted!
My biggest pet peeve was seeing runners wearing the Boston Marathon finishers jacket before the race. Now that got me riled up a bit! I don’;t wear the shirts before or for the race, but have gotten over caring what other people do. It really does not matter.
After for sure!
I am impatient for my finisher tshirt…. and I WILL wear it after the race. Even if it is not the right size !
I wear race shirts after the race. On a side-note, I like race shirts to have only the distance that I ran on them and not something longer – makes me feel like a fake if I didn’t run the farthest distance on the race shirt!
I never wear the race shirt. I totally agree that you have to earn it. And if you wear it to the race you may jinx yourself! Ack!
You bring up a good point I had not really thought about, a big race like Boston or Chicago, or NY…I totally wouldn’t wear the shirt or gear until after the race is done.
A fun 5K and the shirt actually fits though seems fine, especially if it is a fun bright color or festive 🙂 I have bad luck with race shirts, they usually do not fit well.
I love it! Bigger fish to fry indeed! I like to wear mine later in the weekend 🙂 and most never during the race- that is what my cute race shirts are for!
Agree with you that people can do whatever they want to. The fact that they are up and running an early race on a Sunday morning instead of sleeping in gives them gobs more positive points in my book than any negative points for wearing the race shirt during the race. I have DNS’d some races but picked up my shirt and have run in them. Heck I paid $60+ for a race I didn’t run, at least I got a shirt – right, right? 🙂 However, I agree with Susie that you shouldn’t wear something new to a race, so unless they’ve run in the shirt before they shouldn’t run in it. So I’ll probably never run in a race shirt until after the race! 🙂
I’ve only once ever worn the race shirt on race day, and that was because I was traveling and had severely underpacked/undressed on race day. Beyond that, I get too nervous about potential chafage with untested gear. Heck, I even have issue sometimes with time-tested gear causing me random issue on race days! Funny how that works, eh?
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I don’t wear race shirts until after the race. I almost always wear it that same day though. I feel like I need to earn them as well, I have a sweatshirt in my closet that I got for a race that I ended up not running and still haven’t worn it 3 years later. Grandma’s marathon also has a finisher shirt where you don’t get it til you crossed the finish line which I liked.
I’ve worn the race shirt once, because it turned out to be colder than I had packed for. I think those people are ‘dorky’ for wearing them in the race, but also it goes against the whole “don’t wear anything you didn’t train in” rule. I usually wear it after the race (if it’s a half or especially a full so that people know why I’m walking so funny).