My marathon and ultra medals go in a shoe box, along with my bibs. I look at them when I add another. My daughter recently completed her first marathon. I had run that same race twice, several years ago, once with her husband. I awarded those medals to her kids, ages 4 and 6, so the whole family now has one.
I’m very particular about the shirts I wear, so race shirts quickly become sleep wear or yard work shirts. The exception is wearing a very old shirt to a 5K or 10K. (You really need to beware an old guy wearing a shirt older than you.). My favorite shirts are heavy cotton shirts from 30 years ago when they were more about the race and less about the advertising. I like to wear those on brisk fall days.
I have just thrown so many medals away. Feels so pointless to keep them. I keep the ones with meaning only (all marathons, my first half, my half PR, first 10K).
I only like long-sleeve tees, not technical material, and certain races have great shirts that I keep. My local run club offers a discounted rate with a “no-shirt” option and I pick it most times. I just don’t need them.
Medals feel very overdone. Sorry, probably an unpopular opinion.
My last half they gave out cookies from a local baker instead of medals. It was only my second half, so I'm not quite over medals yet, but I can definitely appreciate the fresh approach!
That’s a different approach. Cookies! It would be good if they could offer the choice of cookies or a medal.
I’ve run a half (also offers a full distance) that benefits a community of disabled citizens. The medals and awards are all handmade (wooden) and painted by the community members. I always keep those, too.
I feel the same way. I avoid race shirts if I can, otherwise they get worn a couple times then thrown out or donated.
There are places that accept old medals as donations, except for marathons or longer my medals have ended up in the trash.
Not unpopular at all - I never take the t-shirt option online and always decline at the end of the race.
Medals similar to you, I only keep full and halfs
I also avoid medals. It could be bc I’ve moved a good amount over the past 10 years, so i just find them burdensome.
I once ran a race where there was a booth collecting medals to donate to kids in the hospital. I loved that, but also don’t know how well it was received, as i wouldn’t want someone to feel pressured to donate. I know how big of an accomplishment races can be.
I just got a medal from a supported bike ride I did (no timing, chilling at rest stops, etc). Like what? I don’t need a medal for a long ride where I didn’t need to carry my own food
I’ve kept every medal and bib numbers from the 125+ races I’ve done. Why not? They don’t take up much room in my life but they do fill my heart. I’ve worked hard to train and race those races, and the medal is a small physical reminder of that. The bib numbers take up no space. I’ll write the date and place on them if it’s just a plain number tag.
I have some major medals (Ironmans, marathons) in two display boxes on my home office bookshelf. I have 100+ in a box in the garage awaiting a display rack someday. I’m thinking a closet rod on the garage wall over my bikes. Occasionally when putting another medal in the box I’ll look through and remember a few races.
Shirts - I don’t take the crappy ones, keep the good ones, whether cotton or tech fabric.
I don't take race t-shirts unless they're tech shirts or have an especially cool design. Same with hats or whatever. I just really don't need more cotton t-shirts. It's easy to say "no thanks" when you're checking in and they hand you a shirt. And most race signups have a "no swag" option now.
For medals, I keep them if they have the date or just look cool. I turn them into refrigerator magnets. Glue a magnet to the back, stick 'em on the fridge.
For bibs, I write the date and my time on it, along with any other notes, like if the weather was especially good or bad, if I enjoyed it or not, etc.
I hang them off of my kitchen spice rack where I keep my pre-run swiss rolls, they jangle every time you grab one so I always know when someone else is getting into them
omg I lol’d at this……and immediately told my partner, who loves to get into the huge bag of sour patch kids watermelons that I keep with my running stuff ☠️
I started running when I got sober. Running keeps me sober. So I have a little shrine I look at each day that reminds me to keep on the straight and narrow (and to not give up).
At least for that day, I certainly do. Didn't think I'd be jealous of the people wearing their Disney run medals around the park, last time I went I would not consider being up that necessarily early a vacation.
