What is the big deal with finisher medals?

Of course rewarding mediocrity *might* lead to behavior other than mediocrity. A lot of things *might* happen.But what we have learned about rewarding a Thing, is it generally leads to more of that Thing.I don't have much of an opinion on rewarding fatties for fattying 5Ks. But the notion that we should give medals for being slow "because it might lead to NOT being slow" is just ... argh, I'm getting frustrated at what shabby thinking that is.It was a 50:00 5K of an argument. Enjoy your medal.

AnotherPerspective wrote:

Perhaps the next great distance runner gets interested in running initially because of the medal. Both of my girls got started that way, and they both graduated to a reduced value of the medal and increased value of the competition and their relative performance.

Or maybe the next great distance runner starts running with mom and dAd and the parents were motivated by the medal but the kid is entranced with the competition.

Anything that gets participation up that might influence another generation is a very good thing.

I just did a 50K race this past weekend that was $35 to enter. For that money, you got a race that was low-key, certified multiple loop course, nice heavy weight shirt and a fully stocked aid station (I've done other ultras that cost more where the aid stations weren't as good).

Probably an hour and a half after I finished, a lady finished, looked around and goes "So where to I pick up my medal?" The RD goes "We're not giving them out." About 10 minutes later, as I am waiting for others to finish, I hear this lady say to one of her friends, "I can't believe we ran all this way and they didn't even give us medals. No way am I doing this race again."

fellow rd wrote:

I hear you. The fatties need their bling.

Look, we have heard it 10000 times, our running world is small. We may no know it, but it is. The outside world has very little knowledge of tempo runs, fartleks, and hill repeats.

What has become popular, however, is the cross fit generation. They are also in the age group of the former kiddies that got participation trophies.

Add this all up, and you get a bunch of people who want to finish a 5k, a 10 miler, a half marathon....

And they want something to show that they actually did it.

I have casual runner friends who post their medals on FB all the time.

I never see them post their time, but, I guess the goal is just to finish.

Not sure what caused this thread to be bumped 3 years after it first showed up . I thought it was because the Wall Strett Journal has an article out on how many runners do want medals.

The article entitled "What is the big deal with finisher medals?" can be fround below:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/want-a-medal-or-something-many-do-1423445891?

participation ribbon wrote:

[quote]you must be joking wrote:

5K finishers expect a medal? Wow. This is a natural consequence of pre-school "graduation" ceremonies.

Out of curiosity, how much are you charging for this event?

That's how I felt too. We charge $25 for early registration, $30 for late or day of. It's a non-profit race (RDs take no fee, all proceeds after expenses go to charity), and for the entry fee you get a long sleeve t-shirt, post race breakfast catered by a local company (more than bagels and bananas), and nice prizes (including random awards) donated by local businesses. It's a very grassroots event.'

Nice prizes what is the 1st place prize?

What I expect:

- an accurately measured course.

- a course that makes some degree of sense.

- the course should have traffic control and be well marked.

- the race should start on time

- there should be water on the course

- accurate results

- awards ceremony in a quick and timely manner.

After that everything else is up in the air. I would certainly RATHER receive a gift certificate to a restaurant or running store than some trinket or plaque. And I know sponsors want their name on the back of a t-shirt but I would love for more races to branch out into giving hats, gloves, boxer shorts, sweat shirts... anything that's not yet another race t-shirt.

A finishers medal for anything less than a marathon is ridiculous.

No one gets a "finisher" medal at the CrossFit Games. You win, or you don't, it's as simple as that.

And lets face it, a medal does look good on a SCRAWNY's runner frame. Much better on a joked up muscle head with a nice physique.

Xfit_guy_the_real_1 wrote:

No one gets a "finisher" medal at the CrossFit Games. You win, or you don't, it's as simple as that.

And lets face it, a medal does look good on a SCRAWNY's runner frame. Much better on a joked up muscle head with a nice physique.

Why give a finisher medal to the person who wins? Shouldn't they get a winners medal? Why do they need a medal at all? Why not just say "you are the winner"?

They should make people pay for their finishers medal at the finish line. If you dont buy it than you didnt finish.

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

I just did a 50K race this past weekend that was $35 to enter. For that money, you got a race that was low-key, certified multiple loop course, nice heavy weight shirt and a fully stocked aid station (I've done other ultras that cost more where the aid stations weren't as good).

