I Hate Parades & Tank Tops
By Dan • Aug 7th, 2008 • Category: Dan's Training Log
If the title of this post wasn’t enough to tell you how I ran at the Parade Race…
The race didn’t go as planned. My legs had nothing to give. But I felt ok with that. I have been kind of successful the last month of races, so I think I might need to take a few weeks off from racing.
Everyone else I talked to seemed to have a pretty good race. Even if you run a sub 10:30 and throw up.
But the question is what did you think of the race shirt? It was another one of those damn tank tops! I would rank these right up next to those cheap wicking shirts.
The tanks might be alright if you are 6 feet tall and have broad shoulders, but other than that, they are the worst fitting and looking shirt that you could purchase.
I have got about 5 or 6 of these tank tops in may drawers. I am not really sure why I keep them.
Here are a few tips for the perfect race shirt:
- Quality cotton t-shirt, no tank tops, or cheap wicking shirts
- Choose a colored t-shirt to stand out (Polk Pace Race does a great job!)
- Small and cool logo on front
- Good color logo, don’t use bright red and blue
- Keep sponsors on the back
What are your thoughts on the race t-shirts? What has been your favorite or least favorite?
I only have 2 underarmour’s.
Not all tank tops suck, Just race shirts. Singlets and Under Armours are a little different. These are more along the lines of “Wife Beaters.”
I like the Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon shirts from this year. They’re nice wicking shirts and understated, I think. The Abe’s Amble shirt from last year was ugly but I like the heavier wicking material for those days in the 50s when I don’t want to wear a long sleeve shirt but want something a little hefty.
My least favorite shirt came from the Parade Run in 2005. The shirt was a blue tank top with aqua writing. I think I’ll take that shirt to one of those races where you bring an old shirt and it gets used as an age group award. A “white elephant” age group award.
I thought this was going to be a post about how much Dan hates the wife-beater-wearing parade gawkers that we had to wind through after the race.
I’m glad someone said what I was thinking. Who would actually think that giving those types of shirts to runners was a good idea. The only way it could have been any worse was if they were ribbed and skin tight. Maybe NEWT’s will be taking up a collection.
Favorite- Polka Pace or ISU Homecoming (Bright Red)
Least favorite- Probably this shirt considering I don’t have alot of race shirts. The Jingle Bell run shirts aren’t very good either.
A little time off will heal everything.
I like the Jingle Bell shirts. My wife usually steals them from me though because she likes them too.
Those thick wicking shirts are like cheese graters on your nipples
My latest favorite is from this year’s Scholastic Challenge. The sleeveless from Magnificent Mile is the best this year.
I saw the shirt the night before. As if the material and the cut wasn’t bad enough the design was hideous 198?. I do however commend the race directors for every other aspect of the race especially the timeliness of awards. I looked at my watch when they started handing out the medals and it was 6:23. I remember in years past when the parade was half over and they were still trying to muddle through things. Favorite race shirt - - Passavant a couple years ago: sleeveless, soft wicking material, simple design on the front, sponsors on the back. Congrats to those who ran!!
Definitely no disrespect the the race directors, they put on a great race. I really think using chips made the results go much quicker.
As for the shirts, it must be a science or an art to choose the perfect shirt. Or the printers are trying to unload backstock of tank tops from the 80’s…
I dont mind tank tops, but I wish it was a wicking tank. I will never use this shirt as a running shirt for sure. As for the design, I applaud Carlberg for the sponsorship, but their designs for the race shirts are so hideous. I wish it wasnt so psychedelic or whatever they put on them year in and year out. Its usually the least favorite shirts I wear on periodic basis.
You are spot on regarding the shirts. How about those shirts with the screen print that takes up the entire front of the shirt. Nothing like a good chest sweat watching TV from those babies. Even worse are the ultra cheap wicking shirts that rub the (mens) nipples raw on even the shortest of runs (like 5-10 minutes). Oh that is a long run for me. Anyway… I probably have a dozen tanks in a drawer that I have never even worn. I think one goes back to the early 90s (Bastile Days 5K in Chicago).