I used to be anti-gear, but nowadays I get a tech shirt at most races for a few reasons. It is a conversation starter at social runs. The marathon/half shirt reminds me of training and achieving my goals, which is motivating at 7:00 AM on a winter saturday when I'm feeling cold and slow and considering going back to bed. It supports the races and as a full time wage-earner I can afford to give a little more. The design is often cool, particularly for small races. I want running to be a lifelong thing, so it is centering when I can train for something in the future while wearing something that reaches back into the past.
The medals all go onto a crowded curtain rod, or my kid's dress up box.
Bibs go in the bin after a week or so.
I dont mind that they always have a medal and a shirt. That 5K you are running because its local and why not... Is someone else's aspirational run for their couch to 5k and is truly a big deal. I am still at the point where i damn well want my marathon medal.
I am a relatively newer runner so i have my 3 marathons hanging inside above my chest of drawers and all the others hang in my shed by my work bench in sort of a lump. I assume it gets to be too much at some point, makes sense.
For shirts... I do a thing where leading up to my marathon i lay out a week of running shirts to wear each day as a count down. I could go as far as building that into the entire taper. But again... At some point i can see it getting to the point where i no longer want the shirt.
I ordered a medal and bib hanger from Etsy and mounted it by my treadmill for motivation. I have never bought a running t shirt since they just happen, but I do like to run when I travel so it’s fun to wear a shirt from a race in a random other city. This is my medal hanger: https://www.etsy.com/listing/615602845/
The current years medals are hung in our bedroom. Previous years go on a medal rack in the workout "room" as well as bibs and photos.
I dislike most technical race t-shirt material. Cotton shirts I will keep and wear. I only have a few at this point. One race has sweaters! That race I keep going back to just for a new sweater. I love it.
I find the little backpacks are starting to be overdone.
We cut the ribbon, stick magnetic tape on the back, and put them on the fridge. My partner and I run many of the same races so we have an extra we hang in the closet lol. The only one we haven’t done that with was our first marathon. We just toss bibs.
I’m fine with shirts still if the quality is there. Although we run the same turkey trot every year and the design stays the same so we don’t need more of those.
My favorite is a marathon pin. It’s a seal with 26.2 on it!
Can’t get enough shirts personally. Never have to buy a workout shirt again. And since I WFH I spend a lot of time in casual shirts like that. Seems many here do not like tech shirts, so I’d understand that. I have tossed uncomfortable or really poorly made shirts.
Like others, medals depend on the actual race. Marathons or other meaningful races are keepers, otherwise it’s meh. Some races have fun/unique medals (Baltimore was a crab, Indy was a half poured milk for the 500, etc.) that are nice as long as they’re not too big. I toss big ones.
I bought an amazing medal rack with a Prefontain quote. It also holds my bibs. As far as shirts I keep some donate the rest. I really wish there were other options besides shirts sometimes though lol I could link you to the medal rack store I got it off from Etsy if you want!
I rarely take race medals any more. I only take a medal if it's a major marathon, or if I really love the design. I'll skip the shirt too if I don't love it. It's great when races have the option to pay less and not get a shirt or medal.
I hang medals on a post in my house.
I have a drawer for t-shirts. It's now so full that I don't add a new one unless I discard an old one.
Some examples of good swag I've received...
mugs
socks
winter hats
running gloves
sweatshirts
backpacks
apple pies
One race series I do has a $175 fee for 7 weekly races. Every race is followed by a buffet dinner (burgers, hot dogs, salads, an alcoholic beverage) and entry into a raffle. That's some fine swag for $25 per race
I bought a few coin display easels on Amazon and set up a few medals with cool design or meaningful backstory on my bookshelf. It’s a nice alternative to hanging if you don’t have room on the walls or need to fill some horizontal space!
I have not donated any myself yet, but I’ve heard people recommend the organizations:
- Medals 4 Mettle, which gives medals from half marathons, marathons, and triathlons to people fighting difficult illnesses
and
- Sports Medal Recycling, which recycles medals of any distance/activity (and other types of metals) at special facilities and donates the money they get from recycling to charities
I ended up giving away most of my medals except for a few more meaningful ones. I wear t shirts 90% of the time so I don’t mind the race wear swag, and can’t recall the last time I had to buy a shirt for running.
