January 19, 2024 - Race Swag

A random thought this morning. I don't want race swag. Not a t-shirt. Not a medal. And absolutely, positively not all the other bric-a-brac that's often found in the race "swag bag." 

As I type this, I have most of the race bibs from races I've participated in hanging behind me. 50 race bibs. 50ish times I've been given a shirt and a medal or buckle. And 50ish times I've gotten a bunch of other chachkies that generally went into the trash within 24 hours. Of those 50 shirts, there might be a dozen I've worn more than once or twice and half a dozen I actual like. The rest might have gotten used to paint in or as a rag or worn once during a training run and left somewhere when it was removed as I got too hot. The medals and buckles, there's a grand total of one I give a darn about. The rest sat in a a bag for months and years until I recently hung them up in my running gear closet, where they still are largely hidden away and unseen.

It all feels so wasteful. Mostly cheap, crappy shirts who's best use will be a visit to a thrift store where hopefully someone else can get some real use out of them. The medals, literally no practical use whatsoever. The other swag, well other than the occasional tube of lip balm or runner's lubricant, it's just landfill fodder. Utter and total harmful waste.

I'd much rather if runners were given the option either at registration or, preferably, after the race to separately purchase swag. There are a few occasions I would have purchased a t-shirt and a medal or buckle. There are times I wanted a true memento from the race (though my preferred memento is almost always the race bib since it is the item that came along on the journey.)

I have no idea what the logistics of this kind of thing would be. I have no interest in race directing, so don't think about that. I just know I'm kind of done with race swag. And I totally understand someone new to the sport or new to a distance wanting a thing. Making it an option at race conclusion would still satisfy this. I also understand there are people who run partially for the medals and their medal collection, a thing I do not understand at all, bus also don't need to understand it since I am not them.

And a shout out to Miami Marathon, where I will be pacing next weekend. They actually gave the option of "No shirt" in the race registration process. An interesting race to do this, as they have had some of the nicest race shirts that I've ever received. I'd like to see more races offer this kind of opt out. Or even better, make it an opt in to swag.