Runner Leana

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What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?

February 16, 2016 By: Runner Leana

How do you feel about race shirts?  Do you tend to wear your race shirts or do you throw them in a pile to donate?

Perfect race shirt

Personally, I love a great race shirt.  The problem is, they can be hard to come by!  What qualities make for an unsuccessful race shirt?

The Unisex Shirt

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First and foremost, there is no such thing as a unisex shirt.  Those are men’s shirts and are just not flattering for women.  These shirts might look great on your spouse, but on you?  Not so much.  A well cut women’s specific shirt is the first step to building the perfect race shirt.

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Who wore it better? 🙂

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The Too Much Logo Shirt

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Logo quality on the shirt is important!  When I first spotted the 2015 Calgary Marathon race shirt I really liked the graphic.  Unfortunately the really large logo is thick and plastic-like.  It makes the front of the shirt feel heavy and not very performance wicking.

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The See Through Shirt

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The shirt from the 2014 BMO Vancouver Half Marathon showed so much promise!  The women’s specific cut is nice and flattering.  The logo is small and unobtrusive.  As soon as you hold the shirt up to the light the flaw shines through though.  You can see right through it!  To the donation pile.

The Who Picked This Colour Shirt?

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I know that white shirts tend to get a lot of flack but even worse are the blah and weirdly coloured race shirts.  Given how expensive the registration fee is for an Ironman ($600 CDN for the 2010 edition of the race) it was really disappointing to get this blah, beige cotton shirt at the finish line of Ironman Canada 2010.

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My Perfect Race Shirt

I love the bright orange shirt we got at the finish line of Great White North in 2014.

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The colour is fun, the fit is great and I love the logo!

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RunDisney‘s new women’s specific race shirts are also great.  I wear these shirts on runs or on holiday all the time.

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The finisher’s shirt from the 2015 Calgary 70.3 is another favourite.  I love the logo, and again, the women’s fit is spot on.

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My other piece of advice for race directors is to make sure that finishers get the size of shirt they registered for.  There is nothing more disappointing than to be told that they’ve run out of shirts in your size by the time you finish your race.

The anatomy of the perfect race shirt via @runner_leana

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Do you wear your race shirts at all?

I am linking up with MCM Mama, My No Guilt Life and Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Tuesdays on the Run.

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Comments

  1. 1

    Keith says

    February 16, 2016 at 5:45 am

    Race shirts are my supply of work out shirts. I’m still regularly wearing the 2009 (I think) Chinook half. White, light material, reflective thread woven through it. Just the right combination of loose and snug. Yes, it’s been washed in vinegar several times to remove stank.
    I share your feelings on the 2010 finisher shirt, but I still wear it from time to time. In that particular case, what it says is more important than the colour. The 2015 Calgary 70.3 was a disappointment. The men’s sizes fit too small, and I couldn’t trade up.
    There is no excuse for goofing on the shirts. The race directors know how many people are in the race, and what size they say they are. I like the option of not paying for a shirt.
    And what’s with cheap cotton? I’ve a couple shirts I won’t wear. Cheap crappy cotton that don’t fit well and have a huge monstrostity of an iron on logo.

    You say see through like it’s a bad thing. 🙂
    Keith recently posted…Battery discharge rechargeMy Profile

  2. 2

    Meranda says

    February 16, 2016 at 6:06 am

    I agree with All of these!!!!!!! Nothing worse then paying a hefty registration fee and getting a shirt that you will never wear because it is ugly, cut wrong, or uncomfortable. I do often wear my race shirts (especially the Disney ones)!

