I have never been that in to race shirts**. I am not upset if the race doesn’t have one. I don’t care if it’s cotton or tech tee. If it has an ugly design, I’ll probably wear it cause it makes me laugh, or donate it. Sometimes I donate a shirt without wearing it at all. I do save the ones from “special” races, but that’s it***.
But I have to admit… I am kind of bummed when the shirt design turns out to be a cool one, and the sizing is completely off. I am looking at you, Chicago Spring Half Marathon. Ha ha.
I really liked this vertical skyline photo on the back of the race shirt! But the shirt size I signed up for was way too small – a women’s large. Luckily, they had shirt exchange on site, but a women’s XXL was too large. So I went with a men’s large (no women’s XL available). Ha. And while I wrote that like the Goldilocks story, the men’s large fit was not “just right.” As seen here:
Whatever, right? Now Steven has a technical tee he can use to work out! It’s great that the race offered women’s sizing at all… or is it?
When you do a race, do you prefer if it has gender specific sizing? Or does that make you feel uncertain cause you have no idea how the heck that women’s fit is cut (if you’re a lady answering, obviously)?
I recently signed up for a triathlon relay. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they noted in registration that the shirt sizes run small. I appreciated the heads up and signed up for one size larger!
Now… if they would just tell us who makes the shirt. Gina and I were both saying we wish we had known that the Soldier Field 10 Miler would have Nike shirts, which tend to run small… then we would have gotten larger sizes.
Luckily, hers fit, and I exchanged mine to a size that fits decently (a men’s L, no women’s XLs had been traded in yet). But gosh! That could have been disastrous (<— sarcasm)! Ha ha. I am happy it all worked out, because it’s another shirt I think I will use.
Again, if a shirt doesn’t fit – not the end of the world (especially since I don’t use all of them that I receive). I just find it interesting that there is so much more variance on women’s shirt sizing then men’s. I hope more races start to note how their shirts tend to run, and maybe who makes them… or a sizing chart? Riiiiight, like we are all going to bust out the tape measurer while registering!
*unless you’re a dude, of course
*the shirt you get for participating in a race
***and really, I wonder why I am even doing that!
This is my year of shirt pet peeves, none of the shirts seem to fit! And it doesn’t seem to matter what size I register for because half the time the race manages to get my size wrong anyway! LOL.
I actually really like when there are women’s cuts – I am busty enough that men’s shirts never fit me nicely. What I hate is when the race doesn’t specify and I pick a size assuming it’s unisex sizing…and nope, surprise! (This has happened and more than once!)
I donate my ugly race shirts that are cotton, use the tech ones to work out, and use the cute ones for wearing or for races. (I still love my perfect 10 2012 ls tech tee! I wear it to races when it’s cool enough.)
Oh yeah, that is a total bummer when they don’t tell you what type you are ordering (unisex or women’s)! Why do they keep getting your size wrong though?! Are you checking it when they give it to you and they won’t let you exchange?
I recently gave Matt a few of my men’s cut tech shirts. And I’ve given my mom a few in the past. I really want to love women’s cut shirts but I can’t figure out the sizing. My normal size is like a skin tight belly shirt in those. There is definitely a lot of variance between brands so it is very helpful to know who is making the shirt!
Yeah, that does seem to be the case – women’s = way too fitted! I don’t want my belly rolls to show, thanks 😉
This is SO my problem! Even when there are gender-specific shirts available I will sometimes order the men’s anyway (depends on the race–if I know about the shirts from previous years and/or if I care if it fits). No need to highlight the rolls.
Recently I volunteered with a GOTR race and they really threw me for a loop–they had gender specific shirts but in COTTON! I immediately opted for the men’s small. When I showed up on race day the women’s shirts were pink and the men’s grey (kind of a bummer) and it was funny to see the women who were wearing the grey–I wondered if they had the same reaction that many of us had here–that it was easier to opt for the men’s sizing rather than risk an unflattering women’s shirt.
