This week’s Tuesdays on the Run Linkup topic is Race Expos. What do you shop for? What’s the best item you ever scored? Most interesting person you ever met? Tell us! For fun, I’m sharing my tips of things to do and not when you hit up a race expo.
Do: Get your race bib. You kind of need this. This is usually my first order of business.
Do: Make a list of things you absolutely want to see or do at the expo. Expos can be quite overwhelming and distracting and I’ve been known to completely forget about some of the things I’d hoped to see until it’s too late.
Michel, Jill me and Marlene at the Chicago Marathon Expo.
Do: Schedule Meetups. Preferably with bloggers, because we’re cool.
Do: Shop for things you need. I’ll look for things I may have forgotten. Gu anyone? A spare fuel belt bottle? Arm sleeves? I’ve picked up all of these.
Don’t: Go to a race expo PLANNING to find something you absolutely need for your race. Because you can’t be sure you’ll find it. You don’t need that stress.
Don’t: Hang out at the expo too long. You don’t want to be on your feet all day.
Do: Check out the course map or attend a course talk and watch the course video. It’s always good mentally to have your bearings in a race.
Possibly my fave celeb meeting ever was this one with Dick Hoyt. It was surreal to encounter him and his son Rick on the course the following day.
Do: Scope the expo for running celebs. I’ve met Meb (RnRChi), Dean Karnazes (Boston), Bart Yasso (Boston, MCM) KSwitz (NYCM), Ryan Hall (Boston) Sara Hall (Zooma), oh and let’s not forget “The Penguin” and Dr. Andy Baldwin-aka The Bachelor, my running date (RnRChi).
Do: Stay hydrated. Go visit the Nuun display, just saying.
Do: Be considerate of others. If I do not have kids in tow, I may spend some time skimming up and down the aisles. If the kids are with me, the skim will be very fast and most likely incomplete, unless the booths have candy bowls, in that case my kids are very interested.
Do: Treat yourself to a race souvenir or 6. I’ve got a race pint glass collection going, although I did not start collecting it from the beginning. The loss of my Vegas pint glass still smarts. If it’s a full marathon, I like to get an extra shirt of some kind, in addition to the official race shirt. Typically the bigger/more important the race (hello Boston) the more I’ll buy.
Do: Think about how you’ll get all your swag home. When I travel to races, I tend to pack pretty light, knowing I’ll pickup expo goodies.
Your turn: What do you get at race expos? Have you spotted celebs? Have you entered my giveaways here and here?
Expos are a great place to meet celebrities! I think my favorite was meeting Ali Vincent from the Biggest Loser!
I’ve never seen any celebrities at expos! These are some great ideas. I have picked up random stuff and expos before but I usually move through pretty quickly, especially if its crowded!
Lately I’ve been doing small halfs that typically don’t even have expos. 🙁
I’ve met Dimity (and have the hilarious mutt & jeff picture of us), Kara, Dave McGilivray, Frank Shorter. I was so clueless at my first (Vegas) that I didn’t know who Meb was, although I saw him talk & too shy to ask the penguin for a photo (although being a slow runner, I knew who he was!). I did meet Deena Kastor, too, although not at an expo.
I really love the talks! Great tips.
I have never been to a race with a big expo, it’s the stuff of dreams for me 🙂 I think I would have a lot of fun and be tempted to stay way too long. Great tips!
I’m so jealous of the huge Expos they have in bigger cities. New Orleans is the biggest around me. I do try to stock up on gu, nuun, I’ll pick up new fuel to try later they are always good for that. No pictures of celebrities yet either.
Most expos are meh, but the Chicago marathon expo is overwhelming! I tend to buy too much stuff. But it is fun to see all the running celebs!
Dick Hoyt? Seriously? I would be totally on could 199 to meet him (or Rick)! I have been following them for several years, they are such a team of inspiration! I have met some peeps…Shalane, Kathrine Switzer, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Billy Rogers, and MEB! I love expos, but I can only tolerate the atmosphere for about an hour. I have yet to score a “bargain,” though I usually find things (“necessary” things) to buy.
I like expos but get easily overwhelmed so I don’t tend to stay too long. I usually buy a throw away jacket if I know it’s going to be cold (those white ridiculous plastic things). I also buy a shirt if it’s a full marathon or kinda important race. I have met the same people as you at the expos and it never gets old to see some famous folk.
I’ve never stayed for the seminars at expos, mostly at Disney. I know the more time I spend at an expo is less time in the parks.
My expo DO step #1: get my packet.
My expo DO step #2: get out of there as fast as possible!
I just hate people and crowds so much…
Funny story, I was once telling my second graders how I hate being around large crowds of people and one boys, “Well then why do you run marathons?” Hahaha! Touche!
Great Do’s and Don’ts! Definitely limiting your time there/on your feet is important! I tend to get caught up in the excitement!
My best race expo memory was when I saw the Run Disney! booth and discovered they were planning for their first Disney race here in France. Unfortunately it is the weekend my niece is getting married. Priorities, priorities….
Ok…you may have gotten me with the celeb and other blogger meetings at the expos as a reason to go. I am usually the in and out kind of gal!
Great tips! WOW, you’ve met quite the array of running celebrities! I met Jeff Galloway at a Disney race expo last year, and just met Meb at RnR SA. Honestly – I’ve been to so many race expos that they all blend together now. Same vendors, same merchandise, etc. These days I just walk around looking for free samples or other expo-only deals. =D
I have to admit I really don’t spend time in the expos and have never even thought to look for running celebs! Going in with a plan of attack makes so much more sense.
I have met Jeff Galloway at many rundisney expos and also Deena Kastor at the LA Marathon. i need to start trying to meet more running celebrities
I’ve never been to a race expo, I don’t think the races I’ve done have been big enough.
Maybe going to one should go on my to do list for next year!
I enjoy checking out all the booths at expos but I end up just skimming due to the kiddos! Also love going to the Nuun booth (if at the expo) and grabbing some flavors along with the cute water bottle personalized for the race!
Great point about planning for getting your loot home! I had to buy a tote bag in Disneyland so I could carry all of my goodies home on the plane after the Star Wars race.
Don’t make an impulse purchase such as a running dress (ahem). At least it made a great swimsuit cover up so all was not lost.
Ive been known to LOSE MY DAMN MIND at the Disney Expos
I caint help it 🙂
I love just taking it all in at a RACE expo– the very idea of the expo and all the runners coming to get their stuff gets me so pumped for the race!!!
Great tips! Picking up your bib is def important…I have almost done that before! I have never met any celebrities at expos but will be on the lookout from now on! I think I need to start a a race pint collection!
You have met a lot of cool people! I have met Sara Hall and Bart and Dean and Lionel Sanders (pro triathlete). Great tips. I usually try to get off me feet as soon as possible, although some of the big races make that tough with logistics (Disney was tough for that)
You met Ryan Hall!!!! I am so jealous!
Also, these are such good tips. Thanks for sharing!
I truly believe that your race expos are much more worthwhile than the ones we have over here. I can happily walk around ours in less than five minutes and not buy a thing.
Great tips! It’s always fun to meet up with other bloggers if you can!
depends on the expo- but if there is a celebrity runner that is speaking i will plan my trip around that if i can. I try NOT to buy anything but do enjoying walking around. If i do buy something, it’s usually because it’s unique or because I need it (huma gel, nuun, throwaway gloves).