I live in an urban dwelling. Translation, an impossibly small abode. Those without storage need to be ruthless or stuff, which multiplies at an immeasurably fast rate, will rapidly take over. I love you, but I don’t love your Christmas gift. Race memorabilia, with the exception of medals, has no place in my home. I ceremonially shred each bib after the event. It is surprisingly satisfying. Lately I catch myself eyeing up my shiny medallions, secretly rank ordering them. First to go will be the 10k trinkets. My overdeveloped need for organization is at odds with my inability to throw away something of use to someone, somewhere, someday. I hesitated three times before tossing the lame key chain a clothing store gave me yesterday as a gift with purchase. This usually means I force my old junk onto my friends and relatives. They immediately trash the aforementioned cast-offs, but I have successfully transferred the guilt. Guilt which extends to recycling. Reduce, reuse, then recycle. It’s the last of the Rs. I can’t be hasty in running to the blue box. Magazines are a constant problem. I currently subscribe to eight magazines (not counting those freebies sent from professional organizations and my alma maters), five of which are running-related. On a completely unrelated note, does anyone want 274 back issues of iRun, Runner’s World, Canadian Running, Running Room, and Running Times magazine?
Title Reference: Britney Spears – Piece of Me. From the album Blackout. 2007.
Haha, I feel your pain, though have never considered shredding my bibs! Do you get the feeling after a while that all the running mags give the same advice, over and over. Luckily, there are a few good gems and long form pieces to keep me subscribed.
I am on my second renewal notice from RW and I’m stayng strong … I need to go on a break for a year. Of course I’ll probably obsessively read the articles available online. It’s a hard habit to break.
I hear the next issue of Runner’s World will have an article to a first or fastest 5k and how to get a 6 pack. I think the cover model will probably be performing a flamingo-esque quad stretch.
I took a year off from subscribing to CR, RT and RW Mags but have just recently signed back up. I ended up buying them all anyway – which was an added expense on top of the green factor…. sigh
Those long-legged cover models and enticing promises of speed always lure me back in. I think it’s the gloss. I’m attracted to shiny things.
gurgle (drowning in magazines).
I just need, yes NEED, to read them once more time before they can go. There may be important secrets within that I need, yes NEED, to know for a successful 2010 season.
I too live in a small urban dwelling. I have a box in my closet full of random medals, but other ones I started hanging on doorknobs. Its gotten annoying because they get stuck in the door sometimes. My car is full of bibs I keep in case I need safety pins.
I do hang onto fun race bibs, but the blank ones get tossed. eventually.
For a “spartan” event, runners sure accumulate a lot of stuff.
I started with the doorknob, but Husband’s early morning clanging as he opened and closed doors was not good for our long term marital happiness. So now they sit in a vase. Actually three vases. I knew those wedding gifts would be good for something.
I’m thinking, Scrapbook the best of the articles.
Now that I’ve stopped laughing…
Sure, next on my list. After I finish my wedding scrapbook. My five year anniversary is coming up in a few weeks.
I will photocopy mine for you (Running articles scrapbook, not wedding
Carry on…
That’s what I need to do – piggyback on the hard work of others. By the time I finished my running scrapbook it would be a useful history of running.
Ha, I’ll need to do the work first!