Wearing race merchandise

[Pippa49]

Has anyone ever bought a hoodie and or t-shirt then did not finish the race for any reason? Do they on the basis that they have paid for the items wear them anyway? I bought a hoodie which I picked up on the Saturday afternoon and also bought a t-shirt however as they both have finisher on I feel a bit awkward wearing them however if I say I finished almost half the distance (13miles not quite 13.1miles) is this acceptable? I have decided that next time I will buy after assuming I finish in time and the event village hasn't packed up which it probably would have been on Sunday or buy without the word finisher on.

[GoogleMe]

Do what works for you. I think there's a good case for people not having access to 'finisher' items until they have. You've been put in an unfair position. Be pragmatic - those items exist now, all that was required for you to acquire them was for you to pay the money requested, even though the implication was that you would then go on and complete the distance (but it is not unusual for people not to be able to and boy you tried) I'm no Kondo declutterer but this really is a case of asking yourself if they will give you joy - in the wearing or in your drawer. Will they remind you of your brave effort (which they so legitimately could) or will they reinforce the sense of failure you are clearly still struggling with? If you hang onto them until you've done that distance on another occasion, will they feel better perhaps? (I think they might) Can they be modified at all with a fabric pen to show exactly what you did achieve? (You would then be showing people what you did *and* helping people, including yourself, appreciate that the attempt matters) The planet would like them used or somehow enjoyed. I reckon it could be unadvisable to go strutting about in them in public for few months - I know you wouldn't be 'strutting' but you're not yet in a place where a faintly challenging comment wouldn't floor you.

We have a sort of similar dilemma in my family at the moment. My father died recently and he was a bit of a relentless champion for which he was awarded custom Buffs... and I always have a use for a Buff (I can wear 5 at a time). There are some which just say "Championships" and he'd actually given one of those to my sister and she's wearing it (she does orienteer but doesn't usually compete in championships and isn't likely to) But there's one that clearly says 'British Champion' and there is debate about what on earth we do with that. It's not like a medal is it? And it mattered a lot to him (every doctor's letter made reference to the fact that he was a champion and he'd make a point of wearing his stuff to day hospice) even though he had accumulated so many buffs as prizes he didn't wear this one, it's still on its card.

We've just donated almost all his vast collection of sportswear to a refugee charity (running wear is especially useful we're told - we're gutted that we donated his running shoes more generically before he died when we needed to make some space in a hurry - there were at least 20 pairs of running shoes!) We pulled out a few things to remember him by or that we would use regularly ourselves. There were soooooo many event t shirts. I've kept one with a design I really like and of course I never even went to that event. I wear t shirts in bed so that's what I am going to do with it and enjoy it. And I am sure there will be refugees soon wearing his t shirts and glad of them even if they haven't the foggiest what the logo is about.

Meanwhile I got the Couch to 5K graduate t shirt I bought myself out of the drawer yesterday meaning to put it in a box to donate. I earned that but it doesn't suit me and I don't like techno fabrics... but it has gone back in the drawer again for now because I smiled when I looked at it.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to GoogleMe]

Thank you for your reply. I wore the t-shirt travelling home but a lot of people were going about their own business so would not have bothered. I will wear around the house but will wait until I have done the distance before I wear in public although locally noone knows and I could modify it. I have the Brighton Half marathon t-shirt which I wear all the time because I did finish it.

[Bazza1234 Marathon]

I will be attempting my first marathon "race" ( as opposed to a marathon length training run ) in July. I have already done the HM at this annual running Festival and have a t-shirt which says " HM Finisher" . I really cant remember exactly when I go the t-shirt - at the finish line or before the event. I tend to think it was before the event as is quite usual here - they usually come with the race bib but others have told me that you don't get it until after the event . Anyway that was 3 years ago - to long ago for me to remember BUT - for this event, there is every possibility that I may not finish!! - and I could/would NEVER wear the finisher T-shirt if I don't finish.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Bazza1234]

I have added 13 miles after the word finisher to my t-shirt so I can wear it as I paid for it. I didn't know that I wouldn't finish.