🏃 From Kakao Friends Run to JTBC,
Marathon Merch Runners Want.zip

2026.09

Would it surprise you to find laundry detergent in a marathon race kit? The idea is that runners take it home and use it to wash their running clothes. This year's JTBC Seoul Marathon has actually included capsule detergent in its kit.

Hello, this is the O-SEAN merch letter. Ahead of the fall races, we looked at what merch the organizers have prepared. From items used during the run to things to take home after finishing, we have gathered kit ideas you can also use for your company's running event. For those who want to look good while running, we recommend a few stylish running brands. We have also prepared a checklist to go through before the start.

(2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon race pack · ⓒJTBC Seoul Marathon·Runable · Official information image)

The JTBC Seoul Marathon on November 1 adds a massager and capsule detergent to course-specific singlets and T-shirts. What stands out is how one kit divides items for use before the start, after finishing and after getting home. Source: JTBC Seoul Marathon official race pack information

Sooner on the calendar is Kakao Friends Run 2026 on October 10. It is a 5K and 10K fun run, and every participant receives a running apparel set, character merch and a finisher medal. Souvenirs are shipped in advance and medals are handed out on site after the finish, which makes it a good example of designing separate 'moments of receiving'. Source: Kakao Friends Run official information

For your own event, try listing the T-shirts people need before the event separately from the keepsakes you want to give after it. If you decide the order of distribution before putting everything in one bag, you can also plan for what participants will have to carry around on site.

(Kakao Friends Run 2026 official participant merch · ⓒKakao Friends Run official information image)

Kakao Friends Run ties together a Cool Breeze T-shirt, running cap, Run Crew socks, picnic mat pouch keyring and runner's medal stand into a character experience, with items that connect the run and the time after it. What stands out in particular is the foldable picnic mat inside the pouch keyring, which gives people a reason to use it again after they get home. See all Kakao Friends Run participant merch

(Kakao Friends Run 2026 finisher medal · ⓒKakao Friends Run official information image)

Shall we compare the race pack of another large race? In the 2026 Dong-A Marathon (Seoul Marathon) merch lineup, the full-course pack includes an adidas singlet or T-shirt, a plastic storage bag, a race bib, a guidebook, an emergency blanket and an Amino Vital set, all shown together. Items to wear before the start, items for recording results and recovery items for after the race appear in a single image.

(2026 Dong-A Marathon (Seoul Marathon) full-course race pack contents · ⓒSeoul Marathon official information image)

When a kit goes beyond a single T-shirt and bundles storage, guidance and recovery, it becomes clear when each item will be used. For your event, too, try packing 'things to use right away' separately from 'things to take out after finishing'. Seoul Marathon official race pack information

Not everyone at a running event runs the same distance at the same pace. Think of participants focused on their times, colleagues taking an easy walk, and staff guiding the course. If you choose items after deciding who will use them and when, you can vary the lineup within the same event.

You have your running shoes. What else should you bring?

If you are getting ready for your first run, also take a look at the 9 fall running essentials on O-SEAN's Instagram. We covered a running belt, vest, long-sleeve top, cap and socks, plus a windbreaker, goggles, a bandana and even Vaseline. We also pointed out small items that are easy to forget while choosing clothes and gear.

If you are wondering where to put your phone, start with a running belt. If you need something to throw on before or after the run, start with a light windbreaker. Before deciding what to buy, think about when and how far you will run and what you will carry, and choosing becomes much easier.

(Ideas for using a bandana · ⓒO-SEAN · Instagram fall running gear card)

The item that stands out as event merch is the bandana. It can be worn on the head or tied around the neck, and in a matching color it shows the team spirit in group photos. For your event, you could hand participants a bandana in the team color and ask them to bring their own running shoes and sportswear.

Here are three more items from our Instagram post.

(Running goggles · ⓒO-SEAN · Instagram fall running gear card)

Running goggles protect the eyes on windy, sunny days. If you make them as merch, first check the lens color, the nose pads and how much they shift while running.

(Running vest · ⓒO-SEAN · Instagram fall running gear card)

A running vest is handy for carrying water and energy gels on long runs such as a half marathon. Rather than giving one to every participant, providing them to pacemakers or staff makes differences in fit easier to manage.

(Running long-sleeve top · ⓒO-SEAN · Instagram fall running gear card)

A running long-sleeve top fills the gap between a T-shirt and a hoodie on fall mornings when it is cold at the start line. When making event T-shirts, first decide whether they are for the day itself or for continued wear during training and commuting.

The post also includes a checklist of things to prepare before the start. When writing your event guide, try listing 'what to bring yourself' separately from 'what you will receive on site'. Participants will know what to prepare, and the operations team can more easily decide which items to put in the kit.

When choosing running wear, look at the distances you will actually run and the season before the logo. Let's look at the product lineups of Mim, a fashion brand that values individuality and self-expression, and the running brands Satisfy and Negative Split Club. MIM official website · SATISFY official website · Negative Split Club official website

(Running wear style from the MIM official website · ⓒMIM official website image)

Like MIM, SATISFY and Negative Split Club, consider function for the moment of running and design people will keep wearing afterward together. Match participant T-shirts to the course and season, and add keepsakes people can hold onto after finishing, such as keyrings or badges, for a clearer lineup.

(Style image of a runner in a park · Created by O-SEAN (AI-generated))

These running tips are a brief summary based on guidance on warming up, gradual pacing and hydration from the CDC, Healthdirect and ACSM.