After doing the Rudolph Run and Jingle Jog events last weekend, I cleaned out my truck and found a few race bibs. They were between the seats, under the seats and shoved in the door “stick it all here” thing.
Oprah isn’t involved with running but if she was, she couldn’t even enjoy an “Everyone gets a bib!” deal. Everyone already gets one, from the 1-mile and 5K events to the 200-mile ultras. Some have timing chips, others don’t. Some seem to be the size of small billboards; a foldover before pinning definitely helps. Bibs are the easy-to-see proof that you’re in the race.
What about after the event? Do you keep the bib as a reminder? Throw it in the trash? Shove it in the door thingy and toss it months later with a handful of others?
We asked the Run256 crew what they do with their race bibs. Here’s what they said:
Kristen Mumper – I have a wall in my gym with all my bibs and medals. When I get in a bad patch or have a setback I look at them to remind myself of what I’m capable of. It gives me focus. I’m not fast but I’m stubborn.
Susan Acker Womack – I had my Orthopedic Surgeon at Grandview Medical Center sign my Blood Rock bib after surgery (broke ankle in 3 places ~ screws and plates are a part of my life now)
Katie Vonada Lloyd – I write the date and my time on the back and put them on a hanger I made. I like to go back and see my times so I have a goal.
John Alderman — We put them on the Christmas tree.
(TVO: See the photo above for the Alderman’s tree!)
Kathy Faulkner Youngren – In one of our older houses, we took our favorites and made a number wall in the basement. It was basically an exercise room, so it was actually really cool. And it was so much fun to look at them and reminisce.
Eric Fritz – All go straight to the trash … except the DNFs. They hang on the wall in the family room awaiting redemption. (So glad to pull that Western States one down last year!)
Martin Schneekloth – His and hers (displays) in our workout room.
A.J. Stark – Mine are in a binder on the bookshelf.
Will Bryan – In my old apartment, I had a part of the ceiling along a wall that was dropped lower for plumbing and AC routing. It made a perfect place to hang my bibs and medals.
Cody Belomy – I have a handful from my high school and college career. The only one I’ve kept as an adult was my bib from Boston.
E. Marie Warren – I keep them usually. Have lost a couple, but most of them ride behind the sun visor on my car.
Stuart Oberman – I’ve got this cool binder thingy with room for medals below. I stuff all bibs from one race into those plastic sleeves.
Sara Bingaman – Keep them all if I can. I need to put them in a binder.
Kim Jouglet – I toss them. Tyson clips them up.
Greg Turgeon – I trash them. Tee-shirts and medals are enough to remember the races.
Carrie Stewart Lin – I used to send them to my IRun4 buddy when I was involved in that organization but now I just toss them.
Matthew Jones – Typically winds up on one of my bookshelves.
Dawn Emerson – All of mine are in a drawer. I even have bibs from the races my kids ran. Not sure what to do with them.
Kathie Tomaino – Some I keep, like the one Meb Keflezighi signed or from my first half, they are in a drawer. My daughter also keeps sentimental ones; they are hanging on her bedroom wall. (Keflezighi) wrote a book on my daughter’s (it was her first marathon). He wrote about having fun, talked to her for about 10 minutes or so about what a great experience it would be and to enjoy it more than anything. He gave her advice, it was really nice.
