"Medal" in My Affairs

It was November 1977 when I received my first medal. That was when our high school cross country team won the district meet. It was a big deal to me at the time because unless you were the overall winner, the only other way to achieve one was for your team to come in first place. At the time, medals were these tiny things seemed too small to take out of their plastic case - unless you were an uber jock and could put more than one onto your letterman jacket. We’ve come a long way since then. Medals are now typically given to every participant in most larger races. Nor are they the miniscule any longer. They stand out now like huge obelisks, denoting the significance of a particular run, often emblazoning the boldest of designs.

My “man cave” has two different wall displays that hold most of my medals, encompassing over thirty years of running (with a serious gap from 1994 to 2017). However, in viewing them, it’s clear that not all medals are created equal. Some are impressive with stunning designs and colors that stand out on the display. There are also others that, to be less charitable, fall under the heading of “what were they thinking.”

It’s my pleasure to share several medals that I find unique for a number of reasons that I’ll explain as we go along.

First up, coming from the “We Were So Young” category is that first medal I received as a junior in high school when we won District. Like some obsessed collector of action figures, I’m not sure this one’s ever been out of its case. Let’s hope that it doesn’t crumble into dust if that protective seal is ever broken.

Next up is the “Now This is How You Do It!” category. Call me a traditionalist, but if someone were to ask me what I think of as a perfect medal, this one from the 2019 Capital Pursuit is damned tough to beat. Bright colors on the ribbon and medal that let you know everything you need to know. The race? It’s there. The distance? Of course! The date? No problem. And the size is perfect. Having this around your neck fits the criteria of standing out in a good way and doesn’t create neck strain if you have to walk several blocks to your vehicle or to Exile Brewery (where this race holds a nice awards ceremony!)

In the “What Were They Thinking?” category, I’m sharing what was handed out after this year’s Winter Warm Up at Gray’s Lake in Des Moines. If this new race is ever going to become a tradition in central Iowa, it’s got some work to do. I’ve already slammed their lousy tee shirts in a previous blog. This medal only compounds those mistakes. Unlike the previous example, there’s nothing about the race, distance or year. I initially thought they were handing out frozen cookies when this was handed to me. Definitely not worth melting for!

In the category of “That Worked Out Well” is this nugget from August 1990. It was when I lived in southern Oregon and actually was in decent shape. Although humbled by a college runner visiting his parents, I came in second place in this race. But most significant is that they had a drawing for a week in Hawaii. And yes, I was the lucky recipient of what became a thoroughly memorable trip. Still remember the big grin on my face when the announcer said that the winner was still in their 20’s, but not for much longer. That was all I needed to hear.

Moving over to the “Avoid Large Bodies of Water” category is this impressive medal from one of my favorite races, the Dam to Des Moines. This 20K starts at the Saylorville Dam with a sharp downhill before settling onto an appealing mixture of roads and bicycle trails before ending in downtown Des Moines. Wonderful race! But the medals? They are big, gorgeous and they are freaking heavy. A several blocks walk back to the car with one around your neck could require a chiropractor visit. And heaven help you if you were to fall into something larger than a bathtub with one of those around your neck because you are going straight to the bottom!

On the other hand, I have several lovely wooden medals. (Can I call them medals if they aren’t metal?) Consider them part of the “Flotation Device” category. Two of the three (Bend and Market2Market) are from virtual races - a topic for a future blog. But that doesn't make them less appealing. I find each of them impressive - much more than the virtual races where I earned them. And yes, if I were to somehow stumble into a body of water with any of them about my neck, my chances for survival dramatically increase!

In the “Uh No!” category when this dismal chunk of wood resides. Unlike the detailed workmanship that adorns the previous three wooden medals, this sad example from the “2021 Fueled by Fine Wine” would appear to the outcome of a few minutes with a chainsaw and sharpie. Even less impressive is that they have a cloth patch of the shoe store that sponsored this race on the other side. Although the participant medals for this race are nice, you can’t help but wonder why offer awards for age group winners if this is the best they can do?

Moving onto the “Creepy Much?” category is this one from a race organized by the same Portland shoe store that currently sponsors the “Fueled by Fine Wine” races. Don’t get me wrong. They do solid work in putting on races with really cool swag. But let’s be honest. That smiling yeti (Abominable Snowman?) is not the most inspiring of mascots. I know the poor thing is trying to be cute. But when you’re the same size as a Douglas Fir tree, covered in white fir and have no neck, any attempt at smiling just isn’t going to work. He or she (can’t tell the gender with all that fur!) would be much better off landing a role in some Holiday movie or TV special.

Let’s end this on a positive note. Coming from the “Look What You Started” category is the medal I received from the Run for the Rose back in October 2017. I know that it’s not a large medal nor the most colorful or exciting of designs. But this humble medal is one that completely changed my life by being the first medal I’d received in 24 years! Looking back, I realize winning my age group when there were only 45 runners is not that significant a feat. But at that moment, that half dollar sized medal might as well have been Olympic gold for how it felt to me. It reignited a passion for racing that had been dormant for decades. All of that makes this one very special.

Gotta say, that was fun! If you don’t mind, I may just wander through my medal collection in the future. Don’t forget that you can respond to this blog. I’d love to see some of your more interesting medals!