This week’s question was: What’s the best race “swag” you’ve ever received (counting both premiums and award prizes)?
Some of my personal favorites are:
* The backpack I received for the first ERC Winter Series (2007/2008). It’s a really high-quality, heavy-duty backpack;
* The 2009/2010 ERC Winter Series fleece blanket;
* The new gender-specific Cleveland Marathon shirts (women’s cut and v-neck);
* The ERC foldable chairs-in-a-bag that were age-group awards at the Turkey Trot several years ago.
The kitty is not “swag,” but I did get her for free from “Quadfather” Craig Latimer and, for being the daughter of a couple of abandoned barn cats (that Craig and his wife took in), she’s quite the little princess.
Here’s what other racers say was worth running for:
George Foreman Deluxe size grill from NCAA outdoor championships 2006 — Greg Cooper
My ERC Winter Series Sweatshirt. LOVE the winter series premiums. — Christine Vassen
A free Midnight Sun Brewing beer after the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage. Couldn’t enjoy it…all I really wanted was a shower and a nap. — Michael Morris
The 2004 New Years Day 5 miler blanket and any time we got gloves. — Jack Byers
Vera Bradley tote from the Seaside Half Marathon. — Sarah Rose
Millcreek Distance Classic Half Marathon. Only paid $25 and got a nice finishers medal and a really nice long-sleeve tech shirt with pockets! Though trail races always have the best post-race food. Buffalo Stampede comes to mind. — Patrick Krott
Cuts and bruises. — Craig Buck
The year I ran the Flying Pig marathon, they gave out really nice duffle bags with the race logo embroidered on them along with a race shirt. The Akron marathon gives out Brooks running jackets instead of a shirt. Love my duffle bag and Akron jacket. — Karen Manganaro
$250. It was a random gift from the Edinboro triathlon. I came in dead last overall, but I was present when they called my number. I was so happy and crampy at the same time. I could hardly stand up to claim my prize. Thanks to the donors. I still use the running gear that money allowed me to buy. — Stephen Haeseler
Iron Girl Tri this past weekend had a great bag of goodies! Performance shirt, energy bars, water bottle, stickers, temp tattoos, a food holder for the bike, a gel, and a great finisher’s medal. Good stuff! — Laura Musgrove Fordyce
