By Taryn Townsend
I’m not sure about other runner’s, but generally, my philosophy is that you shouldn’t wear any race shirt that you did not complete or at least start. I’ve never NOT completed a race, so my philosophy is any race that I have not started.
With me not running Comrades this year, I was not going to fuss too much about the goody bag and the contents thereof, besides, I’m not going to wear the shirt anyway, I didn’t even START. After speaking to my cousin though, who is running, she suggested that I get my goody bag anyway, besides, that is a very expensive t-shirt not to claim. True.
Needless to say, my cousin will collect my goody bag at the race expo (if she is able to) and I have decided that if I do ever wear the shirt, it will be to bed and nowhere else. I will also use the goody bag and unused race number as my reminder of what I have been through this year, the strength that I have managed to build and the stronger path that lies ahead of me for NOT running the race and preparing myself better for next year and the years to come.
At times, I think it is harder to make the decision not to do a big race, than it is to line up on the day. It is the most heart breaking decision to make after you have put your mind to completing a task. But, as I’ve said, I’m looking forward to an even stronger run next year and I’m looking forward to running with my cousin as she will complete her 10th Comrades next year.
Good luck to everyone participating! Enjoy wearing and showing off your Comrades 2011 race t-shirt and be sure to purchase a Comrades supporters t-shirt at the expo for your loyal supporter/s, they will really appreciate it, besides, they have also had to endure your early mornings, leaving parties early, your long hours on the road and the pasta they have had to eat so often!
What do you think? To wear the shirt, or not to wear the shirt? Add your comment below!
I do agree with you with the fact that if you have not started the race, don’t wear the shirt. BUT, Comrades has become so commercialised that it is a money spinner. Create a finishers shirt for the runner that crosses the line, to be unique and to boast.
@ Johnson I agree, but my philosophy was you ran you wear it, but know it is more like you paid for it wear it, are you gonna buy a T – Shirt or what eva shirt from Edgars or were eva and not wear it……haha…..common people…..it’s 2012…..not 1912……heheheh….ja….
Yes! What a brilliant idea….
Good point Johnson, I agree. The entry fee is quite substantial and considering you enter a number of months before, for myself, obviously I had every intention of running, so I didn’t mind the fee, however now that I’m not, yes, it is quite a lot of money just to “forget” about.
Anyway, if you are running on Sunday, best of luck! Enjoy it!!
If you haven’t run it, you can’t wear it. Generic shirts (like those with a Comrades logo) are OK if you’ve run it before. I fetched my goody bag for Korkie in 1993 but couldn’t run it. The shirt was very handy for polishing the car.
Hey Craig, glad I’ve got some people on the same page as me… thought I was just being ultra sensitive. But yes, like I said, if my cousin does manage to get my goody bag… I’ll be wearing it to bed ; ) If you are running on Sunday, good luck!!
He’ll no. You have to had run the race. That’s like saying you are entitled to a medal because you’ve entered.
Kevin
I agree! Run/start the race and you can wear the t-shirt.
How does the saying go, ” been there, DONE THAT, bought the T-SHIRT”!
I think one should not take it that serious. If I want my wife to wear the shirt because she supported me in the preparation, why not?
I agree with that Martin, if your wife is not a runner.
Get a life…it’s a T-shirt…who cares.
It’s obvious that your’e not a (REAL??) RUNNER !!!!!!! REAL RUNNERS CARE and respect all the Great Runs in South Africa , of which the Comrades is the greatest. The unwritten Code of Honour is simple :- One EARNS the right to wear a Comrades T-shirt ; if you don’t run, you don’t wear the shirt; if you bail, you don’t wear the shirt. The mere fact that you entered for Comrades, prepared and qualified to run, is irrelevent………. It’s not about the money, Its all about HONOUR, something only a REAL RUNNER will understand
Marius
you are right it is all about the HONOUR
well said!
Honestly, Marius, I have a 2010 Cape Town marathon shirt that I train in from time to time, I did not run the 2010 Cape Town marathon. It was given to me when I volunteered at the African Cross Country Championships 2011. If anyone asks me I will tell them that I never ran it, to me it matters little which races I have or haven’t run, but that I get up every morning and lace up my tekkies…I am not going to stop wearing it.
I do sincerely suggest you get off your ‘REAL RUNNER’ high horse for a second and you will realise that:
1. REAL RUNNERS prioritise people above clothing.
2. REAL RUNNERS don’t dare judge the other runners around them, because they know that all too easily the runners they look down on on the start are the runners who beat them hands down at the finish.
3. REAL RUNNERS don’t dare tell other runners that they couldn’t possibly be REAL RUNNERS over little pieces of cloth.
But most importantly:
4. REAL RUNNERS carry their triumphs, honour and their pride in their hearts and heads, not their trophy cabinets and wardrobes.
The greatness of the races we run is NOT diminished by the errant wearing of a shirt…
I LIKE you Michelle……..Well said…..maybe that will let them get off there RUNNERS HIgh Horse..hahaha..
