Do elites get finishers medals?

Are you one of those people who worries about everything? They start handing them out with the first person, and most people (including elites) will politely say "thank you."

I went to a Meb book signing a few months ago. He was wearing a Boston 2014 finishers medal that is identical to mine. He signed a copy of his book and also my medal. We took a photo with our medals. It was pretty cool. Meb is the man.

If it's a major marathon, the elites will most likely have a separate exit closer to the finish line that doesn't go by the volunteers passing out medals. If they want one, they might have to go slightly out of their way to get it. It just depends on the race.

If my 'elite' in my stable was know to punch a volunteer they'd lose their contract faster than coming in 15th or 16th.

I think Mayor Nutter puts the finishers medal on the winner in Philly.

A few years back I crashed hard and jog-shuffled the final miles of a marathon, finishing in my worst ever time. A volunteer tried to shove a finishers medal in my face. In my frustration, I took it and threw it at far as my tired body could, adding a loud disgruntled shout as I heaved it into the distance. The volunteer looked shocked and scared.**

**I totally made this story up, but it sounded funny in my head, so I decided to post it.

In Boston the elites are given finishers medals by separate volunteers at the elite after-race area. They are swept off the course immediately after the finish line so they do not walk through the same medal area as the rest of the runners.

At PR events, Meb usually wears his winner's medial - which is just like the finisher's medal, only it's gold (or gold plated...let's be honest BAA, gold plated).

As the elites finish, they walk to the intersection of Dartmouth (about 30 yards, if that) and turn right. In there is a medical and elite tent where they can get massages, treatment, meet with coaches, and of course, drug testing. Volunteers there will give them a finisher's medal if they want one.

If I were an elite, I'd just want to keep the bib with my name on it. I think that alone is pretty special.

bigcorporatesponsor wrote:

If my 'elite' in my stable was know to punch a volunteer they'd lose their contract faster than coming in 15th or 16th.

Well that's not very fast since it was 15th or 16th...maybe if they lost it faster than 1st place!

Yes, but only if they finish.....

I was an elite at the Great South Run in England a couple of years ago. I had to go to some length to get a finisher's medal:

As people have been saying, there was a separate exit for elites just past the finish line. So we didn't go through the long path to exit that the regular participants did. In England you get your "goodie bag" after the race instead of at the expo, with the race shirt and finisher's medal in it (in this case), so we didn't get one! I went with another elite and we shouted through the tall fence to the volunteers and they tossed goodie bags over the fence for us, so we could get our finishers' medals.

I wanted the medal as a souvenir of my race in England, since I didn't win or anything.

I was an "elite" at the Berlin Marathon a few weeks ago although I paid for entry since I didn't have a sub 2:20 PR or whatever they were looking for. In the elite tent (that you are directed to maybe 100-200 yards after the finish) they had a pile of medals sitting on a table. Take one if you want kind of policy.

On a related note, I paid extra for a shirt and we were SOL on getting those! I'd rather have the shirt of course.

Anyone from Berlin want to swap a medal for a shirt???

I've been in a lot of elite finish areas and it depends on the race. For the most part, those places are surprisingly hectic. There will be a ton of staff focused on the winners or American elites. The people behind them will usually get a quick check from the elite athlete coordinator and then have their agents/coaches tracking people down when they need something. (With the exception of medical personnel - They keep an eye on everyone regardless of finish.) At some point in the process, you might be approached with the medal or walk directly past them before the medical tent and athletes tent. Sometimes the agents/coaches have to track them down. And sometimes people forget completely - I've seen them have a few extras at the elite athlete hotel. And if you still fail at all of that, you could probably get one mailed to you.

Well if you're any kind of self-respecting runner, you throw that medal in the garbage. Remember, people who walk a marathon get the same medal...what does that make you?

This is America and we are all elites!!! I consider myself to be elite and I have always gotten a finishers medal following completion of a marathon. I have these glorious medals on display in my family room. I excitedly recount the race for each medal when I have visitors in my house. They are amazed that I am able to run 26.2 miles, as am I. I currently work a full time job, have 2 daughters that I am responsible for and am an active member of my community. I really think I am a fine example for the youth of our nation and am contemplating beginning a specking tour for the local high schools. Even with all of the responsibilities I shoulder I was able to eclipse the 4 hour barrier in a few of my marathons. I did this without the use of coaches, trainers or personal gymnasium facilities. Life is all about balance and I think I have achieved the American dream.

phillyrun wrote:

Imagine you're a volunteer standing at the end of some marathon, eager to hand out medals, some guy swishes past the finish line, you try and give him a medal, he tries to punch you because he's just lost and come in 15th and he's about to lose his sweat-wicking visor endorsement contract, so you try to give a medal to the next guy, who does punch you, but since he totally fell apart in the last six miles he doesn't have much in his punch -- but at some point, some non-elite who's just had the best day of his life is going to cross that finish line and he's going to want his freaking finisher's medal.

So, how do races know when to start handing them out?

Yes they do get a finishers medal if they want one; I have seen pics of world record holders wearing a finishers medals at they post race interview. The finishers medal is handled differently at each marathon, they aren't always handled out as the elites cross the finish line, but at some point they are presented with one and they usually accept it.

someone has to say it wrote:

Well if you're any kind of self-respecting runner, you throw that medal in the garbage. Remember, people who walk a marathon get the same medal...what does that make you?

A finisher

Elites do get medals.

When you have a bad day its annoying not that I really want a finisher medal ever. But you just grin and bear it. Better to be polite to the volunteers who aren't going to understand that not everyone cares about the medal.

here's the dealio wrote:

I really think I am a fine example for the youth of our nation and am contemplating beginning a specking tour for the local high schools.

I hope you speck in my son's school. No doubt your specking will be inspiring. Please let us know of your upcoming specking engagements, so we can all watch you speck. I understand public specking is quite challenging, but I can tell that you have a gift for it.