Any of the Bank of America races (marathon and shuffle) will always be Nike shirts. I get highly annoyed when the race cheaps out and shuffle and marathon shirts are the same color. I’m looking at you red shamrock shuffle shirt with red marathon shirt!
I really liked the spring half marathon shirt more so because it was a v neck. I wish more races had vnecks.
Ha ha ha! You think that is cheaping out and not just general uncreativeness?! 😉
That is interesting you mention the V necks. I know some people who will only wear them, which means they aren’t wearing many race tees!
Haha funny you should mention busting out the tape measure! The Dallas RNR had a sizing chart so I DID take a sec to take my measurements. I liked that it was a Brooks tech tee so I didn’t want to screw up sizing.
Ha! That is awesome that they had a chart and that you used it! That has really saved my ass when ordering clothes online (and really messed up in other cases… sigh. Apparently you want bike pants to be too tight, not too big).
The SF10 website actually did mention that it was a Nike shirt…. But that’s also what I’ve noticed Fleet Feet offering at their past several races.
I’m actually happy when races offer gender-specific sizing because the men’s/unisex shirts look horrible on me, so I’m pretty unlikely to wear them. I always just assume ladies sizing runs small so I order up a size, which usually works out. I was shocked when I had to exchange my Wisconsin shirt for a smaller size since that one ran huge!
Ahh! Thanks for correcting me! I didn’t see it on the registration form, cause I had Gina register for me. Or are you saying it was just mentioned randomly on the site? Cause I want it right where I am picking my shirt size in registration, lol.
Ha ha! I think the WI shirt is the only one that I ever get right so I should just start ordering up like you!
Hmm… I’m not sure if it was on the registration page, but it was on the “Event Details” page, where they talk about what you get. So probably not super obvious. I also registered later than I think you guys did (I did it right after the Shuffle), so maybe they hadn’t put that info up yet?
I bet they had it up there, I just didn’t think to look for it. I probably will dig around a bit in the future, though! And I like that we got nice Nike shirts! Woo hoo!
It was so good to see you at SF10 this past weekend! It is really annoying that women’s cut shirts are so hit or miss. But, I actually do much prefer the women’s cut over the unisex shirts because the men’s shirts look awful on me. You didn’t mention shirt color, but that is actually a big thing for me. If a race offers a white shirt, I’m pretty much going to donate it straight from packet pickup!
It was good to see you too!
Why don’t you like white shirts? Cause they are kind of boring, or something else? I actually really liked the design of the Women’s Half Marathon last year, which was on a white shirt (but on a shirt too small for me).
I second the hatred of white shirts! It’s not because I don’t like white, but it’s because I sweat like a hog and they will get ruined. I usually just wear long-sleeved ones under them in the winter, or wear them to expos or out in the summer. I don’t buy shirts, ever, for that reason. (I also can’t bear to part with any of them, but that’s a whole other problem.)
This drives me nuts. Even races I do every year manage to trick me by changing manufacturers. I have found it is even worse with international races. My women’s medium for the Rome Marathon would have been too small for a Barbie. So for Japan, I ordered a large figuring the Japanese are pretty small people, and it was enormous. I wish more races would have a trade option.
Oh gosh! Yes! I bet international would be very tricky!!!
I get so annoyed at this. women’s cut technical shirts usually run small but it is so inconsistent. I love the asics race shirts from a couple of OH marathons I ran but of course can’t find the same shirt in any store. Then I had a race in early may where the shirts have run small the last 2 years so I sized up. What do you know my regular size fit and I traded back down. I actually like wearing race shirts but would appreciate some consistency.
WE JUST CAN’T WIN! Hee hee. But ditto on the Asics race shirts being nice! I think Asics was a sponsor when I did NYCM and I bought a few at the expo cause I liked the feel so much 🙂
YES! The women’s sizing is so weird. I love that they have it, especially because I’m short, but sometimes I feel like I shrunk the smalls and the mediums will be too big. I think they need options: will feel like a crop top; arms are short; if you have boobs, forget it.
