Why do people get so worked up by goody bags?

OK, so Im new to the whole running scene, so maybe I dont understand the etiquette involved or whatever, but whenever Im reading about reviews of various half marathons and marathons, almost without fail people mention the goody bag and whether or not its up to scratch.

Now maybe Ive been brought up with a wider perspective of the world and the problems in it, but to me if your forking out £20 a time for a race anyway plus the cost of fuel in driving to these places etc etc, the fact the goodybag I get only has 1 banana in it instead of 2 doesn't seem that important. But with some of these postings its almost as though people are running for 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles just so they can see whats in their goody bag .....

Is it just me or is the goody bag a pretty irrelevant part of the run?? Maybe Im missing something.

Yep - completely irrelevant to me too. 

i think probably the thing is, if the race organisers are going to provide a goody bag, it should be worth it, otherwise dont bother?

i would rather get nothing at all than a carrier bag with one cereal bar and a dozen advert flyers (which i got once!), waste of a plastic bag really.

All I want at the end of a race is a medal and a cup of tea. Goody bags are nice to have and I've had some interesting samples in them but otherwise you're right, they're not what it's about.

Maybe its more that a virtually empty goody bag seems like an insult, and people would rather just have nothing than a large bag covered in sponsors with a discount coupon inside for their shop?

You've obviously never had a good one The ones with beer, and useful stuff -buffs, caps, t-shirts, food, towels, hoodies etc, can be a nice finishing touch to a race - sepacially when there are some many around to choose from.

What do you find worthwhile about the races you have done? Surely you could get that by measuring the same ditance in the local park, or up and down the stairs at work...

I must be doing the wrong races - I haven't had a goody bag for years!

They are mostly provided by sponsors who have provided freebies, so it's not surprising they don't have much in them.

PMO - what race gives you a hoodie in the goody bag ? Thats impressive !

One of the springtime 20 milers. Can't remember off the top of my head - could be Bramley?? Similarly I got 2 helly hanson tech tops from their inaugural beauty and the beast marathon couple of months ago, and a collapsable (sp?) water bottle...Still irrelevant?

pmo wrote (see)

One of the springtime 20 milers. Can't remember off the top of my head - could be Bramley?? Similarly I got 2 helly hanson tech tops from their inaugural beauty and the beast marathon couple of months ago, and a collapsable (sp?) water bottle...Still irrelevant?

 

Youre talking about the exception rather than the norm though ..... also what was the entrance fee that paid for all these hoodys and the like? I somehow doubt Helly Hensen were that generous unless they were trying to get rid of some of last seasons stock.

Guernsey Easter Races do hoodies. Lots of good goody bags around but also plenty of rubbish. I don't race for a goody bag but when it's an advertised feature and if the entrance fee is steep, it really shouldn't be an oxymoron

These Bramley people sound like they put on good races !

You're correct David - that's why the race review talk about these things...

I don't pay more than £35 for a marathon, and some give you nothing more than a cheap medal and a drink of water for that (barring all the setup costs which are similar across all races). Others, whether through sponsorship or other means go out of their way to make it a memorable race. HH's costs for their gear is obviously much lower than retail - but the tech tops would have cost £40. Their angle is brand exposure - they are late to sponsor running events, salomon have been doing it for years - and all have new ranges of shoes and clothes to sell.

PS I don't work for them - but will think favourably of them for their generosity

It doesn't matter to me. I've hardly ever had one to be honest. However, I was very grateful for the one I got at the Great Birmingham Run, as I had completely run out of beans and needed the food it contained just to find my poor bf as I was staggering around like a drunk penguin.

Oakley 20 also gives you a hoodie - 'Guantanamo Orange' was the colour this year.

Agree with 'dancing in spikes ' above - at the end of the VLM this year I was desparate for the cheese and tomato sarnie that had been present in previous years.  Bit disappointed to find it missing, the Gillette razor was no substitute !

I think the stuff that pmo is talking about would be classed as memento rather than goody bag (despite the fact that they were probably given out in a goody bag).

I class goody bag as something over and above the trinkets I already know I'm getting (and paying for, ultimately). The ones I've had usually have sponsor bumpf but there have been some, erm, goodies. A 10K in Newbury gave out cotton shopping bags, and at Henley a few years back they were giving us packs of rooibos tea. I've had breakfast porridge tubs, mars bars, water bottles, lipsalve, pens etc. All gratefully received.

One race gave me a sachet of anti-cellulite cream. I was going to donate that to the ex-wife but thought better of it.

Ely 10k last year were giving out bottles of beer   Unfortunately I didn't get in to it this year I heard all the numbers went on the same day

I do like my medal at the end. That aside, as long as there is a bit of cake on the side to give me my sugar boost, then i am happy. I have in one or two races, had friendship bracelets. Really liked them. They have the race details on them.

i much prefer medals but as

Muttley wrote (see)

All I want at the end of a race is a medal and a cup of tea. Goody bags are nice to have and I've had some interesting samples in them but otherwise you're right, they're not what it's about.

totally agree

I like a goody bag! Best I have had is running socks and sports bottles I think but any kind of drink or food is gratefully received