Have a lot of race mementos that you’re flatmate/partner/dog keeps pushing to the back of the cupboard out of sight or race t-shirts you never wear? Well step this way because like a sweaty Kirstie Allsopp I’m about to show you how to disguise your race bibs, medals and t-shirts as homewears. The kind of homewears you might buy at a race expo but homewears all the same.

Race bib place mats or mouse mat
Have your friends stopped asking about your latest race? Invite them over for dinner and when they sit down at the table BOOM there it is, you latest race bib as place mat. You could just laminate them if you’re on a budget and not planning on putting anything hot on them – or get some safety glass cut to size and sandwich them in between. Or you could pay someone on the internet to do make something nice.

Laminated race bibs will also work as mouse mats. Take it to the office and stare down at it every time you go online to look at races – this could help or hinder your race addiction.

Race t-shirt patchwork quilt
Cotton race t-shirts aren’t much use for running in other than as a second layre on cold, winter runs. If you don’t want to throw them away but want to see them rather than have them stuck at the back of a cupboard, turn them into a patchwork quilt. Cut a square from each shirt with the main logo/details on it, make all the squares the same side and sew together. Sort of like this.

Race medal coasters
Is it me or are marathon medals getting bigger and bigger? Much as I appreciate a weighty bit of metalwor, after I’ve run 26.2 miles isn’t the best time to have one hung round my neck. However, some are so big now that they can make a pretty usable coaster. Just detach the ribbon and of you go.

Bib bag
The leftover ribbons from making your medal coasters can be used to make a bag. This wasn’t my idea, nor have I attempted it but I think it’s quite a good one – you can find out how to do it on this blog.