Medals or no medals?

After running for over 4 years I have amassed a fair few medals and tshirts in this time.After training 3 times a week I remember my very first medal being a little special and felt like a large pat on the back for my beginners efforts.However, over the years the medals have had less meaning - feeling more like an easy purchase rather than a well earned congratulations.It made me think that runners who simply want medals might as well buy them off the internet in advance for the races that do not present them.Personally I would have no problem at all if the vast majority of races presented medals to the top 50 or say 25% of finishers.This would mean my dusty collection of medals would be far less and I would look on the others with pride knowing that I had put that extra effort in to earn it and justify being given one.There could be exceptions of course.E.g. Races advertised as fun runs with medals or races with medals for catagories only.This could ensure all ages ranges of runners were in with a chance. There could also be medals for runners who accomplish special achievements.Overall allthough I feel giving medals to the masses at the end of runs has had its day.Be interesting to hear what others think.Especially from any organisers.

They're not really medals - they're just badges on ribbon.

Pete.........not sure why you pick a number to have medals.....................to me either everyone gets one or only the winner gets one.................The guy who came in 40th is just the same as the one who came in last........they didn't win.....so they lost the race..........what they could have achieved is a result far better than they could have hoped for.....and finishing position does not tell you this complex information

Everyone - everyone who crosses a finish line is a winner and deserves recognition of that fact. If you don't want a medal, then don't take it - simple.

My grandson thinks I'm awesome with my collection of medals - he doesn't know - and doesn't ask - how fast or how far. He is developing an interest in collecting such medals for himself one day. At 7 year old, that's not a bad ambition to have right? 

In triathlons, not all events give medals which I was upset about. For me it's a good way to keep track of the events that I've done. 

Singleton wrote (see)

In triathlons, not all events give medals which I was upset about. For me it's a good way to keep track of the events that I've done. 

Same here. I love my medals and all of them mean something for me - from my first half marathon, to my first marathon. I never came first, never anything special - but for me - it's the achievement. I also love being able to look back on how the medals develop for the same event.

My wife bought a stand for me to hang them from in the spare room.  Getting a medal makes one feel one has achieved something.  One race, Shinfield 10k, gave out mugs instead.

rarely get medals now around here for a running race...........mugs, towels, water bottles, te shirts.....lots of different things...........i don't realy mind....I love the chocolate in the goodie bags most

Typically the winner in each race gets an additional prize, so I guess the medals are as a memento/recognition of completion rather than an award as such.

In the faster local races round here you don't get anything unles you get placed, in the more commercial races for the masses you get a medal, mug, tee, whatever.

I always like getting something in a race cos I'm a magpie innit!

I love my medals. Not only a sign of a race completed, but of all the hard work done in getting to the start line in the first place. Like Singleton I've been disappointed that a couple of the triathlons I've done didn't provide medals.

If you've got medals from more than about half of your races, you're either really really good at winning things or you need to discover your local club races a bit more!
And good god, don't Tri's cost enough as it is? Please nobody give them an excuse to charge extra just for a ribbon... 

kittenkat wrote (see)

In the faster local races round here you don't get anything unles you get placed, in the more commercial races for the masses you get a medal, mug, tee, whatever.

I always like getting something in a race cos I'm a magpie innit!

Yep, XC being a good example I guess. I like to keep my numbers instead of medals. That way I always win!

Pethead wrote (see)

If you've got medals from more than about half of your races, you're either really really good at winning things or you need to discover your local club races a bit more!
And good god, don't Tri's cost enough as it is? Please nobody give them an excuse to charge extra just for a ribbon... 

All my local club races give medals too.

Eggyh73 wrote (see)

Pethead wrote (see)

If you've got medals from more than about half of your races, you're either really really good at winning things or you need to discover your local club races a bit more!
And good god, don't Tri's cost enough as it is? Please nobody give them an excuse to charge extra just for a ribbon... 

All my local club races give medals too.

Impressive, is your local club Port Talbot Steelworks AC or something 

Let's face it, medals cost very little to produce.

I'm just starting out and I have amassed the princley sum of 4 medals, which I'm very proud of and very pleased with. To me they are confirmation that I completed the race and a nice memento to look back on some day.

It has also stoked my kids interest which is a great thing, always good to get the kids interested in sport of any kind.

So personally I'm all for medals, I'm also please to have got my first race t-shirt on Sunday as well, which was totally unexpected as I thought you had to buy them which I won't do. Crossed the finish line and got a medal a good bag and here's your cotton t-shirt Worked out well as I needed to change into something dry.