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Nov 2023
2:50pm, 28 Nov 2023
22,718 posts
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DeeGee
I've just about recovered from a fantastic weekend organising an event.
Before the pandemic, people were keen to sign up early, by the summer I had plenty of funds in the event account and I could buy medals with impunity.
Since the pandemic, entries appear to come in a lot later. I was listening to one of the guys running this weekend and he was boasting of how he only ever enters events the week before so he gets to keep the money in his account rather than the race organisers.
(Of course, shortly after this he told me how upset he was that so many little events were going to the wall.)
I'm not sure how many of you realise that many, many race organisers use the same medal provider, who get their medals made in China and shipped to the UK by sea freight. There's basically a 12 week lead time. Four months. And for little companies like mine, they expect payment in full with the order. For a non-profit, that means that somehow we have to raise enough funds to cover the cost of medals for all anticipated runners (and all the other stuff that needs paying in advance) several months before the event. And in my case, the source of those funds is me.
There are "sustainable" alternatives like wooden medals that have been laser cut, or pyrographed, which are sourced in the UK and have a much shorter lead time, so can be ordered much later in the day. They still need to be ordered and paid for in advance, though.
Or the alternative is to not give out medals at all, and to maybe take a few quid, say, the cost of a medal per person, off the price of the entry.
How do you feel about wooden medals, do you feel that they are a less worthy replacement than good solid metal bling? Or would you not be bothered if you received medals at all, if it meant you could have a cheaper race? Do you expect medals at all, or are they a nice to have? Or do you just stick them in a box and put them away?
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Nov 2023
2:54pm, 28 Nov 2023
3,852 posts
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paulcook
I barely do events with medals at all. Frankly, I don't see much point to them. Just my tuppence worth because I know lots of runners value rows and rows of medals.
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Nov 2023
2:57pm, 28 Nov 2023
22,719 posts
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DeeGee
Thanks Paul, your tuppence-worth is valuable, are race organisers simply giving away medals because other races do, and, actually, most people aren't that bothered?
I'm sure if it's a saving that makes the difference between an event being viable or not, we might have to rethink our attitude towards event giveaways...
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Nov 2023
2:58pm, 28 Nov 2023
15,154 posts
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Ultracat
I would be happy to receive a bottle of water and a packet of crisps rather than a medal.
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Nov 2023
2:59pm, 28 Nov 2023
48,644 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
I'm same, I don't need or want a medal and would happily forgo it. I like the increasing number of races who give options on race t-shirt of ( ) none ( ) donate for a tree instead ( ) select t-shirt size! Should be similar with medal!
Having said that I know people who love a medal and would be gutted if they didn't get one. And people new to races also seem to like them, so definitely keep it as an option?  G
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Nov 2023
2:59pm, 28 Nov 2023
49,248 posts
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EvilPixie
I do have a couple of wooden medals - make a nice change
I also like the Centurion Grand Prix series where there is no medal but a gift for doing 4+ of the 6 events and encourages volunteering if not able to run to get the gift
I think it depends of the size/distance - longer distances I would probably want something but not for a shorter race if that could also be cheap!
What about other gifts? Like a sweatband or cotton bag or something that can be used and doesn't have the year on?!?
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Nov 2023
3:01pm, 28 Nov 2023
62,340 posts
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Derby Tup
A medal for a 10K or even half marathon for me is going in a sock drawer never to be seen again
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Nov 2023
3:01pm, 28 Nov 2023
13,667 posts
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Sombrero
I love a medal. But the last 10K I did had Christmas puddings instead of a medal and I was happy with that too. My next 10K, I get a Christmas pudding and a hat.
If I had to choose, it would always be a Tshirt or medal but a buff or similar is a useful. If you do a race every year, you could get a generic design which would be suitable for each year so you don't waste some if the event doesn't fill up.
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Nov 2023
3:02pm, 28 Nov 2023
11,157 posts
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Raemond
I'm very bling motivated.
There are a few events I've entered where you have to say when you sign up if you want a medal or finisher's shirt and pay extra for them (about €5 for a medal, usually, more for a shirt), then there's some indication on your number to say if you've paid or not so they know whether to let you have one at the end.
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Nov 2023
3:02pm, 28 Nov 2023
27,234 posts
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TROSaracen
I have had some really nice wooden medals, and increasingly trophies.
I like getting medals for big ticket events, which for me is the marathons and triathlons.
Not bothered for any distances up to and including half marathon.
I've seen a few races with 'opt out' for receiving a medal - administration challenge at the finish but could you do 'early bird' entries with medal then later entries make it clear no medal, then you can make an exact order?
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