Sportives and finisher medals

a_shed

Why don't all sportives offer finisher medals, like other non-cycling events (running, triathlon etc)?
Audax events allow you to cover the cost of providing one, which I am happy with as it keeps costs down, and it allows you to have a momento of a tough 200/300K challenge.
I did the Camlough60 in March and they gave out very nice medals, and excellent food, and still it's a charity event.
I know the WW200 give nice finisher medals.

Does anyone know of other sportives that do the same?

py

The Reservoir Dog/Pup had magnificent medals last September.

run_Forrest_run

In my opinion medals are an utter waste. Unless I come in the top 3 of a race would I like a medal.
Keep costs down, keep things simple, provide good grub and good stewards and that's all you need.

sullivlo

Great Dublin Bike Ride does medals.

I think that if it's a big/popular/challenging sportif then there might be a case to have an optional medal. Something that you click yes to when registering and pay a fee for.

When I first started cycling I loved the free stuff and goodie bags. But now my drawer is stuffed with jerseys and buffs and tshirts that don't get worn. I can see the attraction to a new cyclist/a challenging sportif you're doing for the first time, but when I got my first GDBR (60km distance) I had already completed a 200km cycle. It seemed a bit... meh.

That's not to take away from anyone's achievements. Everyone is fantastic for taking part and pushing themselves. But I felt a bit of a fraud for doing a route that barely had me break a sweat.

However I love the medal I got for my triathlon last year.

a_shed

Think you're missing the point run_forrest_run, sportives are not races, so there is no top 3.

68 lost souls

a_shed wrote: »

Why don't all sportives offer finisher medals, like other non-cycling events (running, triathlon etc)?
Audax events allow you to cover the cost of providing one, which I am happy with as it keeps costs down, and it allows you to have a momento of a tough 200/300K challenge.
I did the Camlough60 in March and they gave out very nice medals, and excellent food, and still it's a charity event.
I know the WW200 give nice finisher medals.

Does anyone know of other sportives that do the same?

Not all Triathlons do, they have become more popular as the sport becomes more "mainstream" and opens to the wider group of people looking to achieve the milestone of completing rather than racing the national circuit.

As for sportives there is a mixture of some wanting to keep the price as low as possible or donating all proceeds to charity vs those that are commercial ventures or those that are aimed at the more general public such as the Dublin Bike ride which is targeted towards getting Joe Soap up on the bike.

If someone wants to do a sportive and get a medal there are plenty they can choose from to do if that is the draw but others target a different audience or have a different marketing tehcnique

HivemindXX

I can see why some people want a souvenir and why others think they are a waste. If you do want one, the Westportif has a nice one. I'd attach a picture but I seem to have mislaid mine. It's in the shape of a chainring so if you sharpened it a bit it would double as a ninja throwing star.

iwillhtfu

Medals are a waste of time IMO I do like the DCT medal though but I have a number of them at home and other than race day I don't think I've looked at them since.

Last year at the outlaw half they gave out paper weights (eventually) totally random.

On the tour de burren they gave out a bag which although crap quality has been used several times since. I'd prefer this over anything else. I do like the medal on the big events Mick Byrne and WW200 for nostalgia alone but probbaly another one to be lost in the closet.

I think for a charity sportive I'd rather see all monies going to the charity but in saying that an awful lot of people sign up for the bling and generally it's crowds you need to be successful.

Macy0161

I think I like a medal, and to be honest just a poxy cert from the RoK kinda pee'd me off after the hassle and cost of getting into that sportive. A few of the tri's I've done/ am doing have the T shirt optional, but I generally go for it (as I did for the WW200 and RoK jersey's).

I liked the WW200 medal as well, but then they gave the same medal to those that did the 100. They didn't earn it!

smacl

HivemindXX wrote: »

I can see why some people want a souvenir and why others think they are a waste. If you do want one, the Westportif has a nice one. I'd attach a picture but I seem to have mislaid mine. It's in the shape of a chainring so if you sharpened it a bit it would double as a ninja throwing star.

