I realized the other day that for me, old race shirts evoke emotions and bring back memories both good and bad. They are also an automatic ice breaker:
- I chased a woman down at Trader Joe’s because we were both wearing the SAME 1/2 marathon sweatshirt. I mean, what are the chances?
- I saw a Ragnar Relay shirt the other day and couldn’t help shouting “Yay Ragnar!” to the guy wearing it.
- I saw a guy with a Grand Rapids Marathon shirt (my first BQ and PR) at the Ragnar Relay and had to go over and chat with him.
- I always congratulate people wearing their Boston shirts/jackets.
- I love it when people come over to share war stories over a race shirt with me as well.
Then there are the shirts from races I didn’t run so well. They evoke thoughts like “oh the God forsaken heat that day….when will you learn not to go out too fast? Some of those shirts have been ditched. The rest are relegated to the depths of my workout stash.
Old race shirts also have an odd way of transporting me back in time: the course, the weather, who was with me, my level of fitness, or lack thereof all come sprinting back.
Do old race shirts bring back memories for you? Do you talk to people wearing shirts from races you also ran? Or am I weird?
Yes! So true– I’ve approached a few people wearing Houston half and Austin half shirts the last few months to say, hey, I was there, too! It’s a fun, easy connection.
This is so true! I get excited when I see folks with different race shirts that I’ve run. I am, however, not so good with striking up conversations with strangers so I usually smile from afar and that is about it. Haha.
They do don’t they? I also get pissy when I see a race shirt in my closet that’s butt ugly. LOL. I know first world problem.
I have a huge amount of old shirts from high school that my mother turned into a quilt for me when I graduated! It was so cool bc each patch of the quilt is one of the shirts cut into a square. So many great memories!!! Spa love to u!
yes, I do the same thing! I love to talk with people if I see they have the same shirt of a race I raced. It’s like you have an instant friend because you know you already have something in common!
I have kept all my race shirts except for the ass-ugly ones from 5K races.
I’ve only kept a few race shirts and I think because they are in regular workout rotation, they kind of lose their memory evoking abilities.
I love the name of your post because I’ve never really thought of it that way. It really is a fraternity. I have also chased down people wearing race shirts that I recognize.
A few years ago I actually went through and culled out all the old shirts, keeping only marathon shirts and other shorter races that were special to me. I’ve added back to the pile now, but all the shirts that I have now evoke good memories.
I don’t have a lot of race shirts but I do have a lot from playing soccer and everything. I threw a bunch out when I moved out I wish I would’ve made one of those quilts or something but I still have a bunch more if I ever want to do that!
I love this! Although, i was with a friend at a race, and she saw someone wearing the recent NYC half shirt that she was also wearing, and she said “NYC Half! YAY!” and he just stared at her. blankly. and then walked away, haha. Maybe the scars were too fresh? 😀
So funny! You race shirt stalker, you! I do see people with the same race shirts but I am usually mute, unless I am traveling somewhere. Around here, we have so many local (in my county) races that everyone is always sporting the same shirts, so I don’t usually comment.
I don’t have any race shirts yet (I will at the end of the month!), but I’m always interested to hear a running story when I see someone in a race shirt.
I don’t usually talk to people about them, but I have a tough time donating old shirts. I’m about to make a quilt of my 30-something cotton race shirts.
So true! I always strike up conversations with people in race shirts – especially the races I know. If anything, it identifies that person is “ok” in my book! 🙂
I’ve kept all (which isn’t a whole lot, lol) of my race shirts…I remember the races very well. I haven’t talked to anyone yet with one but that doesn’t mean I would never go up to someone. 🙂 I’ve kept all my bibs too.
I give a lot of my race shirts to Ryan (or donate them!), he likes them a lot more than I do….I’m not a huge fan of the wicking tech short sleeved shirt so usually get his size in those and give them to him.
I see the Carlsbad shirt in the background….FUN memories of that one for sure :). Long sleeved shirts I usually keep :).
Love this post! I am always chatting with people about their race shirts too. I saw someone with the same Ragnar one I have and was like “I did that race too!”
Steven wears some of my old race shirts (shhh) to work around the house and in the garage. It’s kind of funny!
I keep the ones from good races and/or ones with good memories associated and ditch the ones from races where I was slow. I don’t have any of the shirts from my first marathon, Houston 1997 (at one point I had two cotton T-shirts–no tech back then), but when I ran again earlier this year I enjoyed talking to some of the vets who remembered that year because it was coldest Houston in 40 years that day!
I don’t think I’ve done enough races to have accumulated too many to talk about, but the more I move, the more I DO notice when someone is wearing a shirt from at town I previously lived in. I think it’s cool how one piece of apparel can connect so many 🙂
They sure make a great conversation starter! I always like to ask people about their races too- I have only saved a few of mine. Ones that fit! 🙂
I love the idea of striking up convos with people over race tees. I need to keep my eye out for them.
so true! i also struggle with getting rid of mine. they are currently overflowing in a drawer. even the ones that don’t fit well. I need to purge or box them up but they do bring up a ton of emotion-good and bad. i love seeing races that are technically far from home too-recently saw a big sur shirt-that was cool. i have hopes to put my in a quilt one day. cherish the good and bad-forever!
Race shirts are a great way to have a conversation with someone about a race/shared experience. I love your Trader Joe’s story.
I love this post! I feel the same way when I see common race shirts – I get super excited:) And I also congratulate Boston finishers, too!
I definitely notice when people are wearing shirts from races we have done. I have the same feelings with old swimming t-shirts, from my middle school and high school years!
Yes, I usually give people a hoot & hello when I see them wearing a shirt for a race I’ve also done. It’s especially fun when you see someone in another area who is wearing a shirt from your homestate (I saw another Seattle Marathon shirt when I was in NOLA last year)!
I love chatting up people with race shirts on! I once high-fived a guy I ran by who was wearing the same Disney Half Marathon shirt I was wearing while we passed eachother on the running path. When you see others wearing the shirt of a race you did, you automatically feel like you’re kindred spirits!
ha! i thought about this the other day at costco – saw a lady wearing a rowing regatta shirt of a race i did when i was in college. didn’t say anything to her, but thought about it. i haven’t had anyone comment on any shirt i wear yet 🙁
Before I want to say that in Italy we get the t-shirts before the race but I think that only the finishers deserve them.
I don’t have many t-shirts because I wear all of them for the workouts or for the normal life.
Ineresting post.
Glad to know I’m not the only one that immediately feels a connection with a stranger wearing the same race shirt as I am.