Will Run for Bling!

Races have become so much more than just the race itself. People are signing up for the goodies they get like awesome race shirts, race bags, post-race food and beer and, of course, the medal. That medal is the carrot that we all run after, motivating us to finish the race. We wear our race medals proudly, we hang them up, we decorate our Christmas trees with them and so much more. Some medals are better than others and that's what we're talking about today!

Before I continue, I'm participating in the Tuesdays on the Run blog link up with My No-Guilt Life, MCM Mama Runs and Marcia's Healthy Slice. When you're done reading here, go check them out!

I'll admit, while I like the race medals, they're not usually the thing that draws me to do a race. But I kind of like the fact that medals are getting bigger and more exciting. As I was going through my medals for this post, I noticed how puny and pathetic the older medals are. For instance, here are two of my Marine Corps Marathon medals. The Marine Corps Marathon was my first marathon in 2004. I ran it again after my first baby in 2006 and then I ran it again in 2014 to celebrate my 10th year of running marathons. In the pic below, the one on the left is from 2004 and the one on the right is from 2014. They're totally different medals and the newer one is quite the improvement!!

My Marine Corps medals are definitely favorites simply for sentimental reasons. My two 50-miler medals are also sentimental favorites. I'm just really proud of myself for finishing the two hardest races I've done.

Bonus glass for the 50-miler finishers!

I love the Surf City Marathon medal because it's different. It's a wooden surf board! Quintessentially California :)

I love my Revel race medals because they're enormous and very cool looking with the ram horn design. I don't know exactly what the ram horns represent, so if you know, let me know :)

And I love my non-medals too! I have two belt buckles from the Griffith Park Marathon and I love them! Granted, I don't wear belts but if I ever do, you can be sure I'll wear my buckles proudly :)

My other non-medal is the coaster from the Malibu Canyon 50K. It's ceramic and it sits on my counter, so it's my only race "medal" that I see every day. It's a constant reminder of a race I really loved!

I am looking forward to earning the 2016 San Diego Half Marathon medal. I have run this race every year since its first year, which makes me a 5-year legacy runner. The 5-year legacy runners get a jacket this year, which I'm super excited about. And the 5-year medal is super cool with a jewel marking each year of the race and a pretty outline of the Gaslamp district of downtown San Diego, where the race finishes. It looks really cool and I'm looking forward to getting it in a few weeks!

What are some of your favorite race medals? Are there any that you haven't earned yet but are hoping to? Let me know!