your name on your race bib

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your name on your race bib

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

your name on your race bib Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:26 pm

I've noticed a growing trend among larger races: your first name is printed on your race bib along with (or instead of) your race number. So if your name is Bob, people will shout "go Bob" all the way along the course. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea? At the last marathon I did, they printed the names and numbers of the race entrants in the local newspaper. At mile 22 or so, a random guy in the crowd looked straight at me and started cheering "Go Steve! You can do it! C'mon Steve!" It freaked me out, trying to remember where I knew this guy from, before I finally decided I didn't know him at all. At 22 miles into a marathon, that's one mental game I don't have the energy to play.

ginger

Cambridge, MA
Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 46

Re: your name on your race bib Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:32 pm

I kind of like it, although it does make it hard to pick out people you know cheering for you, as everyone is saying your name. At a couple triathlons I was at this year, they had two bibs in your race goody bag. One had your first name on it and one had your last name. I suppose you could wear the last name one and then anyone who yelled your first name would really know you :). The other good thing about bibs with names on them in a triathlon is that when you're passing someone on the bike, you can say "On your left, Steve" which makes them much more likely to hear you and recognize that you're talking to them than the standard "on your left, On your left!, On your left!, ON YOUR LEFT!!" that sometimes has to be yelled.

BGibbsLMT

Southington, CT
Joined: 12 Dec 2004
Posts: 68

Re: your name on your race bib Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:21 pm

I don't like the idea of names on bibs, I don't know why it just doesn't sit well with me. I did like the sticker on my bib for the Nipmuck trail marathon that said "high fall risk". They give that to all first timers. If you need the ego boost of people calling your name have it written on your shirt.

onyourleft

Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 10

Re: your name on your race bib Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:11 pm

i've only seen this in races organized by the ironman corp. are marathons starting to pick up on it? i like it. by the time i'm halfway into the marathon i'm completely out of ego...so the boost is welcomed. names on bibs make result stalking much easier too. i can only remember one or two race numbers but somehow the names stick better. and although it's not real, i thought it meant that someone in the ironman corp actually recognized that there was a person behind the $400 entryfee. it was like a hug from the ironman corp. now as for putting your name on your shirt...that's just dumb. everyone knows it should be on your ass.

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: your name on your race bib Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:22 pm

I think it's a good idea. But maybe it should be optional (i.e. a checkbox on the race application form). I've always meant to put my name on my shirt for a marathon but I always forget. Then I always feel a bit left out when I hear people yelliing the names of people around me but not mine. What bugs me is when some guys have "Go Dad" on their shirt. In one marathon I kept thinkng my family was suddenly in the crowd whenever I heard "Go Dad." I would quickly remember that I wasn't expecting to see my family until much later in the race and these cheers were from strangers just yelling what they saw written on some guy's shirt; obviously written on their shirt by their son or daughter. But it startled me each time I heard it...I guess the voices sounded like my kids.

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: your name on your race bib Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:28 am

onyourleft wrote:
i thought it meant that someone in the ironman corp actually recognized that there was a person behind the $400 entryfee. it was like a hug from the ironman corp.

Shoot, those are some big profit margins. I'll give you a hug for $300.

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