Washington Ran Here, Round 2

Posted January 11th 2012 at 11:57 am by RunnersKitchen

Allow me to begin my latest curmudgeonly guest post with a digression – or, as we call it in journalism, a heavily anecdotal lede.

Between the ages of 12 and 19, I was paralyzingly in love with Stephen Sondheim musicals. In 60 years I will have forgotten the names of all my friends and family, but will still be able to recite the lyrics to A Little Night Music in toto. So, it is perhaps unsurprising that I can approach almost any situation in life with a lyric from a Sondheim musical. In this case, the one I promise I will get to in like just a hot second, the musical is Assassins (it’s about successful and unsuccessful presidential assassins). The character is Samuel Byck, some lunatic who tried to assassinate Richard Nixon. And the lyric is this: I want my prize!

Samuel Byck, meet hobby joggers. Hobby joggers, Sam Byck.

There are plenty of things that piss me off about running culture: $150 stability shoes, white compression shorts, overemphasis on marathons, Gatorade stops in a 5K, and so on. But there may be nothing – nothing! – more maddening than the impression among recreational runners that the completion of a race merits a medal.

Examples of people who should receive medals:

1. Incredibly brave soldiers. They receive National Medals of Honor.

2. Brilliant mathematicians. They receive the Fields Medal.

3. Olympic athletes. If they are top three, they receive Olympic Medals.

(Megan says: The medals might be the only appropriate thing about this photo)

Examples of people who probably don’t deserve medals:

1. You, finishing a 1:45 half marathon. Or a 3:15 marathon. Or, hell, a 2:45 marathon that you didn’t win.

 

In the interest of full disclosure (or as full disclosure as you can get in an anonymous guest blog post), I have a number of medals, both ones I’ve earned through winning or placing in races, and ones I got because I finished. And do you know where I keep them? …really? You do? Because I haven’t seen them since I got home from the races, dumped my clothes and half-eaten granola bars in the corner, and hopped in the shower. I’m decidedly not a “stuff” person, but even if I were, I’d like to believe that I still wouldn’t demand a symbol of victory for doing something in which I was not victorious. Or, should I say, I wouldn’t be a whiny bitch about not getting a medal if I didn’t win.

This topic arose recently after I read a few reports about the  missing-medal kerfuffle at the Rock ‘n Roll Las Vegas Marathon. In addition to the logistical clusterfuck (if Megan edits that last word, know that I did not self-censor) of the race, a number of half marathoners were irate because they did not get medals at the end.

I find such an attitude of entitlement repugnant, and said so on Twitter. One woman responded, saying something along the lines of, “Disagree! If you finish a marathon, you are a winner!”

No. No you are not. That guy who won is a winner. You – and this is the global you – are an also-ran. You’re John McCain. Howard Dean, if you will.

To be clear, I think the democratization of distance running is a good thing. The more people who run, get healthy, and promote road running, the better for the sport. You want to spend $150 on marathon registration as a New Year’s resolution? Mazel tov! Good for you! But, honestly, why on earth should the mere action of crossing the finish line result in anything other than a hearty pat on the back and three to four hours of brilliant, if painful, memories? I mean, is there any other activity we do, as adult human beings, in which prizes are compulsory?

Answer: no. And if you answered yes, let’s be clear, it’s just someone blowing smoke up your ass. And if there’s anything more irritating than smoke up my ass, it’s a bush league medal around my neck.

(Megan says: Leave a comment if you think Sarah should guest post more often. <3)

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  • http://www.insightfulappetite.com sofia

    i had no idea that medals were so desired. i usually just throw mine out after a week or so. meh.

    still hilarious, miss washington ran here, blogging on your own or on RK. let’s make this a regular thing, shall we?

    PS curmudgeon + musicals don’t really mix. please explain.

  • http://twitter.com/Nemtynakht Tracy M.

    Word. I’m SO with you it hurts, Sarah. I do know where my medals are (well, most of them, anyway): in a box at the bottom of a closet. I think.

  • http://angryrunner.wordpress.com/ AR

    Yes. This.