  3. 3

    Janelle says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:18 am

    I am totally in agreement with you – unisex shirts are awful for me! I’m not the curviest gal, so these tops just really don’t do it for my figure. When I did the Tough Mudder, they gave us a cheap, gray cotton T-shirt when in previous years, finishers got Under Armor tops. I was really annoyed about that, especially after paying $175!
    Janelle recently posted…ZOOMA Run Love 10K Race RecapMy Profile

  4. 4

    Jen says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:25 am

    Totally agree about no unisex shirts, that’s not a thing. It’s just a mans shirt!
    I like race shirts that don’t have huge graphics either. I like simple things like the ragnar logo. I wear that tshirt all the time.
    And that Ironman colour is the worst thing ever!
    Jen recently posted…Valentines & Family Day – A Long Weekend RecapMy Profile

  5. 5

    Kristina says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:34 am

    I’m so jealous of your 2015 70.3 shirt. Ironman cheaped out on race shirts in the US last year – I have one from St. George and one from Boulder, and they are basically the SAME shirt. I was (and still am) so pissed. When you are paying that much money, they can at least guarantee a unique shirt at each event. Hopefully they won’t do the same this year for you.
    I also wear my race shirts a ton – I’ve pretty much stopped purchasing workout shirts. Wish I could say the same for all the other gear!
    Kristina recently posted…Cambodia: Wrapping up the temple tourMy Profile

  6. 6

    Tracy says

    February 16, 2016 at 9:15 am

    I haven’t had many race shirts worth keeping for myself. The unisex shirts are HORRIBLE. Thankfully I’ve got an 8 year old daughter who loves to wear all those shirts as nightgowns to bed so at least they aren’t a complete waste though I’d love to have a few to wear comfortably myself!

  7. 7

    Heather says

    February 16, 2016 at 11:03 am

    Way too many race shirts are complete fails like the ones you posted. I prefer women-specific shirts, but I often find that even those end up not working out because they’re too short on me. I actually opted not to get a shirt from the Rocky Mountain Soap run because it would save me money and the shirts aren’t usually worth it!
    Heather recently posted…Family DaysMy Profile

  8. 8

    Marcia says

    February 16, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    Wow beige cotton for in IM is sacrilege. My absolute perfect race shirt would be a tank. I think there were 2 races out of the 100+ I’ve done that gave tanks. I’m so with you on getting the wrong size. Very, very bad. At Espirit de She last year we got awesome Moxi Cycling tanks and I registered within the first 2 weeks of registration opening, alas I still got an XL instead of M. Mucho no bueno. Thanks for linking up!

    • 9

      Runner Leana says

      February 17, 2016 at 8:14 am

      I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a tank for a race shirt but it would be a great idea. That is disappointing that you got an XL instead of the M for your Esprit de She!
      Runner Leana recently posted…What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?My Profile

  9. 10

    Ange says

    February 16, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    I pretty much never wear race shirts. Right now they’re all in a bag (errr, multiple bags) until I have enough to get made into a quilt. I can’t stand to donate them (I don’t save my bibs, so shirts and medals are it for me) and t-shirts never seem to fit right.
    Ange recently posted…Workout Recap – Week 6My Profile

    • 11

      Runner Leana says

      February 17, 2016 at 8:13 am

      My friend Pam had a quilt made up from her race shirts and it looks great. It is such a neat idea! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out once you get enough shirts!
      Runner Leana recently posted…What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?My Profile

  10. 12

    Marilyn says

    February 16, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    I love this post! The only thing I would add is that having a women’s specific shirt does not mean it has to be v neck! I am not a fan of the v necks! I also wish more races went with the cute cotton tshirt (like Ragnar) instead of workout shirts.
    Marilyn recently posted…LA MARATHON – EPIPHANIES & GOALSMy Profile

    • 13

      Runner Leana says

      February 17, 2016 at 8:12 am

      The Ragnar shirt from last year is one of my favourites! I wore it a ton last summer. I would love to get more shirts like that one.

