StametsJun 3, 2025

[ColmsComics] Marathon

https://lemmy.world/post/30701955

Show threadPhobosAnomaly

One of my verrrry minor bugbears is people who show up to 3k or 5k fun runs wearing gear promoting events well above the event’s level.

Like “okay dude, that’s a nice Antarctica Marathon t-shirt but it’s not going to make you look cooler in the Buttfucknowheresville Gala 5k”, or “settle down Mrs London Marathon windbreaker over your Kona Ironman tech tee, you’re going up against someone with a cotton T-shirt from Asda and thick shorts that are going to build up enough charge to power a small African country”.

Big respect to the effort they put in to earn the gear, but who are they honestly trying to impress?

Jun 3, 2025 at 1:14pmWeb
Show threadTheImpressiveXJun 3, 2025
Show threadpartial_accumenJun 3, 2025

I’m not the caliber of athlete you’re talking about having only done local runs, but I can’t say I pay attention to what other people are wearing enough to read the words on their shirts. I’m more focused on elbowing in to get a free banana before they’re all gone or making sure my bib isn’t pinned on upside down.

However, if this is a common enough thing, how is there no an industry of making over-the-top fake race shirts to parody those folks you’re talking about?

I’m thinking things like:

  • Kessel Run 2021 - 12 parsecs or die!
  • 500 miler: What I would walk (to be with you)
  • Lake Laogai 5k - surprisingly forgetable!
Show threadBoshtJun 3, 2025
Bravo, sounds like a solid idea honestly. Def made me giggle, lol.
Show threadPhobosAnomalyJun 3, 2025
Yeah absolutely, you’re on to something there friend!
Show threadIninewCrowJun 3, 2025
Show threadhemkoJun 3, 2025
That’d be fun, I’ve seen titanic swimming team shirts before
Show threadLv_InSaNe_vLJun 3, 2025
Theres ultra marathons at the 500 mile range haha
Show threadEmpricornJun 3, 2025
I mean… Where the hell else are they going to wear it, branded or not? I’m nowhere near that level, but Iabsolutely have favorite running gear that I prefer to wear, no matter the distance of the race.
Show threadPhobosAnomalyJun 3, 2025

I suppose everyone has their own preferences. If people reaaaally want to wear their Death Run 69420miler UltraPersistence shirt then go wild I guess, ain’t nothing stopping you, just feels a bit tone deaf to me.

As for wearing running shirts, I guess it depends. I have a few plain Brooks or New Balance shirts that I just enjoy wearing on warm days, or even a Disneyland Paris wicking shirt that’s just quite comfortable.

That said, I personally purposefully don’t wear any of my “achievement” finisher shirts, I just hang them up above my gym mats in my garage - perhaps as a source of inspiration.

Having a “favourite” running gear is awesome though. I’ve got a couple of shirts and pairs of shirts myself and it’s awesome having a set of gear that just works when you’re out on tarmac.

Show threadskisnowJun 4, 2025

just feels a bit tone deaf to me.

You’re coming across as massively insecure here, like it’s a bunch of strangers’ responsibility to make you feel good about yourself by pretending to be beginners.

Show threadSc00terJun 3, 2025
One of my coworkers does ultra marathons, once did. 100 mile run, straight thru the mountains. Hes won boston qualifier marathons. Dude is a machine. But he shows up to those short races too. His favorite is the mile. Theyre not theyre to compete with people who are there just to complete, theyre there because they fucking love to run and want EVERY opportunity to run. Its not about “you,” its about them.
Show threadLv_InSaNe_vLJun 3, 2025
This. People who have never been a high performance athlete just don’t understand the mentality. It becomes everything, and it’s not about the time difference between you and the next guy just the delta between your time and your last time.
Show threadeodurJun 3, 2025

I feel attacked.

But seriously, I just like some of the race shirts. I don’t typically wear it for anyone but me, though I do like seeing other peoples race gear. I’ve found out about a lot of cool races because someone had a shirt.

Show threadjimmuxJun 3, 2025
I have some gear like that, but only because I bought it all cheaply when one of the manufacturers did a warehouse clearance.
Show threadbentJun 6, 2025
I use my marathon tshirt at lots of sport occasions, also under a jacket when its cold. It’s nice and comfortable and I’m not gonna buy another t-shirt when I have one that’s perfectly fine. It’s not for showing off, I use it because I hate shopping.