How and Where to Pin a Race Bib

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Stay comfortable and track your time accurately with a secure bib
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Race bibs are the number tags that identify you during a race. They’re typically meant to go over your abdomen and are secured with four or more safety pins. Clips, running tape, and toggles may also be used to hold the bib in place without puncturing your shirt. In this article, we’ll show you how to properly secure your bib so it doesn’t distract you during the race, plus dive into all that race bibs are used for.

How to Attach a Race Bib: Quick Guide

Put on your running shirt, then hold the race bib centered on your abdomen just below your chest muscles. Use safety pins to pin the corners of the bib to your shirt, making sure the bib is clearly visible. A race bib is your identification during the race and tracks your time and progress with an RFID chip.

Section 1 of 5:

Pinning the Race Bib

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    For the optimal fit, wait until you put on the shirt to pin the bib. The fabric rests differently on your body than it does against a flat surface. When you’re wearing the shirt, you’ll be able to make sure the bib feels comfortable against you. [1]
    • If your race bib has tear-off tickets at the bottom (like a ticket for a free post-race beer or another perk), remove these before you put your bib on.
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    A crumpled bib will conform to your body better than a flat one, thus decreasing air resistance. However, if there's a chip on the bib or it's against race rules, try to keep it flat and smooth. Crumpling a bib can damage the chip and interfere with the recording of your time. [2]
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    Generally, the bib should go right below your chest. Set it in the middle of your body and straighten it out as you pin it in place. Do your best to flatten it against you. This ensures the bib is visible to onlookers and doesn’t get in the way of your arms and legs. [3]
    • Move your bib if race organizers direct you to do so. Some race organizers have different requirements for bib placement. For instance, some cyclists have one or more bibs attached to the back of their jerseys.
    • Ask the race organizers for advice on bib placement if you’re unsure where it should go.
    • Even if the bib is on your thigh, it should be visible and centered on the front of your pants.
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    Start at one of the top corners of the bib. Open up the safety pin and push the point through the bib fabric. Next, pass the point through your shirt and back out again. Finish by pushing the point back through the bib and securing it to the safety head. [4]
    • Some bibs have holes in the corners. Push the pin through these if they are available.
    • Make sure you're careful when using safety pins. Always pull the shirt away from your body with a safety pin before piercing the fabric!
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    You’ll need at least four pins total in order to secure the pin (otherwise, it’ll flap around as you run). Repeat the pinning process for each corner. Your bib should feel flat and secure against your body. When you move, it should stay still. Add more pins or redo your pinning as needed.
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Section 2 of 5:

Where to Put Your Race Bib

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    The goal is to make your bib as visible as possible to race officials, photographers, and onlookers cheering you on. How high or low you place it on your chest or stomach is up to you and what feels comfortable to you—just make sure it’s relatively centered and on your front (not your back). [5]
    • Alternatively, some racers pin their bib to the front of their running shorts (usually with the top edge pinned to the waistband) so they can remove layers if they get hot. Check with the race officials to make sure this is within the rules before you start your race!
    • Some runners find pinning the bib to their shorts uncomfortable or distracting, so go for a test run with your bib on before race day to try it out. Try leaving one of the bottom corners unpinned for more freedom of movement.
Section 3 of 5:

Other Ways to Attach Race Bibs without Pins

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    To avoid poking holes in your clothes with safety pins, some racers began using race clips . Some clips have plastic backs that secure the bib corner and your shirt together. Others have magnets that hold the bibs in place. They’re more expensive than safety pins, but they may be more comfortable for you. [6]
    • Look online to order these or check a running shop near you.
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    Another safety pin replacement is double-sided running tape . It can be ordered online and is easy to apply. Place a strip of tape on the top and bottom of your bib. Pull off the tape backing and stick the tape to your clothing. You’ll be able to wear a shirt you like without poking holes in it. [7]
    • Ordinary tape won’t secure your bib enough. However, you can place electrical tape over pins for extra security. [8]
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    Race bib toggles can also be ordered online. You’ll need to wear a race belt on your waist and hang the bib from it. Attach the toggle to your pack, then slip the toggle cord into the bib hole. Wrap the cord back up to the pack to fasten it inside the toggle. Repeat this by securing the other side with a toggle. [9]
    • The bib hangs from toggles in the top two holes. It’ll be secure, but the bottom part staying loose can be a distraction. Electrical tape or pins can be used to hold it down.
    • Using toggles may require you to attach the bib to your thigh or a location other than your abdomen. Consult the rules or race officials to make sure this is legal!
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Section 4 of 5:

What is a bib in running?

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    The bib is typically a small rectangle or square of Tyvek (a tough, paper-like material that is waterproof and tear-proof) with a unique bib number on it to identify individual runners. The bib may also display identification info like your name, division, and shirt size as well as race sponsor logos, the corral where you start the race, and any other information that race officials need to know at a glance. [10]
    • Runners aren’t the only athletes who use bibs when they compete. Cyclists, triathletes, gymnasts, and more may wear them too.
Section 5 of 5:

What do race bibs do?

