Just some of the virtual run medals I found. |
Well anyway, while cleaning out the closet I came upon several medals. These were a variety of medals from non-running events and virtual races. To sum it up, they are all medals that I do not display on my medals racks.
You can for sure understand why I don't display the non- running medals, but I don' feel like I want to display the virtual run medals either (except for one that I will talk about later). Virtual races can certainly be fun when done with a group or a running buddy. My sister and I are ambassadors for Gone For a Run and have enjoyed helping promote their virtual runs and have some fun memories from our runs together. It's fun to get a cool race shirt and a colorful bib to go do a run in. In essence, it's like a themed training run. However, I feel odd presenting myself with a medal just because I did a training run. They are cool medals but I don't think a "training run" deserves a medal. Besides, I already have enough medals from my "real races" and don't want to take up precious real-estate for the virtual race medals.
The only virtual race medal I display on my rack is my Boston Remembrance Run. I did this run the summer of 2013. My sister ran the Boston Marathon that year and I felt like I wanted to do something to honor the runners and victims. All the proceeds from the virtual race went to the bombing victims. I actually put a lot of effort into doing the 26.2 miles and got a great medal that even had my name engraved on it. I display it not because what I have achieved, but for what it represents. I would feel bad hanging it inside the closet.
How often do you run virtual races and what do you do with those medals? I once heard about an organization that you can donate unwanted medals to and they will give them to a children's charity. Does anyone know anything about that? That might be a good thing for me to do with my extra medals. -M
We will be linking up with the gals from TOTR.
I wondered about that myself - if there was a charity to give medals - if you find out, please let me know.
ReplyDeleteI actually have my virtual race medals separated myself. I actually have all my medals seperated. Like half marathons in one place - a group of medals from the same race together - my fun run medals together - my virtual race medals together. I'm really anal when it comes to certain things in life ;) haha
I did a virtual run for the wounded warrior project, so I display that one.
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly a great cause!
DeleteI just did my first virtual run, honestly, it was a little strange. it was only a 5k so no medal was involved but i do have a t-shirt. Not sure where I stand on them yet!
ReplyDeleteDid you run with a group or by yourself?
DeleteI completely understand why you display the Boston medal! I only ever ran one virtual race and opted not to receive a medal for a couple reasons. First of all, I don't even display mine, and second, I figured that would allow more of my registration fee go towards the charity. I don't know if many virtual races let you choose that or not as I only ran one.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of that before. I suspect most people do the virtual races for the medal as they are usually pretty uniquely themed!
DeleteI feel the same way about virtual medals - I did a run where you got a Hawaiian-themed medal, so of course I have that hanging up, and my husband and I did the Beat the Blerch virtual race because we couldn't do it in person, but I haven't done other virtual races because they're pretty expensive for, like you said, a training run.
ReplyDeleteI hear that Beat the Blerch is a pretty popular virtual race!
DeleteI believe the charity you're thinking of is Medals for Mettle. They'd happily accept your virtual race medals. I agree I don't have the same sense of "earning" my virtual medals. But I do them for good causes so it's all good.
ReplyDeleteYes, I like when it is for a good cause. That way you get to donate and doing the run for the extra goodies is just a bonus. Thanks for mentioning the charity.
DeleteI have around 5 virtual medals and right now I have them together on a rack with my regular ones. Not sure they belong there but that's where they are! Cleaning always sounds like a great idea until you do it :)
ReplyDeleteIf you have the room for them on your display, why not.
Deletemy current medal rack is super full and I need to hang up the extra ones I bought this weekend. I dont do many virtual races just because there are so many in person races for me to do! Along with that, i will do a virtual race if it represents a charity that is close to my heart
ReplyDeleteI agree with the charity part. I wish Guiding eyes for the blind (they raise guide dogs) would host a virtual race. I would definitely do that one!
DeleteI display my virtual race medals because I RACE my virtual races. I use them as an excuse to really push my pace and get some speed work in. Usually. Once in awhile I'll do a virtual as a training run just for the medal...and then the entire point IS the medal, so I like to display it! Usually because the only reason I signed up was that the medal was cute. I don't hang up my non-running medals, though.
ReplyDeleteI actually started out in that same mindset too. I suspect a lot of people sign up for virtual races because of the medal. I've done it before too!
DeleteI've never done a virtual run.
ReplyDeleteThe only medals I display are from my halfs. Every once in a blue moon I do a shorter race that gives out medals, but I just don't have the same attachment to them.
I can understand that.
DeleteI second Marcia's note on Medals for Mettle, although I've heard they only accept medals above a certain race distance, with the ribbons cut off? I'm not sure. Definitely worth looking into, though! I've never done a virtual run, although I have been tempted to by some of the nicer bling a few have offered!
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't know Medals for mettle would be so picky..lol
DeleteI've only run a couple of virutal races and they were for charities. I understand what you mean about not feeling like you "earn" medals for the virtual races. I do think that Boston medal is pretty special and I can see why you want to display that one!
ReplyDeleteYup, it hangs right in the middle of my medal rack!
DeleteI feel the same way about those virtual run medals. I did all those Gone For A Run races last year because they fit in nicely with marathon training. But it just felt weird to get a medal for running around my neighborhood. I'm not going to do them again.
ReplyDeleteYea, I will probably only do ones that support a charity if I do anymore.
DeleteI don't do virtual races because to me, it is not a race. Seems like the same way you feel about those races. We were offered the Gone for A Run ambassador role, but were not interested since I feel that it is just a training run. We both already have more medals than we know what to do with. However, I need to find the place where you can donate medals.
ReplyDeleteWhen we became GFAR ambassadors we actually got to review products, so that was fun. We didn't even know they did virtual races.
DeleteAwesome! It really admires! At present, i still lacks the Boston medal and i missed i. I also hope that will early reach it in the next time.
ReplyDeleteYou've never even kept one medal?
ReplyDeleteI've started sending all of my virtual medals to the little boy I was matched up with through the IRun4 organization. He loves getting them and his mom even got him a rack to display all of them along with the bibs.
ReplyDeleteI don't display my virtual race medals either. Right now they're all sitting in a drawer in my bedside table. I'm not sure what I'll do with them.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about the virtual medals, which is why I've never done a virtual race. Because I feel like it's just a training run so why bother "registering" and paying for something I would be doing anyway? Unless it's for a really great cause like your Boston race.
ReplyDeleteI've only done one virtual run so far... I don't really see the point of virtual races (when you have to run completely by yourself) unless it's free or for a good cause. The Boston medal of course is different.
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say that I loved the pictures of your medal rack and pictures on the other post! Those are so precious! It made me want to print race pictures and display my medals!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done any virtual races... just can't find one that I want to do.
I have heard that there are programs that give race medals to sick children. I think that is awesome! I really want to get a nice display for my medals but at the same time too cheap to pay a ton of money for one! I've only done a couple of virtual races but I do like the medals!
ReplyDeleteI actually don't do virtual runs because I don't want to pay extra for what would just be a training run with a medal.
ReplyDeleteDonate them to the special Olympics organization. They use them for their events the participants are beyond thrilled when they earn them in the races. If you've ever watched a special Olympic event you'd see how much joy they get in them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done a virtual race. But I probably wouldn't display them either, of course I dont display any medals short of a marathon with the exception of a few first place finisher medals I've gotten in shorter races.