BTW, I’m currently wearing my Columbus Marathon shirt, which is a women’s Nike small and I feel like it barely covers my belly and delts.
i always hesitate before clicking on the size. i feel like it’s a shot in the dark. sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. i tend to cheat up in size because then i can always take it in if i really want to wear it that bad. although…that doesn’t usually happen. i like to get the shirts….but i never wear them – ha!
“I just find it interesting that there is so much more variance on women’s shirt sizing then men’s.”
I don’t find that interesting … I find it frustrating! Regarding all women’s clothing, not just race shirts. I get the some women are curvy, some aren’t, etc, but there is SO much variation in women’s sizing, it’s obnoxious. Why can’t women’s clothing be sized like men’s – instead of an arbitrary number, you put the actual measurement on the tag.
It would be nice, to have some more universal system. I wonder what the world would be like if we had a REAL number that was a measurement, and not just some digit that varies from brand to brand. You know what though? Steven fits some brands in his normal size and other sizes in other brands. So I think they can’t even get the men’s right! Probably not as bad as women’s though.
I want to just hire a personal seamstress. Have all my clothes custom made, haha! Although I guess I could get stuff tailored.
I tend to go towards men’s xl so my girls fit in and it isn’t tight across them…
I hear your pain! The Allstate 13.1 I did last year had ridiculous sizing, too, and it was a HUGE bummer – especially because it was my first half, so I thought I’d wear it afterward as a badge of honor of sorts. The worst part was I picked up my friend’s shirt for her and somehow, they put a small in the bag and we didn’t check it until AFTER the race. Now her 2 year old wears it. So apparently some women’s smalls equate to a 2T. Lessons learned: check the sizing before it’s too late.
Oh gosh! Yes! That is one that I donated! A women’s large looked like a S or XS! What a bummer that you didn’t get to wear your first half shirt.
I have gotten in to that habit – as soon as they give me the shirt, check it out and see if I can exchange it! I am happy I did when I picked up packets for Soldier Field!
I like race shirts because I never know what I am going to get! In Oct, I ran a marathon with men’s sized long-sleeved shirts. I ordered an XS because it was men’s. It is really long and the sleeves are huge, but around my waist it fits? Odd. And you met Gina! Or maybe you have known Gina for a while and I am late to the game…
Oh wait. Maybe I am thinking it is a different Gina.
Oh gosh, that is weird… but maybe men have small waists and huge arms?! LOL
You must be thinking of a different Gina 🙂 I finally met my Gina in person in 2010 and have seen her a few times every year since! 🙂
Gina @ The Runivore looks like her! http://therunivore.com/
Omg! She totally does!
I actually like when races offer women’s cut shirts. The men’s shirts never fit. My Florida half, which I ran in March, gave men’s shirts and I’m so disappointed! I got an XS and it is so big and boxy. I like to wear my race shirts when I run. Altho I wasn’t able to run the Chicago Spring half, I am going to wear that shirt. Because a) it’s a great color and design and b) I was ready to run until my foot decided to break!
If it’s a tech shirt, I’d like it to fit. If it’s cotton, I don’t care what size it is, really – I’m having all of my cotton race tees made into a quilt once I have enough! =)
I think those quilts are so neat! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out when you have it together with all the shirts! 🙂
I agree with you: it’s such a crap shoot. I love when they tell me what brand and if it’s a women’s cut. That said I almost never wear tech short sleeve shirts anyway, although the spring half an SF ones are nice. Bummer on the men’s cut. 🙁 I wish more races would do tanks!
I think the only tank I ever got was the Pleasant Prairie Tri when it was still Danskin… and it was white. Which races have you done with tanks?
I’ve started ordering mediums all the time. I figure if it’s a men’s cut, I’ll give it to Jason (I hate the sleeves on men’s cut shirts. Too long and baggy.) and if it’s a women’s cut a medium is currently most likely to fit me. Unless it’s a Leslie Jordan brand which always run large. But, I figure if it’s a women’s cut medium and it’s too big I’ll just sleep in it.
What I wish is that more races would offer tanks instead of short sleeves. I am MUCH more likely to wear a tank. I tried to lobby for that for the Race That’s Good For Life this year but strangely tanks were more expensive.