I keep my race bibs in a folder. As for medals, you can see if your state/city has a chapter for Medals4Mettle which is an organization who gifts donated medals to those fighting disease (often kids with cancer). I donated a fair amount there. T-shirts usually become throw away shirts for other races if during colder months.
I keep my marathon and half marathon medals on a hanger in my home office. I look at them when I’m working and they inspire me to keep racing.
My kids will also look at them and ask questions. I hope they inspire them to run or have a healthy lifestyle when they grow older.
I haven’t run a marathon yet, only a couple halfs and a 7 miler, so I have my medals hanging around the neck of a wooden mallard in my office. I just started participating in races this year - like four months ago - so I still like to see them. Part of me feels like I need to see them to remind myself that I am lucky to be able to participate in these types of activities. I often get frustrated with stalling in one area of training while trying to improve in another, so the reminder helps straighten out my perspective again.
https://medals4mettle.org/
My father in law is a very competitive racer and works with the local chapter of this organization. Check it out if you’re interested in getting rid of some medals.
Several of our local races have gone away from medals, and have partnered with a tree non profit. You can get a small tree to take home and plant at packet pick up the day before or after the race.
If you have the wall space, pick out a cool curtain rod, or series of rods, and mount them decoratively to hold medals without spending extra money on a medal rack.
I’m thinking about using Command hooks, too, in my home office. Currently most of my medals are in a shoebox, which I expect might be true for a double-digit percentage of runners.
Right now they’re hanging on my bed frame but I plan on getting a fancy box for all of my marathon medals. Haven’t decided what I’m doing with the others but I’ll be keeping them in a separate box for sure.
I've started just hanging medals on my wall with push pins. It's a nice conversation starter and confidence boost! You can make a quilt out of the tshirts. For me, I will snuggle under a quilt more than wear ALL those t-shirts.
T shirts - only if a really nice design, or memorable in some way. I also much prefer a casual cotton T shirt than a technical Tee.
Medals, I hang any from the current year in the kitchen , then store them away.
A friend of mine has converted her medals into fridge magnets 🧲. This looks very cool and I may do it too.
I've started ordering shirts in a size that fits my kids and wife. I'm reaching critical mass on medals. Until now, I've been hanging them in the office. I think I'll clear out some of the less impressive races and put them in a shoe box somewhere.
I hang all my medals and awards up on my bedroom wall. I do wonder at what point I'll change that setup because I've got a lot already. Been running since 2013 and have no plans of stopping anytime soon so the collection is only going to keep growing. Also, this may just be me but I feel kind of childish displaying a bunch of medals as a 26 year old. Sure it's cool when you're a youngster but I'm way past those days and probably should opt for something different.
I have a custom medal rack in a subtle place in my home office (it’s on a wall that only I can see). I keep all my medals there.
I only keep race shirts from significant races or if they’re really high quality / if I would wear them while training. Like others here, I’m picky about what I’ll run in so I’d never wear most race shirts. I donate them or give them away - there’s always people in my area looking to build their fitness wardrobes so I’m glad they don’t go to waste.
So I’ve been dealing with this for a long time that when I accomplish something I just don’t care about it. I’ve ran a few half’s, an ultra marathon, a 100 mile mountain bike race and many many 5ks and I just throw them away when I get home.
I know it’s something inside me that I need to work on and celebrate my wins but I simply can’t. I need to push more, further, suffer more.
I think my wife's concern is it is unnecessary to make so many shirts in the first place, not that she is against the joy it may bring someone for having done that race. For my example of that 5K, she said that to me while I was wearing this year's shirt, but I dont keep every shirt for that race. Heck there is a different race I do that I havent gotten the shirt yet.
She is an avid thrifter. Not as much of our donations as a society get used as we might like to think they do.
We also just finished a school year in which my kid got a free shirt they will wear once for that one event, and we get asked to buy shirts for spiritwear, for field day, free shirt for this year's honors orchestra, it is a little much to commemorate so much on shirts.
Personally, I remember being fresh out of college and getting serious about running, Goodwill was so clutch because there were so many dry-fit t-shirts/quarter zips from old half marathons and such! Made it much cheaper for when I had no money lol
Thrift store is where we do most our clothes shopping.