Michelle, your points are well noted BUT my remark was aimed at the RIGHT to wear a COMRADES race t-shirt.
Over the 86-year history of the Comrades it is conservatively estimated there must be ± 500 000 Comrades finishers who will disagree with you that a Comrades t-shirt is merely ” a little piece of cloth”.
Do I consider myself being a ” REAL RUNNER” ? After competing in and finishing some 80-odd races over a 6-year period my honest and truthful answer is…. NO.
At your next race look around you and you will see the runners in faded club vests covered in equally faded race patches. Then, look carefully, you will notice their permanent numbers, some patches with single laurel and others with double laurel wreaths. These are the REAL RUNNERS, the runners that encourages us and pulls us through when the going gets tough……….
Running is not about ” beating another runner hands down at the finish” – it’s about beating our common enemy …… THE CLOCK
You got it. A REAL RUNNER anyone who put on a paid of tekkies, makes it out the door and enjoys the experience so much they do it again the next day and the next … any other claim is simple BS.
Brilliant!
“It’s a shirt, who cares!”
Gave my shirt to my twin brother as it was orange…what am I gonna do with an orange shirt?
I think he uses it to clean his car.
Why all the superstition. If the shirt fits wear it. It’s a high quality shirt that proudly signifies that you have trained and qualified to run Comrades. If you did not qualify you will not receive a shirt. The medal, badge and flash with the ultimate green number are those rewards that only a finisher can earn.
PS: If it doesn’t fit give it to your partner or child. It may just enspire them to complete this epic race one day.
I couldn’t run my fourth Comrades this year as I broke my ankle in mid April. I decided not to collect my goody bag.
I felt I didn’t need any more reminders of the disappointment!!
Surgeon says I should be able to run next year though – hold thumbs for me!!
Hi
I think i’ve you did not run the race even if it is from a 10km to 89km it does not feel right to wear the shirt. You did not sweat for it. It is anly my thought as i did not complete the comrades last year due to injury in my lower back. I got the shirt but are not wearing it.
Only active particpants in the race,should wear tshirt even though they have not finished.I bought Comrades apparel from Reebok at their outlets months after the race in CT at a better price.I am not a Reebok fan but ran in Reeboks once,never again.I know I can always buy the same garments in CT at a better price.
There is a substitution rule for the first time this year at Comrades.
If you are not going to run it, why don’t you give up your place so others that may want to do it can do it?
There are many people who didn’t think they would be able to run it, so didn’t enter in time, but now have been training hard and want to do it afterall.
If you let your number be substituted,
1) you will get your money back so you can save it for next year
2) you allow another person the chance to run it
3) you won’t have this dilemma with the shirt……
All good deeds.
I entered 2010 Comrades and qualified but then incurred a stress fracture in my right tibia. I did not even look at the tshirt and white and green cap until I finished the 2011 race. Now I wear the cap at every race I run:).
It all comes down to personal opinion.
My view is that you are only entitled to wear the t-shirt/cap if you complete the race – anybody can enter a race. Which is why I was completely against the Comrades 2010 caps being *sold* at the Comrades 2011 expo. It just “devalued” the cap for all us Comrades runners who had successfully completed the race.
this will be my first comrades and I think that the t-shirts should only be given out at the end, receive the goodie bag when entering, and do as Ironman does, medal and shirt at finish…and you can’t buy that shirt anywhere else!
Val , I could not agree more with you. I EARNED the right to wear my 2010 shirt and even though I coul’ve collected my 2011 goody bag, with shirt and all, because I automatically qualified by virtue of the fact that I completed the 2011 Comrades, I chose NOT to. It would be like sticking a M3 badge on a BMW 318…… or a GTI badge on a 1,4 VW Polo ( heaven forbids……)
Unfortunately the bean-counters at Reebok does not share our sentiments and will sell off old stock to whoever wants to buy it……….. I even saw Reebok Comrades shirts in stores that sells name-brands , but old stock, from the from major stores WITHOUT even removing the original labels….
Gee man, I was one of the disappointed ones llast year after they refused completely to give only the t-shirt (didn’t want the goodie bag).
Here’s the story: With all flights booked I only managed to get the last flight to King Shaka and made it to the expo at 16:50. With the security denying access at first when he eventually let me through it was 17:00. The staff inside refused to give the goodie bag and told me I can only get my number at the start in the morning.
In the morning got my number, did the race and FINISHED !!! Slept overnight in PMB, in the morning went to the comrades house to plead my case.
I was first told about the rules,which I respected, but there was stack high of t-shirt boxes that were not collected.
When I questioned that and what are they gonna do with all the t-shirts printed 2011, the answer was “probably donate them”. “If I’m seen giving it to you I might be fired so i can’t help you”.
Disappointed as I was, I just left. But now all the undeserving people will get the t-shirt from some donation. God knows which.
Surely I think there should be an exception to those that finish the race but could not collect in time. The t-shirt was gonna be more of an honour of all the things I went through just to get to the finish line, especially as a novice.