Sounds nice, and vain that I am I do love a nice bit of bling after a hard day out.
Apart from the aforementioned Reservoir Dog, the Etape Hibernia had a pretty nice medal too, and I'm quite fond of my sole audax medal. It does kind of nark me at times that the relatively few hard fought for medals I've won in competitive sport all look pretty poxy by comparison to some of the nicer medals I've got for participation events but such is life.

Plastik

What do ye do with the medals afterwards, are they on display at home?

seanin4711

no medals
awesomely organized event
€15.
keep the cost down.

RayCun

These things usually depend on how often you do/have done this kind of event.

One sportive a year? You probably want a souvenir of some sort

First few you do? Ditto

Because, for those people, finishing feels like an accomplishment and they like to have a tangible reminder/recognition of that accomplishment.

After you've finished a few sportives, finishing another one doesn't seem so important, so people tend to care less about getting a reward.

(why medals? because medals are cheap and easy to buy in)

ednwireland

Don't want medals sportives are too expensive as it is
Give me a well signed route and a veggie sandwich at the end.

robyntmorton

I have the GDBR 16 medal and my event number on my memory board. It means something to me as it was my first sportive, and holds a sense of achievement with it.

I'm sure it will get to a point where it is just another event, and the souvenir will not be as important, but the first is special enough.

smacl

Plastik wrote: »

What do ye do with the medals afterwards, are they on display at home?

Old tupperware box that is also used for spare change and other bits of random junk left lying around. Some of the blingy ones are being worn by various of my daughters teddys around the house and in the attic. Who knew Winnie the Pooh finished the WW200

terrydel

a_shed wrote: »

Why don't all sportives offer finisher medals, like other non-cycling events (running, triathlon etc)?
Audax events allow you to cover the cost of providing one, which I am happy with as it keeps costs down, and it allows you to have a momento of a tough 200/300K challenge.
I did the Camlough60 in March and they gave out very nice medals, and excellent food, and still it's a charity event.
I know the WW200 give nice finisher medals.

Does anyone know of other sportives that do the same?

The w200 medals are awful school sports day type things.

martyc5674

My kids like getting medals for kids runs etc(they are aged 6&8). I think it's great for them to encourage them etc etc.
I as an adult however don't want to come home from a sportive with more shi+e than I brought with me whether it be medals jerseys bags, bags of shi+e,gels, bum cream etc etc!
(Although I've never actually gotten bum cream in a goodie bag )
Marty.

Boscoirl

The Ring Of Beara medal is a nice piece of kit.

I have a wall in the Garage where I put any memorabilia from any sportive I do up it's a nice reminder

Wishbone Ash

I'm much more interested in getting something to eat at the end of a sportive to power me home than a medal or certificate (which I find a bit embarrassing to be presented with).

Beasty

Plastik wrote: »

What do ye do with the medals afterwards, are they on display at home?

I tend to lend mine to a museum.......







:pac:

Jimoslimos

I'd imagine you'd need a quarry working overtime for a Paris-Roubaix sportive.

Had a look and you can get a cobblestone souvenir trophy!
http://www.parisroubaixchallenge.com/en/the-race/registrations

Lumen

sullivlo wrote: »

Everyone is fantastic for taking part and pushing themselves.

No they're not. They're just doing a hobby that they enjoy.

I find supermarket shopping a total PITA. It takes a lot of motivation to get it done but results in my family being able to eat. Should Tesco be handling out medals at the till? Round of applause as I return the trolley?

I've done some running events and the amount of spectator clapping is embarrassing. You'd think I was carrying a child from a burning building, not just doing a totally normal thing for a human.

The whole thing seems feeble-minded.

RayCun

I know lots of people give out about medals, but that's the first time I've heard a complaint about spectators clapping!

Your "Internet grump 2017" award is in the post

Macy0161

RayCun wrote: »

Your "Internet grump 2017" award is in the post

Certificate or medal?

RayCun

ht9zni1gs28crp

The whole medal thing is very embarrassing from non-competitive style events....

Macy0161

Just as an aside, there was a thread about goodie bags/ t's on the tri forum. The clubs defend the price of entry to pay for the goodies as saying it's the one off's box tickers that they make their money.

As to whether you value you medals certs etc. I suppose it also depends on where you are coming from. First WW200 does mean something to me. Not sure the second one would. I'm sure the attraction will wear off as I do more events. It didn't enter my head after the 3 Peaks the other week whether there was one or not.