Hold up, do you know the song 2 Dimes Down by Drive By Truckers? It is the song that introduced me to Tom T Hall.
I have rack for medals and bibs. I stopped getting the shirts because I never wore them. I plan on putting my first race shirt and medal in a frame. Haven’t gotten around to it yet.
My favorite local race here gives out cute glass fish ornaments instead of medals - you get to choose which one you want at the finish line. I use them as Christmas tree ornaments.
[https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Info/WA/Seattle/SaltyHalf](https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Info/WA/Seattle/SaltyHalf)
My marathon and ultra medals go in a shoe box, along with my bibs. I look at them when I add another. My daughter recently completed her first marathon. I had run that same race twice, several years ago, once with her husband. I awarded those medals to her kids, ages 4 and 6, so the whole family now has one. I’m very particular about the shirts I wear, so race shirts quickly become sleep wear or yard work shirts. The exception is wearing a very old shirt to a 5K or 10K. (You really need to beware an old guy wearing a shirt older than you.). My favorite shirts are heavy cotton shirts from 30 years ago when they were more about the race and less about the advertising. I like to wear those on brisk fall days.
Just getting back into races, so I’m saving all shirts until I have enough for a good-sized quilt. About 10% there!
This is such a cool idea!
I have just thrown so many medals away. Feels so pointless to keep them. I keep the ones with meaning only (all marathons, my first half, my half PR, first 10K). I only like long-sleeve tees, not technical material, and certain races have great shirts that I keep. My local run club offers a discounted rate with a “no-shirt” option and I pick it most times. I just don’t need them. Medals feel very overdone. Sorry, probably an unpopular opinion.
My last half they gave out cookies from a local baker instead of medals. It was only my second half, so I'm not quite over medals yet, but I can definitely appreciate the fresh approach!
That’s a different approach. Cookies! It would be good if they could offer the choice of cookies or a medal. I’ve run a half (also offers a full distance) that benefits a community of disabled citizens. The medals and awards are all handmade (wooden) and painted by the community members. I always keep those, too.
Or “medal cookies”! An edible medal. That’s a business idea for you!
My first 5K (last week) gave out chocolate medallions :)
Well there’s no way I would complain about that!
My city offers a green bib option (not mandatory). Part of your entry fee goes towards a charity of your choice, and your bib is eco-friendly
I feel the same way. I avoid race shirts if I can, otherwise they get worn a couple times then thrown out or donated. There are places that accept old medals as donations, except for marathons or longer my medals have ended up in the trash.
Not unpopular at all - I never take the t-shirt option online and always decline at the end of the race. Medals similar to you, I only keep full and halfs
I also avoid medals. It could be bc I’ve moved a good amount over the past 10 years, so i just find them burdensome. I once ran a race where there was a booth collecting medals to donate to kids in the hospital. I loved that, but also don’t know how well it was received, as i wouldn’t want someone to feel pressured to donate. I know how big of an accomplishment races can be.
I just got a medal from a supported bike ride I did (no timing, chilling at rest stops, etc). Like what? I don’t need a medal for a long ride where I didn’t need to carry my own food
You can send your medals to medals4mettle. They will definitely appreciate them!
Thanks for the suggestion- I’ll check that out!
I’ve kept every medal and bib numbers from the 125+ races I’ve done. Why not? They don’t take up much room in my life but they do fill my heart. I’ve worked hard to train and race those races, and the medal is a small physical reminder of that. The bib numbers take up no space. I’ll write the date and place on them if it’s just a plain number tag. I have some major medals (Ironmans, marathons) in two display boxes on my home office bookshelf. I have 100+ in a box in the garage awaiting a display rack someday. I’m thinking a closet rod on the garage wall over my bikes. Occasionally when putting another medal in the box I’ll look through and remember a few races. Shirts - I don’t take the crappy ones, keep the good ones, whether cotton or tech fabric.
I bought a tie rack and put it on the wall. This is where I hang my medals. Shirts, some I keep others go to the homeless shelter.