    I know I told you guys this but I ran a half this fall and the race director told the crowd “we bought you all finishers medals so we didn’t have the money for age group awards.” I found this kind of puzzling. And it isn’t because I gave a fuck (I don’t. And I won’t even name the race because it was a really nice event for the most part. Most of my awards are in a box, though I have left some of the more interesting ones out. But then again, I also have a stuffed pig sitting on my shelf. My decor is somewhere between “still lives like a college student” and “escaped mental patient.”), but its because it seemed like a strange priority. This race raised money for a charity and was point to point. Instead of getting more buses or something that would help with logisitics they blew thousands of dollars on medals that they’d ENGRAVE for free. You got a medal regardless of whether you won the half marathon or walked a 50 minute 5k. The exact same, expensive medal that broke their budget. 

    Strange. 

  • Anonymous

    speaking of “still lives like a college student decor”, i just put christmas lights around my water pipes. yeah.

  • http://www.runforyourlifeblog.com/ Emilia @ Run for Your Life

    I think medals are nice for big events like the NYC Marathon– not only are you paying a lot to run it, but most of the serious runners actually had to qualify to run it. I guess they are expected at most full marathons, but I don’t think medals are really necessary. I remember when people got all up in arms about the 2011 NYC Half lottery, people were saying they wouldn’t consider the Manhattan or other borough halves because of the lack of medals. Seriously? I’d take an $18 medal-less half over a $117 one…I’ll live with never having run through Times Square.

  • http://angryrunner.wordpress.com/ AR

    I have a fireplace in my new apartment. I should get like…chili pepper lights for it. 

  • http://betsyagogo.wordpress.com/ Betsy

    Sarah. You are my favorite. Ever. You deserve a medal for this post. 

    Geez…people are way to into their medals. I kinda get nervous that one year a family member is going to get me one of those stupid medal holders for christmas or my birthday. And then I’m going to have to put it up every time they come to my apartment and pretend to be a medal person. I care a hell of a lot more about my race performance than my medal. 

    Please post more. I miss your blog. A lot. 

  • Marathonlar

    When I run races I only run for one person…ME, so when I cross the finish line I like receiving the medal as a token of my accomplishment!  I am not a super fast runner and will probably never place at any races but that doesn’t matter.  I don’t care that 45,000 other runners also got a medal at the Chicago marathon last year…I’m VERY proud of the one I received and will display it with pride!

  • http://twitter.com/Moultgard Kristen M

    I’m not fast (my half PR is slower than a 1:45) so I have no chance of ever getting an AG award unless it is a REALLY small 5 or 10K that I specifically train for…I train as hard as I can and I run to the best of my ability. In no way do I think I deserve a medal for that. And I have to be honest- I kind of hate the medals. I don’t know what to do with them, I think most of them are ugly, and I’d rather a race spend that money on better food at the end or a race shirt that fits or a donation to charity.

    To me, a medal is just another thing that I feel terrible about throwing in the garbage.

  • anonymous

    Forgive me, but this seems an awfully cynical take on life disguised as a rant against race traditions. I think medals at the end of a race, just like diplomas or certificates upon graduation, are symbols of achieving something great that someone has worked for. The diploma does not = top of the class, it = passed. It equals, congratulations, you did it! Certainly this is not a perfect analogy, and race medals, as you say, are not compulsory, but I don’t understand why they make you feel so enraged. I do not believe that people who complete races (like marathons) are delusional enough that when they receive a medal at the end they think they have won. On the contrary, I think they understand that they have recieved a finisher’s medal; a memento of what is, frankly, a significant accomplishment. Something they have worked for for many months if not longer, and finished with gusto by crossing the finish line. There is nothing wrong with being given a symbol of accomplishment when you achieve something great -  it is nice to have something tangible to look to in addition to holding onto memories in your mind and body.

    So while I don’t think there is much lost in the absence of a medal, I certainly don’t think it is entitled to feel proud wearing that symbol around your neck after finishing 26.2. The “irrate” half-marathoners missing their medals are equally repugnant, to me, as your vitriolic diatribe against them.

  • Courtney

    I have to disagree with you, somewhat. I don’t think it’s necessary for a medal for a 5k or 10k (I got one recently and was like SERIOUSLY??) but I do think that a half marathon or a marathon is a big accomplishment and it’s nice to have a souvenir of the race. Do I compare my accomplishments to olympians or soldiers? Of course not. But if I spent months of my life training really hard, I like to have something to remember it by other than blisters and my pride. My body is not built to run (I’m in months of physical therapy trying to get back on the road) and I will never, ever win a race. I’ve accepted that, but I am PROUD of having run a 2:34 half marathon because I worked hard and I finished it. Slow as hell, but I finished. If people don’t want the medal, they can throw it out. But I keep mine and I want them.