I'd 100% take the treasure a trophy/ medal/ Strava kudos' if I did the Roubaix Challenge, or the Flanders sportif though!

Eponymous

RayCun wrote: »

I know lots of people give out about medals, but that's the first time I've heard a complaint about spectators clapping!

Your "Internet grump 2017" award is in the post

He probably doesn't want that either. Something to do with it just being a hobby he enjoys...

Idleater

Lumen wrote: »

.... the amount of spectator clapping is embarrassing. You'd think I was carrying a child from a burning building, not just doing a totally normal thing for a human.

The whole thing seems feeble-minded.

Having been woken up after being out on the beer (both) mornings that the "ironman " cycle passed our house by the neighbours kids, we cheered and clapped every participant along. Pro to Fred, we got many more waves back than "don't look at them you'll crash".

Each to their own but I certainly wouldn't tell someone not to bother supporting someone else's achievements, even if to them it's normal.

Back on topic, I use my L'Eroica beer bottle opener medal probably all too frequently. But I wouldn't dismiss an event if they didn't give medals. The Raid Pyrenees medal is totally not worth it compared to the event.

smacl

Lumen wrote: »

Should Tesco be handling out medals at the till?

Don't know about Tesco, but tougher venues like IKEA most certainly. A full circuit there in the 'peloton' at the regulation 1.5kph demands some pretty serious stamina. Won't be doing that again. :pac:

thejaguar

martyc5674 wrote: »

(Although I've never actually gotten bum cream in a goodie bag )
Marty.

I did once. To be honest it was better and more useful than most of the crap I've gotten.

Lumen

Idleater wrote: »

Each to their own but I certainly wouldn't tell someone not to bother supporting someone else's achievements, even if to them it's normal.

I'm not telling anyone not to bother. I'm just stating my opinion that it's ridiculous.

I would actually like to be clapped for finishing a marathon, as long as I didn't walk it. Maybe a half marathon. But not any kind of "mini-marathon".

I do understand that some people have overcome great personal limitations to achieve these small things. The difficulty is that you can't distinguish those people unless they're clearly labelled or properly wonky, which they rarely are.

I think maybe my problem (other than being a generally miserable crank) is that I don't like mass-participation events. For me the Evil 200 is the pinnacle of righteousness in people challenging themselves on bicycles, and not really because of the physical challenge. It's because it's small, local, personal, unashamedly vague and pointless, and requires self-reliance. And there is probably no bloody clapping.

RayCun

(pencils in Evil 200 on diary, packs hand cream, throat lozenges, and hand-made sign)

There are lots of reasons to applaud though
(Wow, you're really fast)
(I can see you're really pushing yourself)
(I can tell that you don't do this very often, but still, here you are, giving it your best shot)
(I know it hurts but you're almost done, keep it up)

I usually appreciate the shout myself, unless I'm having a very bad day, and all of the above - maybe not the first! - have applied to me at various times, so I'm happy to pass it on.

cdaly_

Plastik wrote: »

What do ye do with the medals afterwards, are they on display at home?

"Beware of the leopard"...

py

Lumen wrote: »

I'm not telling anyone not to bother. I'm just stating my opinion that it's ridiculous.

I would actually like to be clapped for finishing a marathon, as long as I didn't walk it. Maybe a half marathon. But not any kind of "mini-marathon".

I do understand that some people have overcome great personal limitations to achieve these small things. The difficulty is that you can't distinguish those people unless they're clearly labelled or properly wonky, which they rarely are.

I think maybe my problem (other than being a generally miserable crank) is that I don't like mass-participation events. For me the Evil 200 is the pinnacle of righteousness in people challenging themselves on bicycles, and not really because of the physical challenge. It's because it's small, local, personal, unashamedly vague and pointless, and requires self-reliance. And there is probably no bloody clapping.

I'd probably classify the running vs cycling events a little different. I'd put events like Wicklow 200 or Ring of Kerry as the cycling version of doing a marathon whereas I'd probably class the shorter routes on sportives similar to doing a mini marathon. The Evil 200 (and audax events) I'd put in the same class as ultra running where there's a smaller field of super fit individuals where it's about the physical/mental challenge rather than the fanfare of a marathon/sportive. That's just how I'd look at them, other people may be different.

