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!!
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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!
Lots of great medals ! LOVE the surfboard one. The medals in France are very very basic. Similar to the ones you received 10 years ago ! I am running my first marathon in 6 weeks... and am so looking forward to that medal !
ReplyDeleteYou're doing the Paris Marathon, right? I'm sure that one will be gorgeous!!
DeleteHello from the blog hop! I really like the surf board medal! So far my favorite one is from my first half marathon. It's a huge crown! The one I'm wanting is from my first marathon in going to do in April. I just want to finish and that medal will show me I did it!
ReplyDeleteHello fellow hopper! What was your first half marathon? I like crowns :) And good luck on your first marathon! Which one are you doing? Wear that medal proudly!!
DeleteBigger and more exciting! Bwahahahaha! I am over the medals. I want pint glasses. Or coffee mugs.
ReplyDeletePint glasses are good but I like the coffee mug idea too! That's why I like my coaster because it's not a medal and I see it everyday in my kitchen. Daily reminder of awesome :)
DeleteYa know what I miss? The days before I was on social media and I didn't know what the medal looked like until I crossed the finish. I loved being surprised...lol
ReplyDeleteI agree! I don't always see the medal before the race and it's always a nice surprise!
DeleteThe MCM one is great! Now that's a medal! Conrats on all your races; you've collected some great medals.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteFor sentimental reasons, I like my Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon medal more than the others because (a) it was my first RnR event; and (b) it was simply a miserable race at night, with temps dropping into the mid-30s by the end of it, so I feel like I worked hard for it. Were it not for the company I kept for most of the miles ;), I'm not sure I would have made it through. I love all of my medals, though, and I need to keep earning more!
ReplyDeleteThat was a tough race. But it was such s good weekend, the race was kind of secondary. And you do need to earn more and I hope I can be there for some of them!
DeleteI covet your MCM medal! It's one of my faves. Alas, not in the cards for me anytime soon- but it's AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteThank you!! Hopefully you'll get that medal in the not so distant future!
DeleteHave you bought/built something to store your medals?
ReplyDeleteI haven't. I don't know where I would hang them. I should do something with them, though. I worked hard for them!
DeleteLove your collection. Like that you'll get a jacket for the San Diego half this year, that's pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteLove this post and your medals! It's cool to see the old and new Marine Corps medals. Marine Corps definitely ranks among my favorites (I have 2013 and 2014), as well as Las Vegas and Flying Pig! Can't wait to see the San Diego one for real!
ReplyDeleteWow! I love seeing all of the different medals you've earned! I'm not a big runner but I am super-proud of the few medals I have earned. And I totally agree - they are getting bigger and flashier each time!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from the blog hop! Love the collection...especially the surf board. I only typically keep the cool medals or medals from races that mean something to me. Now I am starting to feel kind of bad that I didn't keep them all!
ReplyDeleteI love the surfboard medal and the coaster!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, bling is nice, but that won't get me to run a race.
But I particularly like meaningful bling like that coaster! And like my blue/gray mug.
I am a sucker for a good metal! I feel like my hubs would even do an even with a beer bottle opener metal... I am glad that I also posted on my favorite metals - looking through them, I was flooded with some great (and not so great) memories of the events :) I am looking forward to my first full marathon (and the metal!) and the upcoming Rock and Roll races (and metals!!!) :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I have been thinking about doing a post like this and now I have to! My favorite medal is my first (only) triathlon medal or my TC 10 Mile medal from the 10 mile race at the Twin Cities Marathon.
ReplyDelete