I don’t really like the feel of tech shirts when I am doing anything other than running. Are those the ones you sleep in? I do sleep in my cotton ones. 🙂
That is strange! Do you think men would want tanks? I just don’t see many men in them. I suppose if they are going to wear a tank, they might as well just take their shirt off.
I just always assume that the women’s shirts run small since that is the case most of the time. I like when races offer women’s sizes. It’s at least a nice effort over “unisex” shirts aka men’s shirts.
Ugh, Nike women’s shirts are SO SHORT! I always appreciate a women’s fit, but, like you, have trouble with the sizing. At least when they’re unisex I always know what size to get! 🙂
I actually LOVE race tee’s so I get really upset when I receive a shirt that doesn’t fit well! Irongirl is notorious for having super small race shirts. I don’t even think an XL fits me… which is awesome for my self-esteem, ha. I’d just rather get a men’s size anyway because the shirts seem to fit much better than women’s tee’s. Women’s are always so short and small and UGH. Apparently, I have Strong Feelings about this subject. 😉
I usually go with the same size, M or L, depending on the brand. Though honestly I don’t care too much about the shirt because I don’t keep them at all. I put them all in a pile and donate them. Last year I accumulated about 20 shirts, mainly because of the RnR races, and I only kept the Las Vegas shirt. Most are ugly. Did you see the Chicago RnR shirt? I thought it was fugly. I think from now on I will decline the shirt. There was one race in which we had the option to decline the shirt and registration was about $5 cheaper. You bet I signed up for that option.
I haven’t done any RnR races or seen the Chicago shirt. I do like the option to decline shirts, though!
That would have never occurred to me, that the shirts would fit differently due to manufacturer! Duh!! I would be bummed if I signed up and my shirt didn’t fit, I am all about a free t-shirt!! You can get me to do almost anything if you offer me a free t-shirt, lol!
Well, if you decide to “donate” your SF10 shirt, you can donate it all the way to TX! I know “someone” who would pay you for it! 😉
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Darn! I wish I would have seen this before I sent your bday gift yesterday morning! I totally would have sent it to you! 🙂
I would feel bad “taking” your SF10 shirt! Maybe when/if you decide you want to donate it let me know! 😉 I think it is so cool that you live SO CLOSE to SF!!
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I really don’t like receiving race shirts unless they’re high-quality and/or feature a unique design. My drawer is overflowing with them! There were two races that had super small shirts and I had to size up two sizes to get the right fit. For example, the Nike Women’s Half Marathon shirts were tiny! And short! Above all, I think my biggest pet peeve is when a running shirt is too short and only reaches my hips. That drives me crazy 🙂
I hate that too!! Every time I register for a race I’m always like “Hmm, wonder if they are true to size”
I am super picky about my race shirts though and tend not to wear but a few since only a few are actually nice. Most of the shirts I’ve gotten recently have not been good quality and they ruin when I wash them (like snag up all over!!)
A few recent races have been just regular cotton T-shirts, which I’m totally fine with! I will wear them with jeans on the weekend!
Men’s t-shirts always look dumpy on me. I usually get a L and wear them to bed.
In women’s sizes, I am an XL or XXL, depending on the brand. I still prefer women’s sizing and love when the choice is there.
Gah, I just got burned by shirt sizing at my race yesterday! I picked “Small,” and it mostly fits, but the armholes are weirdly small. Like it makes it look like my arms are hams, boo. (Or maybe I’m in denial about what size I am now??)
I kind of miss cotton shirts. Everything is a technical shirt these days, and a lot of times, they really suck. I had a plan to make a quilt out of my race tees, but I haven’t gotten enough. Maybe cotton is a thing of the past…
I bet it’s the sizing. Seriously. Women’s shirts are so weird. After this debacle, I ordered an XL women’s tech for something and it’s way too big. What a waste!
It does seem like more and more people are moving toward tech. I kind of don’t care which I get, either way, but seem to use cotton more – for sleeping in.