A medal is a nice little memento and if I decide to do longer audax, I'd probably throw the extra few quid in to have a medal for each of the distances (200/300/400 etc)

Plastik

Tesco give you those blue disks - sort of like a medal?

RayCun

py wrote: »

The Evil 200 (and audax events) I'd put in the same class as ultra running where there's a smaller field of super fit individuals where it's about the physical/mental challenge rather than the fanfare of a marathon/sportive.

Getting way off topic, but longer does not equal fitter

There are plenty of overweight ultra runners, I'm sure the same is true of audax cyclists.

Lumen

RayCun wrote: »

Getting way off topic, but longer does not equal fitter

There are plenty of overweight ultra runners, I'm sure the same is true of audax cyclists.

That depends on your definition of fitness.

Audax fitness might be defined as being as fat as possible whilst being able to finish inside the time limit.

RayCun

Lumen wrote: »

That depends on your definition of fitness.

Audax fitness might be defined as being as fat as possible whilst being able to finish inside the time limit.

Feck that then, no medals for them!

koutoubia

To half qoute either myself or RobFowl from a few years back in a similar thread........
'Stuff the medals. Cocaine and Hookers at the end of a Sportive is the way forward'.

eeeee

Don't see the point of medals for non competitive events personally. Would a photo not commemorate the effort better? There are photographers everywhere!

However the more people that shout at me when I'm pursuiting the better. I credit a bit of my medal to people shouting at me whilst I was absolutely dying with half a lap to go last year (actually I died during the whole thing. It's a miracle I'm here at all :pac: ).

NamelessPhil

Now this is a medal. It would serve as rapper's bling, rather in the manner of Flavor Flav. It's pretty heavy but having ridden 1230km to get it I'm happy enough.

The Audax medals are pretty enough particularly the Randonnuer 5000. They're useful for show and tell sessions in school in an emergency.

Don't Chute!

NamelessPhil wrote: »

Now this is a medal. It would serve as rapper's bling, rather in the manner of Flavor Flav. It's pretty heavy but having ridden 1230km to get it I'm happy enough.

The Audax medals are pretty enough particularly the Randonnuer 5000. They're useful for show and tell sessions in school in an emergency.

Ah here, that's just showing off!😉

magicbastarder

jaysus, a medal for ending up back where you started.

thesimpsons

I'd have loved a medal for the first tri I ever did. huge personal achievement for me to get to finish line. loads of events later (for which I have lots of finisher medals) I'd still love to have a finishers one for that first one. All now on display in garage with various finishers certs - when I'm pissed off with training they give me a gee up

I think the supporters clapping in people and calling out their names are great help. Often (actually always) I'm dying at finish line, people are often dressed and leaving by the time I get to finish, but its great to have someone cheer you in.

OleRodrigo

Plug for the CK1000 medal. Yep, the green in the middle matches the ribbon

07Lapierre

My advise is Always take the medal!

I did the Marmotte in 2012. Suffered big time on Alp D'huez and was reduced to tears at one point! When I finished I felt/knew I could do better so I didn't take the medal.

Went back in 2013. Better prepared and felt confident only to be beaten by the extreme heat and abandon with less than 10k to go!

Went back again in 2014.. weather was perfect, my preparation was good and I finally got to finish the event feeling I gave it everything! I queued for almost a half hour but I was not leaving without a medal this time!

P.s. The medal is displayed proudly in the bottom drawer of my wardrobe!

hinault

Given the choice, I prefer a certificate compared to a medal.

eeeee

Weepsie wrote: »

Some of those sports photographers chare extortionate prices

The cost of their equipment, travel, insurance etc. Then add the processing, for longer events they'd be there all day, seems fair enough.
All that said I've never bought a photograph, but of all the things you could get to commemorate a thing if I had to choose I'd pick that.
There are fantastic photographers who give their time and images for free racing, so I guess I'm spoilt. You can't beat a good pain face!

OleRodrigo

Weepsie wrote: »

That's a nice one, shame i chickened out

It is a shame. Hope you're feeling very bad about yourself.