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Can anyone explain to me the obsession that trail runners seem to have with getting a medal in every race? And what do regular trail runners do with all their medals? Do they have cupboards full of them? Why don't trail race organisers understand that what you really want to be given at the finish is a piece of cake, and the only souvenir needed after a race is a results sheet?
I can't explain it, other than i think a greater proportion of fellrunners are looking to compete rather than complete, in comparison to "trail runners" (i hate the term!).
Its also a case of marketing... trail race organisers would appear to my amateur eyes to be looking to pull in big fields, and for that they need the more casual runner, and medals and t-shirts would seem to be a pull for them (how often do you see people in a Wolf-runner t-shirt at your local parkrun, and they can't even run round 5km)
I guess the same accusation of medal-hunting is often thrown at road runners, although i think there are two completely distinct types of road runner... those you see at the National/Regional road relays have far more in common with your average fell runner than they do with casual road runners.
I'm sat here with a handful of medals from the Welsh 1000 Metres in the drawer... the times and positions mean far more, and i would swap them all without question for knocking 45secs off my Stretton Skyline time and finally dipping under 3hrs!!
Yes, it's like "finisher" T-shirts - more about demonstrating that you're good enough to finish the course.
I have a few T-shirts that I'm happy to wear with pride to show I did it. I guess it depends on the event.
I also have a couple from a few years back but mine seem to have shrunk in the wash!Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
I recall wearing my Kentmere Horseshoe 2016 t-shirt with pride for a couple of years, only to then find a few years later that they were being sold on the PB van for a couple of quid!!
I saw a trail race organiser on facebook recently saying that he was thinking of not having medals next year. The number of people who replied that if so they wouldn't run it - not sure the RO has much choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
Ha ha. When I stopped road running I threw all my dozens of medals etc away and all my road race results. It was a damascene moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by gej
I kept my ten marathon medals though to remind me never to run one again.:)
I do a full range of races and so get a few medals. I always pick a kid in the crowd and give it to them - generally make their day. I prefer memories, though I'm proud of my ToP Tshirts, Thanks Mr Carr.
I threw out my London/Berlin marathon medals some years ago - they were fairly tacky. I have kept my 4 Sierre-Zinal medals as they are works of art, and there is the odd race photo and drinking mug scattered about the house. Most treasured is a print - framed - of Wasdale Screes with my Wasdale time and Joss's signature.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
That reminded me I must have some of those so I dug them out and also found my Ennerdale certificates of Scarth Gap.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
I remember my 1990 Ennerdale run when I was badly dehydrated and finished on my knees in 6.30 but had forgotten my next attempt in 2000 when, ten years older (55) and presumably a lot wiser, I finished in 5.09.
I hope I was pleased with the improvement at the time!
I've never taken a medal.
I don't think they are exclusively to trail races. I've been offered some at road races as I passed through the line.
I think they tend to come from either professional race organisers or charity events.
T Shirts I see differently. They are partly a promotion for the race. We always handed out a free Ribble Valley 10K shirt and I've seen them on folk overseas. They were usually included in the entry fee although I sometimes bought shirts, such as at the Three Peaks if they were decent quality.
I hope to see a similar improvement next time i do Ennerdale.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
2018 was a bit of an ordeal and i ran from Green Gable to the finish with one shoe. Eventually finished in 7hrs15
Last year the race was cancelled the night before.
Would hope to be pushing close to a 2hrs improvement next time i manage to race it.
A local running club is organising a race on Beacon Hill on my 65th birthday. It's actually a race that used to be organised by a professional outfit, and unfortunately they are keeping the entry fees at a similar level to professionally organised events. And on the race website, the list of what you get for your entry fee starts with "Epic medal" - oh, and water stations, on a 5-mile route. Nevertheless, I may still enter, if my wife isn't secretly organising something for my birthday (and we can always go for a nice meal at the nearby Bull's Head afterwards).
I wear my ToP shirts with pride. I was wearing one the other day in Morrisons. A chap in the queue asked, “is that a 10k round Pendle?”Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
“Not quite, sit ye down my good man for a few minutes and I will explain…”
Needless to say I recounted that year when it was a white out.
It did make me think; my T-shirt started a conversation. I’d have looked a bit of a dick wearing a medal round Morrisons.
Ha ha.Quote:
Originally Posted by brummievet
Some of my T-shirts are for being a category winner.
So if anyone asks me what I am wearing I don't need a few minutes to explain - more like ten words in that nonchalant, modest, surprised "This old thing? Oh I won it for coming first" way. :)
I did a trail Half Marathon around the Malham area on Saturday (yes it was bloody hot!) organised by an outfit called Due North.
No T shirt or medal at the finish, but a range of local pies and a Timothy Taylor beer. Much more sensible!