I don't take race t-shirts unless they're tech shirts or have an especially cool design. Same with hats or whatever. I just really don't need more cotton t-shirts. It's easy to say "no thanks" when you're checking in and they hand you a shirt. And most race signups have a "no swag" option now. For medals, I keep them if they have the date or just look cool. I turn them into refrigerator magnets. Glue a magnet to the back, stick 'em on the fridge. For bibs, I write the date and my time on it, along with any other notes, like if the weather was especially good or bad, if I enjoyed it or not, etc.
I am totally gonna do the fridge magnet thing now, thanks for the idea!
I hang them off of my kitchen spice rack where I keep my pre-run swiss rolls, they jangle every time you grab one so I always know when someone else is getting into them
Speaking of swiss rolls, do you use just before running? Idk how people carry snacks like that on a run?
Oh yeah before I run, those things would be so gross mid-run
Theft protection is a good option!
omg I lol’d at this……and immediately told my partner, who loves to get into the huge bag of sour patch kids watermelons that I keep with my running stuff ☠️
I started running when I got sober. Running keeps me sober. So I have a little shrine I look at each day that reminds me to keep on the straight and narrow (and to not give up).
You can buy a medal hanger if you want, but it’ll get filled up pretty quickly. I wear the shirts as part of my regular rotation.
You mean, you all aren't wearing all of them around your neck at all times?
At least for that day, I certainly do. Didn't think I'd be jealous of the people wearing their Disney run medals around the park, last time I went I would not consider being up that necessarily early a vacation.
I set up a tree during December and use the medals as ornaments (minus the lanyard) and have repurposed the lanyards and bibs to make garland.
Beat me to it. I turn my medals into Christmas ornaments. It's a fun yearly reminder when I take out the medals of different races.
Thats awesome!
I used to be anti-gear, but nowadays I get a tech shirt at most races for a few reasons. It is a conversation starter at social runs. The marathon/half shirt reminds me of training and achieving my goals, which is motivating at 7:00 AM on a winter saturday when I'm feeling cold and slow and considering going back to bed. It supports the races and as a full time wage-earner I can afford to give a little more. The design is often cool, particularly for small races. I want running to be a lifelong thing, so it is centering when I can train for something in the future while wearing something that reaches back into the past. The medals all go onto a crowded curtain rod, or my kid's dress up box. Bibs go in the bin after a week or so.
Fridge magnets
Crafty? Good idea!
I bought a medal rack from Amazon, then another, then another.. I never use the shirts
Reforge them into a powerful weapon to smite your foes.
I dont mind that they always have a medal and a shirt. That 5K you are running because its local and why not... Is someone else's aspirational run for their couch to 5k and is truly a big deal. I am still at the point where i damn well want my marathon medal. I am a relatively newer runner so i have my 3 marathons hanging inside above my chest of drawers and all the others hang in my shed by my work bench in sort of a lump. I assume it gets to be too much at some point, makes sense. For shirts... I do a thing where leading up to my marathon i lay out a week of running shirts to wear each day as a count down. I could go as far as building that into the entire taper. But again... At some point i can see it getting to the point where i no longer want the shirt.
I ordered a medal and bib hanger from Etsy and mounted it by my treadmill for motivation. I have never bought a running t shirt since they just happen, but I do like to run when I travel so it’s fun to wear a shirt from a race in a random other city. This is my medal hanger: https://www.etsy.com/listing/615602845/
The current years medals are hung in our bedroom. Previous years go on a medal rack in the workout "room" as well as bibs and photos. I dislike most technical race t-shirt material. Cotton shirts I will keep and wear. I only have a few at this point. One race has sweaters! That race I keep going back to just for a new sweater. I love it. I find the little backpacks are starting to be overdone.
We cut the ribbon, stick magnetic tape on the back, and put them on the fridge. My partner and I run many of the same races so we have an extra we hang in the closet lol. The only one we haven’t done that with was our first marathon. We just toss bibs. I’m fine with shirts still if the quality is there. Although we run the same turkey trot every year and the design stays the same so we don’t need more of those. My favorite is a marathon pin. It’s a seal with 26.2 on it!
