Preferred SWAG at Races

Give them a towel, everybody needs that.

Make some brownies and cut the race fee, that's better swag than any of that junk used as an excuse to charge us upwards of $35 for 5k's.

put a $5 bill in the bag.

Of the two, I'd easily choose the pint glass every day and twice on Sunday! No question. The race belt wouldn't be used by a significant portion of your participants while a glass is useful. I dig useful.

Somebody mentioned a towel. I got one at a race this summer and at first thought WTH? But I use it all the time now. Useful and cheap.

Might not fit your budget but I also got a nice daypack (not the drawstring type) this summer that I've been using rather than a duffle bag.

I put on a much smaller race and I'm thinking about those suncatcher things you hang on the window. Not very manly but most participants are chicks anyway. Trying to come up with a unique logo inspired design that is affordable.

Good luck and hope you get additional replies that I can steal.

How about a finisher t-shirt like they handed out before the 3.5 mile JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge?

BEER.

Two items...drawstring sack or the hooded poncho like NYC and Boston gave away recently at the finish.

I do like the previous suggestion of pint glasses as well.

Bottle opener!

Beer bottle protector/insulator

LED flashlight? or, given that (gads!) autumn is coming, how 'bout an LED safety blinker?

I'd like to see and LED blinking ring (or other handheld device) for runners , or LED/reflective snap-band for ankles, or LED clip-on for a hat...

Oh, of those you noted, I'd take the pint glass.

By now, I've figgered out how to pin a bib and what to do with my key...

No one wants a stupid belt for their number, WTF!?

Pint glass by a mile.

Other idea about the bottle opener or coozie is a great one, too.

I don't want any swag. I just want a well organized race with a well marked, accurate route that has an affordable entry fee.

thanks.

Useful is good. One race locally gives out wicking socks with their technical shirt, and it's a $10 10k, including the pasta dinner!

Me, I prefer a good T-shirt. Assuming fall, a nice long sleeve one if your weather makes that appropriate. Don't cheap out on the shirt to do something more. Runners who race a lot might not care, but your first timer is going to treat that shirt like a gold medal.

I have found interesting sponsor things in my bag before I liked: Biscoff spread (small jar), small bags of rice, a couple of Gu flavors, single serve Gatorade packs, etc). Stuff I can eat during the race or training for the next one.

The towel sound good. The pint glass might be nice, but good grief I've got too many already. Discounts for massage therapy are nice too.

- pint glass

- towel

- car seat cover

- socks

- travel mug

- wind breaker jacket

- hoody

-

herman rew wrote:

I don't want any swag. I just want a well organized race with a well marked, accurate route that has an affordable entry fee.

thanks.

this^^ apparently this is too hard to ask for 90%+ or races these days

Fanny Pack

Many thanks for all the feedback.

Our finishers medals are already a bottle opener and we serve plenty of beer so were covered there.

I like the idea of the towel...ill look into that, and have been thoroughly discouraged from race belts.

future comments are welcome as well!

yeahyeahyay wrote: safety blinker?

The Heart of America Marathon (possibly the best marathon in the country, in case you haven't heard of it) gives these out. Probably a good thing since it is run on open roads and starts before sunrise. The real nice perk is that there is free pizza at the post-race gathering!

Use the money (or donation) earmarked for the SWAG to make sure you have ample port-a-potties, start is organized and all turns are marshalled.

The investment will return in spades.

If I want a pint glass or towel, I can buy one. It's more difficult to run in an organized race.

Bring Back the 880 wrote:

yeahyeahyay wrote: safety blinker?

The Heart of America Marathon (possibly the best marathon in the country, in case you haven't heard of it) gives these out. Probably a good thing since it is run on open roads and starts before sunrise. The real nice perk is that there is free pizza at the post-race gathering!

http://www.columbiatrackclub.com/hoa/

WHAT? Surely you jest. That race is terrrrrrrrrible!