Positive Results by Sabrina

One of the cool things about participating in formal races is the swag. People race for the medals and the personalized swag. Some people race for the shirts. Many people say they could live without the race shirts if it would save them a few dollars; however, I am generally not one of those people. There are definitely better quality shirts out there that I wear more often than others but for me, wearing the race shirts is a reminder of my accomplishments and achievements. Because I almost always have to cut them into sleeveless options, the race shirts I have earned save me money on running tops going forward. Why buy extras when I’ve already paid for these?

For me, running in public in my previous race shirts also contributes to the sense of community that I have grown to love while living in San Jose. Running here, I’ve experienced something I never felt before by randomly running into athletes that I know while on the trails. There is something comforting about running along the local trails and seeing friends. Their smiles and cheers can be just the boost you need to survive the miles. Recently, I headed out for a training run with my training buddy, Ingrid. We ran into friends on the trail just as we began our 13 mile workout. They were over half way through their planned miles and decided to end their workout with us. It was cool to turn our workout into a group workout. I’ve ‘met’ these ladies online but never had the privilege of running with them and getting to know them.

Many athletes admit that they struggle with longer runs when they’re alone. Instead of feeling free, relaxed or accomplished, the weight of loneliness is magnified, making the miles almost unbearable. I personally struggled with loneliness while training alone during the pandemic. I know this is one of the reasons I get so much out of group runs now. Group runs help fill my social bucket. Like others, I learned to listen to podcasts, and audiobooks in addition to music, in order to stimulate my brain when I am alone. Focusing on content means I’m not counting down the time on my watch. If I laugh at my podcast friends, even better. Smiling has been proven to boost your running so it’s a win-win. 

When you can’t see your friends, running into people wearing the same race shirts that you have earned is also really cool. The very first time I experienced this we were completing Taji 100 miles. I was walking with my partner and two ladies were coming at us on the trail. The large X in the middle of her chest was easily recognizable and we shared a greeting and a smile with each other.  Other times, I’ve encountered a runner wearing a shirt from a previous race running alone and I’ve called out “nice shirt. We did that race too!” It may seem cheesy but to those of us who love the races for their sense of community and collaboration, it’s a reminder that we’re part of something larger. While it seems normal to see the shirts from a recent race for the next few months, I also find it pleasantly surprising to see shirts from years passed. I recently recognized a shirt on the Los Gatos Creek Trail that was a few years old but happened to be one of my favorites because of the teal coloring. 

For curvy and back-of-the-pack athletes like myself, who don’t always feel like we’re looked at favorably when we work out in public spaces, our previous race shirts are badges of honor. For better or for worse, they are proof that we have accomplished something before. The shirts do not include our paces, pains or struggles. They broadcast to others that we invested the time and money into the event and crossed the finish line successfully (assuming from what I’ve seen that athletes that DNF a race wouldn’t enjoy wearing the shirts in public).

Do you wear your race shirts after you cross the finish line? Post in the Comments and let us know what feelings they bring up for you. How old is the oldest shirt you’ve held onto?