Race Shirt Superlatives

Who doesn’t love a good race shirt?

I wear them to the gym, to Target, basically everywhere I can get away with it. They’ve become a staple of my wardrobe because they’re included with the race registration (hi, I paid for it, I want to wear it!) and because that means less shopping for me (and I’m lazy and don’t like to shop).

For the record, I’ve gone so far as Googling for recaps to see what other people say about the fit and sizing of shirts. Yes, I’m that serious.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorites. And not so favorites. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you why!

Oldie But Goodie

tshirtdownanddirty

This is the back (because it has the hand print that always inspires “You’ve got a dirty hand print on your shirt” comments) but the front is similar, sans date and place, so you get the idea. My very first race shirt, it’s the oldster of the group. The shirt is a Merrell tech-t and I’m a fan because of the quality and fit. Two very important factors!

Mas o Menos

tshirtprincess

The good: It’s from my first half marathon. And the word “princess” is on it, which is very fitting for me.

The not so good: Well, it’s white. And I definitely got caught in the rain in it. Spring Break wet t-shirt contest, anyone?

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny

tshirtsuperhero

I wanted so very badly to like this shirt. After all, I dressed up like Katniss from the Hunger Games and ran with some of my favorite people for this race. However, the shirt is small. Not like, a little small… a lot small. I wear it on the treadmill occasionally but never outside of the house.

To be fair, the race coordinators did say that the shirts ran small. So rather than ordering a medium, I went with the large.

No dice. Win some, lose some!

Double Vision

tshirthaddonfield

These Brooks tech shirts from the Haddonfield Adrenaline 5k are LOUD and I like them like that.

I wear these when I’m running, especially in the early morning hours. My trainer encourages us to do the “Wawa run” –  a run to the nearest Wawa store and back, about a 1.65 loop on a busy road.

I want people to see me (and avoid becoming road kill). With these shirts, there’s no missing me.

Don’t Call It a Tech-T (I’m still earwormed from Bec’s post.)

broadstreettshirt

Runners of the Broad Street Run had the option to upgrade to a tech-t for an additional cost but I personally am a big fan of this cotton t-shirt. They run slightly large but it’s a good quality shirt (Hanes) and I appreciate the fact that the sponsors are kept to the sleeves of the shirt.

This is the baby of my shirts, only a week old. Isn’t it cute?

I don’t usually wear t-shirts to work out in so it won’t be used for that but you might will find me wandering Target or the grocery store in it. In fact, I’m sporting this one today.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

tshirtbridge

Friends, meet my favorite long-sleeved race shirt (these are much more rare than the short-sleeved t-shirt, which makes sense). This ranks up there as one of my best races I’ve done so I think that there’s a certain amount of sentimental value that comes along with this shirt.

It has sponsors all over the back but when a run is held as a fundraising event, I have no issues with that.

Miss Congeniality

tshirtrnr

This shirt wins top honors in my closet! It’s a ladies Brooks tech-t and I love both the fit and the feel. There are no sponsors on this shirt; it has a nice, clean look and it’s from the City of Brotherly Love.

I keep waiting for another race shirt to come along and steal my heart but so far, this one is it for me.

Also, it looks like blue is a popular race shirt color, eh?

When my family asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day, I told them another race t-shirt. Kidding! But I did request that we run a 5k together (I really and truly did) and they agreed.

I’ll be getting another cotton t-shirt tomorrow, matching with Dude and Pooks (we’ll be so cool). (Don’t worry, we won’t wear it at the 5k.)

Littleberry has to sit this one out because a) he’s four and wouldn’t be down for 3.1 miles and b) he broke his foot about a week ago. But no worries, I’ll get my fair share of him, too!

Happy almost Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. And the Aunts. And the Grandmas. And the “Aunts” who let my children dump all their toys on the floor and play “volcano”.

How are you spending Mother’s Day? What’s your favorite race shirt? Bonus points if you post a picture in the comments (I don’t even know if you can do that!).

29 thoughts on “Race Shirt Superlatives

  1. Ha! I love this. Getting my shirt at packet pickup is always a highlight (It’s the little things in life, right?!). Sizing, however, will drive me batty. Perhaps I need to employ your research techniques. Like you, my favs, by far, are the 2011 R’nR 1/2 and the long-sleeve Bridge Run. I wear both. A lot. Like probably more than I should. I look forward to adding more to my collection with Team Scootadoot this summer!

