So, with no races on my calendar for the next few months (well, til mid-August), I decided that it was time to finally remove the race medals from the bannister and hang them on my medal hangers.
(Click for a larger version)
This is my medal collection. Sorry the photo looks blurry, but that’s actually just shadow. My first race medal was earned in September of 2010, so this is about three years of medals.
You might say that I have a problem.
People often ask me which medals are my favorite, and that’s a tough call. As you can tell, I have my runDisney medals separated from the others because I’m slightly biased. Those are some fabulous medals.
But to be honest, I really just the medals by the race. The medal on the bottom left is from the Disneyland Half in 2010. I love that medal because it was my first half marathon medal. I think it was actually my first race medal overall. I will never forget the feeling of that race. For those of you who have followed my story, I was actually registered for the Princess Half that spring, but got really sick and couldn’t run, and then that illness snowballed into my ultimate diagnosis of my heart problems and also panic disorder. It was not an awesome time in my life. So to be given the go-ahead to train was an amazing feeling. I was terrified of that 3.5 hour time limit. I wasn’t sure I could do it until around mile 10, when I realized just how much time I had left to finish. I was going to make it and that medal was going to be mine.
I love the Tinker Bell Half Medal because it was a gorgeous course and so much fun to run. And obviously, my first marathon medal will always be special.
For the non-Disney medals, it’s equally difficult. That giant surfboard medal from the Myrtle Beach Mini in 2011 is a favorite. It was a new PR for me that day and a glorious race. Hiding behind the Philly Half medal is a medal from Katie and Steve’s Wedding 5K, which will also always hold a special place in my heart.
Of course, so many of my races are run with friends and family, and so I can’t use those experiences to pick and choose my favorites. Then they would all be my favorites. I have had so many awesome experiences and met so many awesome people while earning these medals, and I can’t wait to earn even more.
You have a fabulous collection…the Disney ones are my favorite, of course! :0)
That’s a very impressive display!
I’ve been running races since 1983 — I’ve run 5k, 8k, 10k, 15k, 20k, 3 miles, 5 miles, 10 miles, and a half-marathon — and I can’t recall receiving a single medal. I have a huge number of t-shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve, technical) plus such odds & ends as a towel, a baseball cap, some cloth carry bags, and a sweatshirt, but no medals.
I’d heard of finisher medals but they were never given out in any race I’ve run. However, last summer and again this spring, my daughter received medals for running a couple of half marathons, so maybe they are beginning to catch on in this area.
Love them! I hope in 3 years I have as many as you do. Gotta love that bling.
Karen Orozco recently posted…Happy Friday-Summer!
So awesome! When did you run Philly? I volunteered last year and was handing out half medals. 🙂
Mer recently posted…Chick Chat: Who’s who? And why?
I’m putting my medal rack up today! I have a ton from my first year of running but of course, after the move it’s a hot mess. LOVE that you got to run the inaugural Tink- I did last year but wish I’d been at the first one!
Shannyn @frugalbeautiful.com recently posted…Run, Bike, Swim. I’m Doing The Iron Girl Triathlon!
Jim, I freely admit I got into running for the bling. Now they just make for nice race mementos!
Mer, I ran Philly last year. I have no recollection of who gave me my medal. Let’s pretend it was you!
Shannyn, I loved Tink! I don’t know when I will be back to run it but it is an amazing race and I hear this year was even better than last year!
Thanks for reminding me, I need to hang mine.
Abby recently posted…Dumbo Training week 8
Ooh la la! That is an AWESOME medal collection! I’m approaching filling my first medal rack and trying to figure out what to do when that happens…it’s a good problem to have! 🙂
Christine @ We Run Disney recently posted…Esprit de She Race Tonight!
Christine, I have the spacer bars from Allied Medal Hangers that I LOVE. Someone else recommended putting a curtain rod up on 3M command hooks underneath their main medal rack and adding more that way. I don’t have room to expand left to right, so I have to expand down!