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    Your bib and bib number are your personal identification for the race. With many races bringing in hundreds or thousands of competitors (and some major marathons bringing in over 40,000 racers!), bibs are a practical way for organizers to identify and keep track of competitors in a very large group of people. This helps accurately rank all racers as they finish, as well as provide quick identification in case of a medical emergency. However, that’s not all they’re good for! Race bibs and bib numbers also:
    • Track individual runners and record their times with RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips that are detected at the start and finish mats (not all bibs have this feature).
    • Give you access to the course and prove you’re a registered competitor (many race officials require you to wear your bib at all times before, during, and after the race). [11]
    • Assign runners to a corral to keep the start of the race organized.
    • Display race sponsor names and logos (which is often a source of revenue for race organizers). [12]
    • Allow photographers and race organizers to snap your photo, identify you, and make sure you receive your photo. [13]
    • Serve as a keepsake after your race.
    • Allow your friends and family to spot you while they cheer you on and/or track your progress online (if your bib is chipped).
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Where do you put your race bib?
    Clare Flanagan
    Former Competitive Runner
    Clare Flanagan is a former competitive NCAA Division I cross-country runner for Stanford University. She has been running for over a decade, previously having won six Class A State Championships in Minnesota, set a Class A State record in the 1600m, and qualifying for the Nike Cross Country Nationals.
    Clare Flanagan
    Former Competitive Runner
    Expert Answer
    Usually, the bib goes on the front of your shirt for the sake of clarity and preventing damage to the timing chip many bibs now contain. However, if you're unsure you should ask a race official.
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  • Question
    How do you improve your endurance?
    Kai Ng
    Certified Running Coach
    Kai Ng is a USATF and RRCA Certified Running Coach at Run Coach Kai. Kai has competed in over 55 races and over 15 marathons, and has trained with 16x USA and World record holder Patti Catalano Dillonso. He specializes in coaching runners of all levels and showing people that everyone can be a runner. Kai is committed to helping his clients reach their goals by showing them how to run with proper form and holding them accountable to train consistently.
    Kai Ng
    Certified Running Coach
    Expert Answer
    To improve endurance, run in an aerobic state and work at 150 heartbeats per minute and run in an aerobic state. Do not run very fast and work at 170 heartbeats per minute. If you do that, you work your anaerobic systems
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  • Question
    How do you choose a good treadmill?
    Kai Ng
    Certified Running Coach
    Kai Ng is a USATF and RRCA Certified Running Coach at Run Coach Kai. Kai has competed in over 55 races and over 15 marathons, and has trained with 16x USA and World record holder Patti Catalano Dillonso. He specializes in coaching runners of all levels and showing people that everyone can be a runner. Kai is committed to helping his clients reach their goals by showing them how to run with proper form and holding them accountable to train consistently.
    Kai Ng
    Certified Running Coach
    Expert Answer
    Choose a treadmill that has good reviews and is safe to use. See if it is suitable for fulfilling your goals. Its speed should cover your speed. It should include some light workouts and also keep track of them.
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      Warnings

      • Some people crumple their bibs to smooth them out. Make sure the race rules allow this before you risk it.
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        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Many bibs also contain tracking chips. Crumpling the bib or wearing it on your thigh can damage the chip, which means your race time may not be recorded accurately or at all.
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      References

      1. ↑ Clare Flanagan. Former Competitive Runner. Expert Interview. 14 January 2019.
      2. ↑ Clare Flanagan. Former Competitive Runner. Expert Interview. 14 January 2019.
      3. ↑ https://run-for-good.com/how-to-put-on-a-race-bib/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_KjssV_DyQ&t=80s
      5. ↑ https://run-for-good.com/how-to-put-on-a-race-bib/
      6. ↑ https://www.theaveragejoerunner.com/post/best-alternative-to-safety-pins
      7. ↑ https://omnirunning.com/i-tried-race-bib-tape/
      8. ↑ https://www.runtri.com/2007/05/everything-you-need-to-know-to-finish_25.html
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/QES_s8X9zWY?t=11
      1. ↑ https://p3r.org/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjIvMDQvMjEvN213dDk5Z21wel9SYWNlX0JpYnNfRXhwbGFpbmVkX0ZJTkFMLnBkZiJdXQ/Race%20Bibs%20Explained_FINAL.pdf
      2. ↑ https://p3r.org/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjIvMDQvMjEvN213dDk5Z21wel9SYWNlX0JpYnNfRXhwbGFpbmVkX0ZJTkFMLnBkZiJdXQ/Race%20Bibs%20Explained_FINAL.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/20/sports/olympics/running-bibs.html
      4. ↑ https://run-for-good.com/how-to-put-on-a-race-bib/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      A race bib is the numbered tag that identifies you during a race, and it’s meant to be pinned over your abdomen. To put on your race bib, use safety pins to secure it. First, put on the shirt you plan to wear during the race. Then, center the bib on the front of your shirt. Secure 1 corner of the bib with a safety pin by pushing the point through the bib fabric then through your shirt, and then securing it to the safety head. Secure the remaining corners of the bib using additional safety pins. For tips about how to crumple the bib so it conforms to your body, keep reading!

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