Stop the meaningless medals! Please donate the money at the end of the Race.

[gummibear]

Another race, another meaningless medal. That piece of metal they give you in a little plastic packet with your lucky draw numbers is the last thing I think of when I enter a race. They are a waste of my money and totally meaningless. The guy sweating over 60km gets the same medal as the guy doing the 10km fun ride ( equality for all, I get it), handed to them by a disinterested volunteer as they cut your number board off your bike.

What is the point! These things cost money and as far as I am concerned, rather get a representative of the charity the ride may support and hand them a cheque for an amount the medals cost to make. Or give me a button during the oline entry process ("Medal", "Support Charity X" or "Entry discount")

I just want to ride the events because I enjoy them, what the hell do I need a medal for? It's not like I single handedly rescued 10 mountain bikers pinned down by enemy fire, with a Gu and a cable tie!

I got one this morning at Franschhoek and will get another one tomorrow morning. Medals are reserved for Places 1,2 and 3. Why should I get a medal for coming 20th or 210th! Is my achievement being recognised and rewared by the organisers? Hardly!

Tomorrow after the Rollercoaster I will refuse my medal, I don't know why I didn't think of this before! Must have been the Sheep gene which takes over at the Finish.

No more medals for me.

 

I have my Ironman,Comrades and Two Oceans medals framed and i enjoy looking at them every now and then.I worked hard for them,but i also have a few shoe boxes full of fun run and fun cycle medals that mean nothing.

[Stretch]

 

My Epic medals, even my podium placings at nationals and worlds (in another sport) are somewhere in a box.

 

if they mean so little why didnt you just throw them away or not accept them....the fact that they are in a box means that there is some sentiment associated there......just saying

[Zac.A]

You who want medals , go out and get them. From now on I will respectfully decline.

 

End of story.

[Stretch]

I have my Ironman,Comrades and Two Oceans medals framed and i enjoy looking at them every now and then.I worked hard for them,but i also have a few shoe boxes full of fun run and fun cycle medals that mean nothing.

 

nicely said gummi. there are certain medals that each person may look at with pride. For some it might be small in relation to others. my comrades medal (when it happens!) will be cherised!

[The Ghost]

Slightly off topic, but this is the second thread I have read where seasoned riders have said things that are actually in themselves or in their potential demoralizing to newbies to the sport, riders with physical challenges etc.

 

IMO it doesn't seem to me like a great idea to be putting people off the sport, or the forum if you care about them. The growth and sharing of the sport should be the priority.

[Tiny K]

I like last year's 99'er finishers medal. It is a keyring 'pendant' and is in the shape of the Chevrolet emblem. I have used it on my house keys - love it.

[Big H*]

Kandui, the "disinterested volunteer" is maybe a very disrespectfull and wrong description. The person is a VOLUNTEER who were up when you were still in bed to prepare the venue for race day. they most likely gave up their race to ensure things were shipshape for the day. While you were haveing a shower at home and relaxing with a lager in fornt of the TV they were still cleaning up the mess you and your fellow cyclists left behind.

 

Not very kewl your description of a very important and intergral part of your special race day. Next time let me know how you enjoyed your day as a volunteer.

[Ramrod]

i like the idea of the cost bring donated to a charity. But i also like the idea of receiving my medal for a ride where i really pushed myself. Yes the collection is getting a bit large now but there are still some medals that have meaning. Agreed the generic ones they can keep. Also dont like receiving the same medal as a guy who has done 50km when i have done 100km.

[kosmonooit]

I get miffed if I don't get a medal . Worthless as they are, its a just a token of accomplishment.

[kandui]

In response to eccentric1. The "disinterested" refers to the handing out of the medal, not the volunteer's duties assigned duties to make the event happen.

If he or she accomplishes his duties with enthusiam an gusto, well done.

Don't twist my words. Nowhere was I dissing the volunteers who are an integral part of a race. My issue was with the medals.

And don't assume to think that I litter, you know nothing about me. I thank each marshal on the course when I pass them and I keep my litter in my back pocket and put in the bin or in my car when I am done.

When I am at home and showered, nobody is cleaning up my mess because I didn't leave one. Ever!

Stick to the topic.

[Big H*]

In response to eccentric1. The "disinterested" refers to the handing out of the medal, not the volunteer's duties assigned duties to make the event happen.

If he or she accomplishes his duties with enthusiam an gusto, well done.

Don't twist my words. Nowhere was I dissing the volunteers who are an integral part of a race. My issue was with the medals.

And don't assume to think that I litter, you know nothing about me. I thank each marshal on the course when I pass them and I keep my litter in my back pocket and put in the bin or in my car when I am done.

When I am at home and showered, nobody is cleaning up my mess because I didn't leave one. Ever!

Stick to the topic.

 

You are dead right I do not know you, you may be batman or even Die Skim. Words are there to use as you have twisted my post. You may be a litterer, the same way you disrespectfully writes about volunteers.

 

I will wait for your report after you have volunteered to facilitate. Untill then you stay a user. Users are bad.

Edited February 4, 2012 by eccentric1

[kandui]

Ok, that does it for me. Get the medal from the interested volunteer and enjoy the satisfaction of your achievement.

[Big H*]

Ok, that does it for me. Get the medal from the interested volunteer and enjoy the satisfaction of your achievement.

 

You still do not get it, a veteran volunteer can spot a true user at a distance.

 

I will wait for your first report as a volunteer.

[Minion]

Your friend could have been a novice cyclist at the time and was thrilled at her achievement? The other sport you refer to she would have trained hard to win her Gold medals. I wonder what she would think of her 10th Amashova medal or 94.7? Same value?

Exactly, but by the time she gets her 9th Amashova medal (the 10th would probably be special, again), there will be other novices for whom the medal means something. Getting rid of all the medals just because you've become jaded is a bit excessive.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I think medals are great, we have been here before but none the less. I like Gummi have framed a few that mean a lot to me like my first Comrades, London marathon, etc, as I sweated blood to get them.

 

I have boxes and boxes of cycling medals, running medals and even a few for swimming but I still enjoy getting them and I write my time and the date on the back of each, every now and then I scrabble through them and look at the times, dates and it brings back memories - to me its not about getting a medal, its about getting a memento, and the day I get so jaded that I could care less about remembering a day in my life, is the time I will buy a rocking chair and start sitting on the porch with a pipe and a book, until then I'll keep taking my medal, I'll keep jotting down my times, and I'll keep remembering.

['Dale]

A medal is a symbol of achievement.

Gimme mine....

 

I do understand where 'kandui' is concerned though.