      Congratulations on your race this past weekend Marilyn!
      Runner Leana recently posted…What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?My Profile

  11. 14

    Kaella On The Run says

    February 16, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    It can NOT be cotton!! I also like bright, fun colours and logos that are clear and easy to read 🙂
    Kaella On The Run recently posted…Race Recap- Inaugural Donut DashMy Profile

    • 15

      Runner Leana says

      February 17, 2016 at 8:11 am

      Yes to bright, fun colours! Thanks for your comment Kaella!
      Runner Leana recently posted…What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?My Profile

  12. 16

    Karen says

    February 16, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    Gosh do I hate a unisex shirt. Major pet peeve of mine ! Never had a see through one.
    I would be upset by a beige boring t shirt too after such a huge ticket price for a race !
    Karen recently posted…Marathon training & my job : so much in commonMy Profile

    • 17

      Runner Leana says

      February 17, 2016 at 8:10 am

      I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who dislikes the unisex shirts! Thanks so much for your comment Karen!
      Runner Leana recently posted…What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?My Profile

  13. 18

    Abby says

    February 16, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    Anything in white is out, and I have gotten some that are way too short (I’m 5’10).

    • 19

      Runner Leana says

      February 17, 2016 at 7:58 am

      I agree, white race shirts are my least favourite!
      Runner Leana recently posted…What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?My Profile

  14. 20

    Alexandra says

    February 17, 2016 at 7:29 am

    To me, the race shirt is more exciting than the medal! I agree with all of your criteria, women’s cut, mindful logo size/placement, and color. I really like when they give you an indication of how the shirt fits when you order, “shirts are snug, order a size up”. My favorite race shirt is a neon pink, long sleeve Brooks shirt from the 2014 Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas, I’m pretty sure it actually makes me run faster.

    • 21

      Runner Leana says

      February 17, 2016 at 7:56 am

      Yes!! I agree, it is really nice to have some kind of a fit chart when you register so you know what size to order.
      That long sleeve neon pink Vegas shirt sounds pretty awesome!
      Runner Leana recently posted…What Makes the Perfect Race Shirt?My Profile

  15. 22

    Nicole says

    February 17, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    I don’t get excited about race shirts anymore. They almost always fit me horribly. The only shirt that I have consistently liked is the Stampede Road Race shirt. It’s women’s fit and always in bright, awesome colours! That being said, I still aren’t my favourite workout shirts so I rarely reach for them.

    That beige cotton IM shirt is horrendous!! I have a couple puke coloured shirts that I finally got rid of. I turn my cotton race shirts into cleaning rags!

    I wish more races would let you opt out of purchasing a shirt.

  16. 23

    HoHo Runs says

    February 17, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    I agree with you on all of your points! I used a pile of ugly T-shirts for my first T-shirt quilt. I love the women’s cut of the new Disney shirts! My older ones have weird uncomfortable stitching across the arms too. I just ran yet another race where they had run out of Mediums. So that too large shirt is in the pile for the next quilt.
    HoHo Runs recently posted…Race ShirtsMy Profile

  17. 24

    Amanda N says

    February 17, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    Unisex are the worst…especially when you already have a small frame like myself (I swim in Mens small shirts!). Also the hate poorly made shirts…have a few tech ones where the logo has washed off partially and I haven’t even had the shirt that long. I like wearable cotton shirts too – the cute ones you can just wear around doing errands and such. Good alternative to trying to make it a workout shirt.

  18. 25

    Becky says

    February 18, 2016 at 3:35 pm

    They need to stop making shirts in heavy cotton. No. I rarely wear race shirts because most of them are pretty awful. I actually kind of like the Calgary Marathon shirt from last year, it’s one of my favourites.
    Becky recently posted…Books & BabesMy Profile

  19. 26

    LaChicaRuns says

    February 18, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    Agreed that a women’s cut is ideal. I do wear my “unisex” shirts, but they never fit quite right.

    As for color, I love the bright colors so that I can use them when I run so I can be seen.

who is runner leana?

6 x Ironman Finisher, 11 x 70.3 Finisher, geeky engineer and recent MBA grad.

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