When I started running 4 years ago I admired the sight of half-marathoners and marathoners being donned by medals upon reaching the finish line. Having that piece of metal on your chest as you go around the finisher's area makes you beam with pride is proof that you have made an impossible feat of running 21 or 42 kilometers (or even more), sometimes even in extreme conditions.
Back then, medals have always been a consideration whenever I "shop" for races. Something to add to my collection, I always thought. Something that you can grasp that proves that you have achieved something great. The peak of my medal-collection "hobby" was when I ran to get all 3 Run United medals last 2010 (back then the medals were not interconnecting with one another like in the 2011 and onwards editions).
The medal that I think that could be most important to me is the Milo Manila 2012 Elims medal, wherein I achieved my current 5:11 42km PR. It is simple but elegant, much like the way I conquered that race with cool-tempered pace backed up by a well thought training plan (naks).
Several races/years later, all of my finisher medals are tucked away in a box. Specifically, the box I used is that of my old Garmin305. All of my finisher medals are in there, like a treasure chest hidden and forgotten under the sea. It's been MONTHS since I have last opened it and ran through the different medals as I recalled my race.
Some months ago, while I was looking at the takbo.ph List of Races to view race details, I was somehow taken aback by the comments of some in the feedback section (and note that I'm still irked by similar comments in other races today) who'd ask if finisher medals are available, even for 5 or 10k races. Medals have been put virtual price tags, it may seem, becoming more of a commodity (or a must) rather than being a symbol of achievement. The value of the finisher medal has been downgraded to a requirement for race organizers to provide rather than being something that runners should train (and I mean *really* train) to attain.
Since then, I have changed my view. Although I am still awed by finisher medals, I am done collecting them. My priority in registering for a race is not because of a finisher medal, but on how that race fits my schedule, how it will show my current fitness, and how it will aid in meeting my running (and duathlon) goals.
Getting a medal will be the least of my priorities. If an event has a 10k without medal and a 21k with medal, I will opt to reg for the 10k event since I know that my current fitness/training will make me perform better in the 10k. Medal or no medal, I will not force myself to run 21k/42k if I know that I am not 100% prepared for it.
That exhilarating feeling of crossing the finish line (and sometimes, with a PR) cannot be encapsulated by a medal. That wonderful feeling of training for something AND achieving it is priceless in all terms.
It shouldn't be about the medal.
Back then, medals have always been a consideration whenever I "shop" for races. Something to add to my collection, I always thought. Something that you can grasp that proves that you have achieved something great. The peak of my medal-collection "hobby" was when I ran to get all 3 Run United medals last 2010 (back then the medals were not interconnecting with one another like in the 2011 and onwards editions).
The medal that I think that could be most important to me is the Milo Manila 2012 Elims medal, wherein I achieved my current 5:11 42km PR. It is simple but elegant, much like the way I conquered that race with cool-tempered pace backed up by a well thought training plan (naks).
Several races/years later, all of my finisher medals are tucked away in a box. Specifically, the box I used is that of my old Garmin305. All of my finisher medals are in there, like a treasure chest hidden and forgotten under the sea. It's been MONTHS since I have last opened it and ran through the different medals as I recalled my race.
Some months ago, while I was looking at the takbo.ph List of Races to view race details, I was somehow taken aback by the comments of some in the feedback section (and note that I'm still irked by similar comments in other races today) who'd ask if finisher medals are available, even for 5 or 10k races. Medals have been put virtual price tags, it may seem, becoming more of a commodity (or a must) rather than being a symbol of achievement. The value of the finisher medal has been downgraded to a requirement for race organizers to provide rather than being something that runners should train (and I mean *really* train) to attain.
Since then, I have changed my view. Although I am still awed by finisher medals, I am done collecting them. My priority in registering for a race is not because of a finisher medal, but on how that race fits my schedule, how it will show my current fitness, and how it will aid in meeting my running (and duathlon) goals.
Getting a medal will be the least of my priorities. If an event has a 10k without medal and a 21k with medal, I will opt to reg for the 10k event since I know that my current fitness/training will make me perform better in the 10k. Medal or no medal, I will not force myself to run 21k/42k if I know that I am not 100% prepared for it.
That exhilarating feeling of crossing the finish line (and sometimes, with a PR) cannot be encapsulated by a medal. That wonderful feeling of training for something AND achieving it is priceless in all terms.
It shouldn't be about the medal.
words spoken by a serious runner. sounds like your are on for some major running improvements!
ReplyDelete"That exhilarating feeling of crossing the finish line (and sometimes, with a PR) cannot be encapsulated by a medal. That wonderful feeling of training for something AND achieving it is priceless in all terms."
ReplyDeleteAmen!