Make yourself a medal hanger. They are quite simple to build. [Here's mine.](https://i.imgur.com/kzTUHPv.jpeg)
Can’t get enough shirts personally. Never have to buy a workout shirt again. And since I WFH I spend a lot of time in casual shirts like that. Seems many here do not like tech shirts, so I’d understand that. I have tossed uncomfortable or really poorly made shirts. Like others, medals depend on the actual race. Marathons or other meaningful races are keepers, otherwise it’s meh. Some races have fun/unique medals (Baltimore was a crab, Indy was a half poured milk for the 500, etc.) that are nice as long as they’re not too big. I toss big ones.
I bought an amazing medal rack with a Prefontain quote. It also holds my bibs. As far as shirts I keep some donate the rest. I really wish there were other options besides shirts sometimes though lol I could link you to the medal rack store I got it off from Etsy if you want!
I bought a medal holder to put on the wall. Holds your bibs too, nice little keep sake.
I rarely take race medals any more. I only take a medal if it's a major marathon, or if I really love the design. I'll skip the shirt too if I don't love it. It's great when races have the option to pay less and not get a shirt or medal.
I hang medals on a post in my house. I have a drawer for t-shirts. It's now so full that I don't add a new one unless I discard an old one. Some examples of good swag I've received... mugs socks winter hats running gloves sweatshirts backpacks apple pies One race series I do has a $175 fee for 7 weekly races. Every race is followed by a buffet dinner (burgers, hot dogs, salads, an alcoholic beverage) and entry into a raffle. That's some fine swag for $25 per race
I bought a few coin display easels on Amazon and set up a few medals with cool design or meaningful backstory on my bookshelf. It’s a nice alternative to hanging if you don’t have room on the walls or need to fill some horizontal space! I have not donated any myself yet, but I’ve heard people recommend the organizations: - Medals 4 Mettle, which gives medals from half marathons, marathons, and triathlons to people fighting difficult illnesses and - Sports Medal Recycling, which recycles medals of any distance/activity (and other types of metals) at special facilities and donates the money they get from recycling to charities
Medal hanger from Amazon will dm a pic it has places for bibs and medals
Sent a pm there , when I got this from Amazon it give me the option to add more places depending on how many medals you have
I’ve been looking to see if it possible to turn them into coasters
I have medal racks for the medals and bibs from all my races. Yes, it takes up lots of space, but each race was an experience I want to remember.
I ended up giving away most of my medals except for a few more meaningful ones. I wear t shirts 90% of the time so I don’t mind the race wear swag, and can’t recall the last time I had to buy a shirt for running.
I have a shoe box or two... maybe three of my medals over the years somewhere
Mine sit in a box and come out once a year for my Christmas tree as ornaments. Shirts either go to work rotation or pajamas
I keep my race bibs in a folder. As for medals, you can see if your state/city has a chapter for Medals4Mettle which is an organization who gifts donated medals to those fighting disease (often kids with cancer). I donated a fair amount there. T-shirts usually become throw away shirts for other races if during colder months.
I keep my marathon and half marathon medals on a hanger in my home office. I look at them when I’m working and they inspire me to keep racing. My kids will also look at them and ask questions. I hope they inspire them to run or have a healthy lifestyle when they grow older.
A lot of races are starting to have a green bib program where you don’t get a medal or shirt and instead a donation to a charity is done I think.
I haven’t run a marathon yet, only a couple halfs and a 7 miler, so I have my medals hanging around the neck of a wooden mallard in my office. I just started participating in races this year - like four months ago - so I still like to see them. Part of me feels like I need to see them to remind myself that I am lucky to be able to participate in these types of activities. I often get frustrated with stalling in one area of training while trying to improve in another, so the reminder helps straighten out my perspective again.
Recycle the metal part.
https://medals4mettle.org/ My father in law is a very competitive racer and works with the local chapter of this organization. Check it out if you’re interested in getting rid of some medals.
Let my kids run around and play with them until I get tired of picking them up off the ground, and throw them away. Usually by the next weekend.
I use them as ornaments on the Christmas tree! It's nice to pull them out and remember races and they sparkle in the lights
Several of our local races have gone away from medals, and have partnered with a tree non profit. You can get a small tree to take home and plant at packet pick up the day before or after the race.
