I've noticed a disturbing trend in Turkey Trot medals...

7/10

(I chuckled because I imagined there are really people out there that concern themselves with the spoils of an annual turkey trot)

finisher medal: stupid

age group medal: stupid

why do we care again?

I help out at a local race series. The presence of, size of, and design of the FINISHER MEDAL is the most questioned subject we get. More and more, this is the show stopper for folks running races. (Sad, I agree) If race directors want to stay in business they have to take care of the customer, and sadly that customer is the hobby jogger, not the world class basement dwellers of LetsRun

You're upset about getting two medals?

The sport would be better in the long run if people for whom finisher medals are a show stopper weren't around.

Former D2 now 50 wrote:

The sport would be better in the long run if people for whom finisher medals are a show stopper weren't around.

Ok, how so? How will it make the sport better if a large (no pun intended), I say largest, portion of customers/runners leave?

I usually take a dump on my finisher medal.

Anyone see this year's Chicago half marathon finisher's medal? That thing was embarrassing.

My local turkey trot gives a $15 gift card for age group awards, but $50 cash to finishers.

smh...

Southbound 35 wrote:

Former D2 now 50 wrote:

The sport would be better in the long run if people for whom finisher medals are a show stopper weren't around.

Ok, how so? How will it make the sport better if a large (no pun intended), I say largest, portion of customers/runners leave?

The experience for competitive runners would be improved. Greatly.

It's better than the prize I got for winning a Turkey Trot in 1977. I won a turkey that gave everyone in my family the trots for about ten days. Not a good turkey trot at all.

My biggest medals and trophies are from the smallest events.

I have no physical awards for my best performances.

A pretty small medal for placing in the IC4A, a bigger medal for being a conference champ (which isn't as good as placing in IC4A at the time) but a huge trophy for a 39 minute 4th of July 10K win.

Former D2 now 50 wrote:

Southbound 35 wrote:

Ok, how so? How will it make the sport better if a large (no pun intended), I say largest, portion of customers/runners leave?

The experience for competitive runners would be improved. Greatly.

The in-race experience? I usually have some trouble getting off the line, but 20 meters in the racers have separated from the finishers. Hosting a race (closing roads, USATF certified measuring, volunteers, water/gatorade, etc. etc.) for the 20-100 people who want to race would be a big drain for a select (egotistical?) group, would it not? And race fees would be even higher.

I do think race fees could be significantly decreased (though many local races are for the school district or cancer research or something), and I admittedly often choose my races based on prizes, but I don't care too much about a 25min 5ker being in my way for 10 feet before I can get into race rhythm if he and his ilk are there to have fun, don't disrespect faster people (and vice versa for the racers), and are helping me take home a whopping 50 bucks or whatever when the racing is all said and done.

5/10.