Races to Run for the Best Swag

By Linzay Logan

If you can’t decide which marathon to run, but know you want an awesome shirt or bag with the race logo to show off with, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best races around the U.S. that offer the best race swag. Swag so good you’ll wonder if race bandit also refers to someone who gets too much good stuff in their race goodie bag.

Celebrate Life Half-Marathon

Rock Hill, N.Y.

March 11, 2012

$32

-Windbreaker jacket to first 600 registrants

-Goodie bag for first 500 registrants

-Raffles prizes drawn from pool of all pre-registered runners

-Coffee and bananas pre-race

-Full meal served after the race

Napa Valley Marathon

Napa, Calif.

Date TBD

Registration fee TBD

-Duffle bag filled with goodies such as a wine opener

-Showers at the high school at the finish line

-Raffle at awards ceremony

Akron Marathon

Akron, Ohio

Sept. 24

$80

-Brooks running jacket

-Showers at the local YMCA

-Running Times subscription

-Post-race food and beer

-Backpack

Nike Women’s Marathon

San Francisco

Sept. 16

$150, $75 for students

-Tiffany & co. necklace handed to you by firefighter wearing a tuxedo at the finish

-Ghirardelli chocolate at the Mile-11 chocolate stop

-Dry-fit Nike shirt

Flying Pig Marathon

Cincinnati, Ohio

May 1

$70

-T-shirt

-Poster

-Goodie bag

-Special gift—backpack in past years

Post-race party with music and food

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Linzay Logan is the copy editor for Competitor magazine and cares about punctuation probably a little too much. She particularly loves to avoid commas as well as add exclamation points whenever she can get away with it! She also loves to run marathons and half-marathons—probably a little too much. Don’t let her small size fool you; she’ll still try to outrun you anytime. Even though chances are she probably can’t. Have a question or comment for Linzay? Email her at Llogan@competitorgroup.com.