Distance running has exploded in popularity. It seems entry fees have increased even more. Along with that explosion is the proliferation of race bling. Race directors are looking for bigger, better, more creative swag to offer participants and I suspect some of us are guilty of taking bling quality into account when shopping for races…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
In the six years I’ve been running ‘seriously’, I’ve noticed significant changes in race bling. My first half marathon in 2007 offered shirts to the first 200 entrants only and there were no medals at all.
I got a finisher’s medal at my second half but look how it pales in comparison to the one I got at the same race 3 years later.
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Boston Marathon medals have stayed fairly consistent in recent years.
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But look at this one from 1991.
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How about this Chicago Marathon medal from 1984? Not terribly impressive by today’s standards, yet ironically the fields were substantially faster than they are now.
Does oversized/unique race bling increase the appeal of a race?
At what race did you receive your all-time favorite bling?
While I will always love my Boston medals, my favorite medal came from the Grand Rapids Marathon, scene of my first BQ. It’s not so much the aesthetics, but the sentimental value attached to it, that I will always treasure.
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Yeah, I’ve noticed this change too – also changes (for the better IMO) in race shirts – which used to only be cotton unisex sizes and now are tech shirts/gender specific.
Cool post! I do ‘like’ to get a medal when I finish a 1/2 marathon or longer, but I don’t think it’s a requirement for me as long as the other aspects of the race are awesome. I don’t think I have a favorite – I guess my marathon medal since it’s the only marathon I have run. I can’t wait to get the Wisconsin 1/2 Marathon medal – it doubles as a bottle opener!
I have “bling” that ranges from the size of a quarter to something I could carry in my purse as a weapon. I like the simpler medals better, especially if they were only handed out to a certain number of finishers.
My favorite medal will always be my first. The Philadelphia Half Marathon. I wore that thing to bed and rubbed it like a lucky penny all day. It symbolizes the change from old me to new me.
Sentimentally, I love all my 3 marathon medals, kind of equally. Chicago because it was the first, Grandma’s because it was my best race to date, and TCM because it’s the prettiest 🙂
Oh how I wish I had started entering races a long time ago… I am hoping for my first bling at my first half in May!
One of my favorite race blings would be from the Johnstown marathon. That would be because I came in 2nd, 4th and 5th there through the years. (Small marathon, hilly course, years ago factor into my great race showing). But I really love the handmade mugs from the Hashawha 50k I just ran. It was a nice surprise. I run small-ish ultra events because I like the support and feel of real running and I don’t care about or need bling at all. In fact I avoid races where I have to pay higher registration fees simply to get bling. But every one is different and thankfully there are many many kinds of races to choose from to fit all kinds of needs.
Terzah is cleaning up on the giveaways! I just saw she won on another blog too! congratulations!
I don’t have many medals yet, but the best one is my Maine 1/2 Marathon one.
Congrats to the winner! I can’t wait to get my first race bling this year!!!!
I never used to be a race bling snob, but lately I find myself being just that. WTH!?!?
I so wish I could find my first marathon medal from 1997. Would love to see how simple and plain it must have been. Yep, gone. So is my 2nd marathon from 1999. Those things just didn’t matter to be back then.
Oh…meant to say…
My favorite race medal was from the Park City Marathon, it’s a piece of stained glass. So pretty. Not my more sentimental medal, but it is the prettiest.
Is there any way to get your “reply” info automatic so you don’t have to type it in each time? ugh. I’m so lazy!
I honestly don’t consider “bling” at all. The ones that I value the most are my firsts at each distance, other than that, they’re all kinda equal.
I actually pick my races based on price (ie cheap). I don’t care about the bling. If I wanted to pay 100 dollars for a tech t and a medal I will never use, I could just go to Sports Authority.
My favorite is my IMT Marathon medal. It is my first and only full to date; but what I had to deal with at the end makes it more important.
I like nice bling. I don’t like crappy shirts.
Love to see all the Boston Medals – Yay! In ultras, since there are so many fewer participants, you usually get a shirt plus something else – a bag, a jacket, etc. Makes is kind of fun. I really like a great tech shirt. My get so gross after awhile, that I’m always in need of a new shirt 🙂
its hard to say which medal is my favorite-and i definitely sign up for races depending on the bling (obviously, hence the blog name). i will go with wineglass (marathon pr), big sur (prettiest course ever), and goofy challenge (hardest to date)
Wow! This is my lucky week! Awesome! As soon as I comment, I will email you.
I don’t have my medal from my first race (if there was one–it was in 1995) or my first marathon in 1997 (I do think I *might* have a finisher’s T-shirt from the latter…) But yes, definitely more modest!
I’m not really drawn to bling, although it’s nice to have. Surprise surprise, my fave bling was from NYC, it even has my info engraved on it.
Congrats Terzah! It’s the memories of the race that I often tie to the medals. It doesn’t really matter to me what it looks like.
I kind of like that Boston has kept it traditional and pretty simple.
My favourite medal, though, is the size of my face (almost) from the Toronto Marathon in 2010 – ironically, one of my worst races! Ha!
What a beautiful post, very soon I will do mine on the same topic.
Thanks for sharing.
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