Probably an hour and a half after I finished, a lady finished, looked around and goes "So where to I pick up my medal?" The RD goes "We're not giving them out." About 10 minutes later, as I am waiting for others to finish, I hear this lady say to one of her friends, "I can't believe we ran all this way and they didn't even give us medals. No way am I doing this race again."

In VB? If so, I heard that too. She'd didn't get upset with the RD or anything though.

piogjasdf wrote:

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

I just did a 50K race this past weekend that was $35 to enter. For that money, you got a race that was low-key, certified multiple loop course, nice heavy weight shirt and a fully stocked aid station (I've done other ultras that cost more where the aid stations weren't as good).

Probably an hour and a half after I finished, a lady finished, looked around and goes "So where to I pick up my medal?" The RD goes "We're not giving them out." About 10 minutes later, as I am waiting for others to finish, I hear this lady say to one of her friends, "I can't believe we ran all this way and they didn't even give us medals. No way am I doing this race again."

In VB? If so, I heard that too. She'd didn't get upset with the RD or anything though.

Yup, in VB...I don't think she was upset at all with the RD. She had her back to me, so she may have been joking as she was (or seemed to be) in a good mood during the run when I came across her.

Great race. Love low-key races where you can show up 15 minutes before the start, pick up your bib and then just run. RD is awesome. No way would I have guessed it was his first time as an RD, but given who it is and his experience, I'm not surprised it was that well done.

Xfit_guy_the_real_1 wrote:

And lets face it, a medal does look good on a SCRAWNY's runner frame.

Sorry for the typo. Of course it should read:

And lets face it, a medal does NOT look good on a SCRAWNY's runner frame.

Here is a guy with a medal who deserves it:

My only requirement is an accurately measured (or USTAF certified) course. Don't need a T-Shirt, medals, water, energy bar, goodie bag...none of that crap. Is any RD out there listening?

Trollus Maximus, thy name is RD.

There's a for-profit racing company near me that has a 5k every weekend. They give out participation medals, age division medals, t-shirt, goodie bags, and a post-race feast of cake, soda, chips, etc (junk food), and also have fully stocked SNACK BARS (gels, protein bars, water, gatorade) at each MILE, including MILE 3. The events are immensely popular with ~1000 people. Rarely anyone finishes under 20:00. It's like hobbyjogger paradise and these people pay $45 for this crap. I know all this because I signed up for one of their races... Big surprise: no award for winning overall!

Bottom line... the sport of running isn't a moneymaker, but fun & family entertainment is. This trend will be the death of the sport.

Not sure why running can't be for both the serious and the fun-loving. Just like the mullet- business up front, party in the back.

Trollus Maximus wrote:

My only requirement is an accurately measured (or USTAF certified) course. Don't need a T-Shirt, medals, water, energy bar, goodie bag...none of that crap. Is any RD out there listening?

Then get some buddies, go to the track and race to your heart's content. Leave the rest to us.

This Is Despicable wrote:

There's a for-profit racing company near me that has a 5k every weekend. They give out participation medals, age division medals, t-shirt, goodie bags, and a post-race feast of cake, soda, chips, etc (junk food), and also have fully stocked SNACK BARS (gels, protein bars, water, gatorade) at each MILE, including MILE 3. The events are immensely popular with ~1000 people. Rarely anyone finishes under 20:00. It's like hobbyjogger paradise and these people pay $45 for this crap. I know all this because I signed up for one of their races... Big surprise: no award for winning overall!

Bottom line... the sport of running isn't a moneymaker, but fun & family entertainment is. This trend will be the death of the sport.

Ya there should be professional road races for runners who make a certain standard like 1:20 or faster half marathon/2:30 marathon or faster.. where these athletes do NOT need a finishers metal. And then there should be seperate races for the penguin shuffelers.. slower than 1:20 half and slower than 2:30 full. These feet shuffelers can get their finisher medals IF they finish their feet shuffeling past the finish line and get to brag to their friends about this greatest life accomplishment

If I was running a 5k or 10k and paying less than $60, I wouldn't expect anything other than a finisher t-shirt and post race refreshments. I did a triathlon last year with only 300 or so participants. The race coordinator made the awards for 10 year age groups instead of 5 year age groups because there weren't enough people in each age group. People that were getting 5th out of 7 in their 10 year age group were complaining that they didn't receive an award.

The whole idea of racing and competition has really been diluted. It isn't called "Everyone get a medal 5k."