Running and Safety pins

All Right, Let's Talk About Safety Pins

Safety pins are a runner's best friend.

I have a somewhat unusual perspective on safety pins because I work professionally in television and film with puppets, costume characters, and costumes. Over the years, I've become something of a safety pin snob. And I've worked with plenty of other costume professionals who feel exactly the same way.

In our business, we only buy high-quality safety pins.

You might be surprised to learn how many costumes and puppets are held together with safety pins, even when they're being used in front of a camera. They're an essential tool, and when you're relying on them to hold something together, you want them to work.

The pins we use aren't necessarily the ones you'll find at your local drugstore. We buy them from professional costume and wardrobe suppliers, such as Richard the Thread or Manhattan Wardrobe Supply.

These pins are much more robust, typically made of steel with a plated finish. You can usually tell a good safety pin by trying to bend it between your thumb and forefinger. A quality pin should resist bending. The cheap ones will bend surprisingly easily.

Two Uses for Safety Pins in Running

There are two reasons I think every runner should have good safety pins.

The first is obvious: attaching your race bib.

The second is something many runners probably haven't considered: dealing with wardrobe malfunctions during a race.

1. Attaching Your Race Bib

One of the exciting moments before a race is picking up your bib at the expo or packet pickup.

Usually, somewhere nearby, there's a little cardboard box filled with tiny safety pins for runners to use.

Now, race organizers are working within a budget, and the pins they provide are generally inexpensive. They're usually perfectly adequate for attaching a paper bib to your shirt, but they're not particularly robust.

My suggestion is simple: buy yourself a supply of small, high-quality safety pins and keep them with your running gear.

You only need four to attach a bib.

But here's something I see runners do all the time, and it's probably my biggest safety pin pet peeve.

Don't use a safety pin like a hook.

A lot of runners will put the pin through their shirt, then through a single hole in the bib, and close it. The bib is essentially hanging from the pin like a hook.

That's not the best way to use a safety pin.

Instead, use it as an actual pin.

Pierce the bib in two places, going in and then coming back out before closing the pin. This secures the bib more effectively and keeps it from moving around as much.

It's a small detail, but over 26.2 miles, small details matter.

2. The Emergency Safety Pin

Here's my second recommendation, and it's one I think every distance runner should consider.

Carry one good-quality, medium or large safety pin with you during a race.

That's it. Just one.

You can attach it securely to your waistband, running vest, or hydration pack. It weighs practically nothing, takes up no space, and you might be surprised how useful it can be.

Here's why.

When you're running a marathon or even a half marathon, your clothing and equipment go through a lot.

Everything gets soaked with sweat, water, and whatever else you encounter along the course. Elastic behaves differently when it's wet. Straps can loosen. Fabric stretches. Buckles shift. And the repetitive movement of running for hours can cause things that seemed perfectly secure at the starting line to become problematic later in the race.

I've had this happen on numerous occasions.

A strap starts slipping. A piece of webbing works its way loose from a buckle. Something that was perfectly comfortable for the first ten miles suddenly won't stay in place.

And that's when having a safety pin becomes incredibly useful.

I've pulled out my emergency pin during races and used it to secure loose straps, lock down webbing, or make a quick adjustment to something that wasn't behaving the way it should.

It doesn't have to be a permanent repair. It just needs to hold things together long enough to get you to the finish line.

Of course, you want to make sure the pin is securely closed, isn't positioned where it can poke you, and isn't being used to hold anything that could put significant stress on it.

A Small Tool That Can Save Your Race

One thing I've learned from working with costumes and puppets is that even the best-designed equipment can behave unexpectedly once it's being worn and used.

And running a marathon is a pretty demanding test of your clothing and equipment.

You can train in the same gear for months, but after several hours of running, sweating, and moving, something can still go wrong.

Having one good safety pin available gives you a simple way to deal with those little problems before they become big distractions.

So my advice is to invest in a few good safety pins. Use four small ones for your bib, and carry one larger one for emergencies.

It's one of the smallest, lightest, and least expensive pieces of equipment you can bring to a marathon.

And when you need one, it can be a lifesaver.