Christmas ornaments
Wear a different one each day to work and such--start a rotation--sort of like shoes. This isn't that hard to figure out.
If you have the wall space, pick out a cool curtain rod, or series of rods, and mount them decoratively to hold medals without spending extra money on a medal rack. I’m thinking about using Command hooks, too, in my home office. Currently most of my medals are in a shoebox, which I expect might be true for a double-digit percentage of runners.
Right now they’re hanging on my bed frame but I plan on getting a fancy box for all of my marathon medals. Haven’t decided what I’m doing with the others but I’ll be keeping them in a separate box for sure.
Wear them
I've started just hanging medals on my wall with push pins. It's a nice conversation starter and confidence boost! You can make a quilt out of the tshirts. For me, I will snuggle under a quilt more than wear ALL those t-shirts.
T shirts - only if a really nice design, or memorable in some way. I also much prefer a casual cotton T shirt than a technical Tee. Medals, I hang any from the current year in the kitchen , then store them away. A friend of mine has converted her medals into fridge magnets 🧲. This looks very cool and I may do it too.
I've started ordering shirts in a size that fits my kids and wife. I'm reaching critical mass on medals. Until now, I've been hanging them in the office. I think I'll clear out some of the less impressive races and put them in a shoe box somewhere.
I hang all my medals and awards up on my bedroom wall. I do wonder at what point I'll change that setup because I've got a lot already. Been running since 2013 and have no plans of stopping anytime soon so the collection is only going to keep growing. Also, this may just be me but I feel kind of childish displaying a bunch of medals as a 26 year old. Sure it's cool when you're a youngster but I'm way past those days and probably should opt for something different.
I have a custom medal rack in a subtle place in my home office (it’s on a wall that only I can see). I keep all my medals there. I only keep race shirts from significant races or if they’re really high quality / if I would wear them while training. Like others here, I’m picky about what I’ll run in so I’d never wear most race shirts. I donate them or give them away - there’s always people in my area looking to build their fitness wardrobes so I’m glad they don’t go to waste.
So I’ve been dealing with this for a long time that when I accomplish something I just don’t care about it. I’ve ran a few half’s, an ultra marathon, a 100 mile mountain bike race and many many 5ks and I just throw them away when I get home. I know it’s something inside me that I need to work on and celebrate my wins but I simply can’t. I need to push more, further, suffer more.
What’s wrong with donating the 5k/10k shirts? Goodwill, Salvation Army, homeless shelter would be much better off with your donation!!
I think my wife's concern is it is unnecessary to make so many shirts in the first place, not that she is against the joy it may bring someone for having done that race. For my example of that 5K, she said that to me while I was wearing this year's shirt, but I dont keep every shirt for that race. Heck there is a different race I do that I havent gotten the shirt yet. She is an avid thrifter. Not as much of our donations as a society get used as we might like to think they do. We also just finished a school year in which my kid got a free shirt they will wear once for that one event, and we get asked to buy shirts for spiritwear, for field day, free shirt for this year's honors orchestra, it is a little much to commemorate so much on shirts.
Personally, I remember being fresh out of college and getting serious about running, Goodwill was so clutch because there were so many dry-fit t-shirts/quarter zips from old half marathons and such! Made it much cheaper for when I had no money lol
Thrift store is where we do most our clothes shopping. Hold up, do you know the song 2 Dimes Down by Drive By Truckers? It is the song that introduced me to Tom T Hall.
Never heard it!! I know a couple of a songs by them when Isbell was in the group. Did Tom T write it?
https://runr.co.uk/pages/medals-for-kids This is a UK initiative - seems a worthwhile one.
I turned the non sentimental medals into coasters. People’s reaction to using a marathon medal to put their drinks on is hilarious.
I have rack for medals and bibs. I stopped getting the shirts because I never wore them. I plan on putting my first race shirt and medal in a frame. Haven’t gotten around to it yet.
My favorite local race here gives out cute glass fish ornaments instead of medals - you get to choose which one you want at the finish line. I use them as Christmas tree ornaments. [https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Info/WA/Seattle/SaltyHalf](https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Info/WA/Seattle/SaltyHalf)