    • Oh good, I’m glad that I’m not the only person who gets jazzed for the shirts! I really love the R’nR shirts – something about the Brooks ladies tech-t just works for me and my body. (Hey, remember when we wore the same shirt to the park? Heh!)

      I think we’re going to need to get some Team Scoot a Doot shirts for the Jog ‘n Hog.

      • The Bridge Run shirt is among my faves too. I have a lot I don’t like and pass along to others (hi, my mom gets lots!) If its too big, it goes to my running partner Gary. I always get really sad when the race shirt is too small. When I ran toronto, the race shirt was TINY. I was so sad

        And yes, we totally need to make Scoot Jog n Hog shirts. Their race shirt ALSO looks incredible.

        • My only issue with the Bridge Run shirt is that I’m always hot. Even in the winter. So I usually wear it when I know I’ll be outside and usually then, only for an extended amount of time.

          I have a hard time passing along shirts… even if they don’t fit. I need to get over that!

      • I was SO happy when the R’nR offered a ladies tech-t. The option wasn’t available for the 2009 race. I was very sad to end up with a bright orange tech-dress.

        YES! Team shirts for Jog ‘n Hog. I am thinking the included t-shirt will become a favorite “around the house” tee quickly.

  2. You’ve run so many races with shirts! I’m jealous. I feel like I need more race shirts haha. The only ones I getting this year I think are my Wine & Dine one (YAY!), my Army Run one, and the Rock n Roll 10k I’m doing in Brooklyn in October. I suppose I can live with 3. 😉

  3. Great post! My race shirt drawer has had to start leasing space in a second drawer so I can relate, and I wear my shirts all the time — around town as well as on training runs. My favorite for now is the one I currently race in — The Marathon Show “Running with the Audience” shirt: http://startinglate.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/roadkillbill2013batrailmarathon600.jpg?w=250&h=262. I have met at least a couple of other Marathon Show podcast listeners at each race I’ve worn in and one found her name on my back while we were running together for a bit. It’s technically not an event shirt, so I’d have to say my favorite race shirt is from last year’s Philadelphia Marathon where I hit my current PR. Tomorrow I run the Delaware Marathon for my 3rd in 58 days and I’ll earn my way into the Marathon Maniacs club. Once I get that shirt, I’m sure it will be my new favorite!

    • Ha! I love that it says “Road Kill Bill” on The Marathon Show shirt – that is absolutely fantastic.

      Ohhhh, you did the Philly marathon last year? I covet that shirt (too bad I didn’t run the race!). However, I did volunteer at that one so I got an awesome orange hoodie sweatshirt that I wear to my kiddo’s track meets. Perhaps I medaled you!

      Best of luck tomorrow at the DE Marathon – I’ll be cheering for you. 🙂

  4. All those shirts are great! I’ve gotten so many that I’m using the cotton ones as cleaning rags now, I just cut the logos off. I just can’t see keeping the ones that don’t fit, aren’t ladies cut, are white, all sponsors, etc. If I get a colorful cotton shirt, a tech shirt, yeah that’s definitely a keeper now! I think races should really pay attention to the shirts and it shouldn’t be an afterthought- it’s advertising for next year’s race after all. More races should look at it like that, if the shirt isn’t cute people won’t wear it, so they won’t be the running advertisements the race should want, you know?

    I love the one with the handprint, hehe.

    • I very much agree – race shirts are brand advertising! I can’t tell you how many people I saw wearing my fave (Miss Congeniality) at the race I did last weekend. Obviously, it wasn’t just my favorite! A good shirt has the opportunity to get a lot of mileage.

    • Hey Meranda! YES! I love this year’s AC April Fools race shirt. Sadly, the sizing on mine got messed up and I wound up with a large rather than a medium so it’s a bit roomy.

      The 2012 shirt was awesome too (and blue, which just proves my theory that all fantastic shirts are blue) but I wore it so much that it’s faded!

      Hopping over to your blog now to check out your AC half recap. It’s one of my all time favorite races!

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