26.2 Days Until the 113th Boston Marathon. So reads the title of the most recent Boston Athletic Association email. Clever. You totally know I’m going to count back like this for all my races from now on. The 26.2 countdown fell on a lucky day, which I took as a good omen. 26.2 days from the race and suddenly I’m into omens. In a collision of coincidence, the 26.2nd day from 26.2 miles was also the day I bought IT. It’s bold enough to be visible from the space shuttle, but in an awesome way. I haven’t worn it yet, but I have taken it out of the bag a few times to admire it. Okay, I did try it on before purchase, but that doesn’t count. Damn it looked good. And I tried it on again for husband, but that also doesn’t count. So just those two-but-not-really-because-they-don’t-count times.
Technically I haven’t worn it yet, which is important because it is not just omens. I’m suddenly superstitious too. I have it, I want to wear it, but I’m saving it for another 26.2 days. I can’t risk displeasing the race gods lest something happen to foil my race plans. Now is not the time to be smote. Not running the race, according to runners’ etiquette, would render it permanently unwearable. The wearing of race gear is guided by a set of informal rules and I’m not one to flout the rules. I’m not sure what precipitated the creation of a race gear wearing code, but I can only assume that rampant race t-shirt abuse was watering down the prestige factor for actual finishers. Something had to be done – misguided t-shirt wearing is a gateway to all sorts of evils. Runners may quibble about the specifics and they may even claim that the rules don’t matter (they may even say, gasp, that you should wear what you want when you want), but secretly we know that the rules do matter. Look closely, do you see those rule-breaking advocates actually breaking the rules? Of course not. Illicit t-shirt use is not a risk many are willing to take.
Unfortunately, you don’t often know about the rules until you break one. Those who aren’t in the know do things like show up at races wearing the race t-shirt for said event, which is akin to standing around with a neon sign above your head blinking rookie. Other rules have been passed down through generations of runners. The most widely endorsed and widely known race gear rule is the restriction against wearing the finisher’s t-shirt before you finish the event. I’m going to extrapolate and assume this applies to all official race gear. I’ve heard that if you break a rule certain race day disaster awaits. I’ve never tested this assertion, but I’m going to declare it true. I can wait 26.2 more days. Dress responsibly.
What do you think about races like HBC Run for Canada where the official t-shirt also has your bib number integrated in it? Thus forcing you to wear it on race day? Maybe t-shirt rules can be bent for races under a certain distance?
Coincidentally I started writing down some of the rules and the exceptions to said rules and a t-shirt-bib integration is a definite exception. I get that it is good publicity (and makes for some cool mass start photos), but I disagree with forcing everyone to wear an untested t-shirt that may be horribly uncomfortable. Many found those HBC ones, for instance, to be way to warm for the weather conditions.
I think that the hardliners would say that you cut the bib out and pin it to your shirt.
I am guilty. I wore the ATB shirt for the race. oops! But does it count when you don’t have time to do laundry and instead of wearing dirty clothes I grabbed this the morning of..?
I will be more conscious next time. I do not want to upset the race gods…
I’m totally with you! I never wear the race gear before the race. I AM superstitious in that regard. I feel as though I’ll jinx myself! It’s okay that you bought the jacket prior to the race…I’d just be hesitant to wear it.
BTW, how does it fit? I hear that they run small. Thoughts?
It’s still in the bag with tags on – I’m not taking any chances
! I bought a women’s small and it fits as I expected (i.e. typical small), but the salesmen at Bill Rodger’s Running Centre did tell me that the jackets fits smaller than last year. He said that last year the jackets seemed to fit big and everyone was sizing down, but it seems that this year the sizes have normalized. Another interesting tidbit – just the adidas jacket this year.
I’m just a little stitious – that’s why I like to wear my shirt to bed the night before… and only the shirt. Helps me to be at one with the upcoming race.