When I ran my first marathon back in 2007, you know to fill the bucket and all that jazz, one of my must-haves at the race expo was an official marathon jacket. In my mind, there was nothing cooler or more badass.
So on marathon eve, I shelled out no less than $130.00 for a Chicago Marathon jacket of my very own. You only live once right? At the time I thought I’d only marathon once as well.
My inner tightwad went into convulsions as I paid for the jacket. The fact that it was a billion degrees with no end in sight didn’t make the expenditure any easier.
The rest is history: I ran, it was sizzling hot, I finished and conquered even though technically the race was ‘cancelled’. I vowed never to run another. My pricey yet innocent jacket was sullied with not so great memories.
What became of my first marathon jacket? It hangs in my closet. To date, I’ve worn it once. Here it is, captured for posterity at the Indy Mini in 2008. It’s not that I’m embarrassed with how I ran, I just feel stupid having a jacket of all things from an absurdly hot race.
It’ll probably be a great conversation piece someday. Maybe it already is.
Does race gear bring back memories for you?
Since it’s Fashion Friday where I challenge myself to not wear workout gear at all times, here’s what I wore to Thing 1’s book fair at school.
I know I ‘m setting the world on fire with the absence of Dri-Fit!
- Top: Horny Toad
- Camisole (which is aqua btw): Lucy
- Jeans: Lucky Brand
- Boots: Lucky Brand
Have a great weekend!
I LOVE that top – it’s super cute.
I think you should wear that jacket more. You survived that race – you earned that jacket!
You look super cute in your “real” clothes! But I agree with Bobbi that you earned that jacket!
Yeah I love my race shirts. I think I went overboard at Chicago as well but then afterwards I still felt weird wearing it for awhile. I learned to go to the first day of when the expo opens for a big race like Chicago to get the good stuff fast!
If you’re going to run 26.2 miles then nothing would be too expensive to help you remember the occasion. It’s not necessarily for the wearing – it’s for commemoration.
Cute outfit!!! But I think you should pull that marathon jacket out and wear it with pride!!!
Yeah, I probably wouldn’t wear the jacket after that race either!
Love love love your new site! I so need to change mine….did you do this yourself? I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Very nice!
You are cute as ever! I wore jeans today to get my haircut, too! 🙂
I love your new site. I have the same Q as Jill…is this your own design?
I say wear the d(*& jacket! You ran the race. It seems less important to you now because you have done several, but don’t you remember the joy, the anticipation, the high of your first marathon!?? Put the jacket on, remember the high!
You moved?? When did this happen? Geez…I fall off the edge of the world as far as commenting goes (back soon, I promise), and the world just keeps chugging along.
I’d totally wear the jacket. You more than earned it that year! Super cute outfit today, too.
love the new site! so fancy!!!
you should wear the jacket more. i ran that horribly hot race too and i wear the long-sleeve race shirts i got (i also bought the “chicago fun run” version that someone sold after the race to raise money for the guy who died – his family). anyway, have pride for surviving that awful day! 🙂
I like the new site a lot!
Oh, I used to get Expo happy – I’m much better behaved now … but I do indulge from time it time!
Wear it with pride: you did it? How many person can say to have run a marathon? Well spent money.
I definitely have some race shirts that bring back memories… especially the really ugly ones–baggy, cotton t-shirts that I’ve never worn, but I just can’t get rid of them. 🙂 Love seeing you in ‘normal’ clothes, cute!
You look great!! I am excited to do my first half this year. I will also do the NYC Marathon in 2013. I am sure I will indulge like yourself and suffer some buyer’s remorse.
I love my race t shirts – I wear them the entire afternoon post race. I have my 5K one on from this morning!!
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