  • Anonymous

    thanks for the alternative opinion. the analogy between race medals and diplomas is something i’ve never considered and it makes sense.

  • Anonymous

    i appreciate opposing perspectives. thanks for weighing in!

  • js

    I feel like you should have Sarah post more. A lot more. Very thought provoking and uprising article.

    If you run solely for the medal then maybe you run for the wrong reasons.

  • Jen

    More Sarah! I love your blog, Megan, and this guest post just adds to the reasons why. If I even take a medal at the finish line I usually lose it before leaving the race. I get that everyone races for different reasons but for me it’s not about the technical tee, medal, or brightroom photos. I’m not gonna judge those who do it for those reasons because really, what do I care? And sure those things can be fun! But it seems to be part of our “everyone is a special snowflake” culture. I think the diploma comparison was an interesting one, but not the same. The POINT of high school (or college) isn’t to have a winner. The point of a race  is, by definition. And besides, most of us aren’t quite at the running level that we need to prove we completed a 5k or 26.2 to gain employment. 

  • http://runharrietrun.com/ heather

    First of all – yes, Washington Ran Here should post here often! In fact she should start her own blog! Oh wait…

    Well, I didn’t realize people were so emotionally invested in their finishers’ medals that they’d get irate about the absence of same, but I’m probably jaded because I’ve run so many races. To me, the medals are just a nice souvenir. I keep them, but I don’t hang them in a display case or anything. Only one of them is in any way important to me; it’s from an alpine half-marathon I did in Switzerland, and I do in fact treasure it as a symbol of one of my favorite vacations ever.

    I have to agree with anonymous’ analogy with the diplomas though. Some of us can run half-marathons at the drop of a hat (I can, when I’m in good shape, i.e. not right now) but for others it’s a real struggle to get in shape and put in the miles. I can totally understand how someone might really treasure their finisher’s medal as a symbol of a great accomplishment, something they never thought they could do, regardless of their placement or finishing time.

    But yeah, getting “irate” when you don’t get a medal? That’s just dumb.

  • http://twitter.com/Nemtynakht Tracy M.

    I’d never thought of that argument. But, to be fair, I don’t know where any of my diplomas are, either!

  • http://www.melissanibbles.blogspot.com/ MelissaNibbles

    Love this. Personally, I think only the winner deserves a medal.  I’m always embarassed for people who have a race wall when they’re grown-ass adults.  You ran a race on a Saturday morning…good for you.

  • http://journeyto26miles.blogspot.com/ Alisha

    I
    have to agree with others who’ve commented that receiving a medal at the end of
    a race is a nice way to commemorate the achievement of completing a marathon or
    a half-marathon.  But, if that’s not your
    style, have you considered donating the medals you’ve received?  Medals 4 Mettle, for example, will gladly
    accept race medals and repurpose them for people who are battling
    life-threatening illnesses and severe disabilities.

  • http://bpspecial.blogspot.com/ Anna

    Re: the dissenting comments, I feel like the issue here is more with the expectation of/entitlement to a race medal rather than wanting to keep the medals around. I have received exactly 2 race medals in my life and hung both of them in my bedroom. If those races hadn’t given out medals, would I have been pissed? No way- I probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought. But since I do have them, I like to keep them around as nice reminders of hard work. And I don’t believe that there is any shame in that.

  • http://bpspecial.blogspot.com/ Anna

    PS we all miss your blog! alias, perhaps?

  • http://anotherdumbadventure.wordpress.com/ Kimra

    I could see myself getting worked up about not getting a medal I was “supposed” to get, but more because I assume that’s one of the reasons I had to pay $X to register for the race. If I paid $X but then didn’t get all of the benefits, I’d feel financially cheated, which just is something that generally irks me throughout all phases of my life. Do I need the medal in the first place? Nah, but if you’re going to use it as an excuse to charge me more, then I better get what I paid for.

    My medals are all hanging around the neck of my stuffed Monsters, Inc. Sully toy. Which sits on my dresser. And I’m about to turn 30. I … don’t even know why I just told the internet that, but I feel better now, thanks.

  • Guest

    Love this post! Certainly has shaken, not stirred, sentiments. Ultimately that’s what freedom of thought and freedom of speech are all about. Opposing perspectives are a healthy, stimulating, paradigm flexing opportunity to grow and, heaven forbid, become Mensch. But for my part I happen to agree with you Sarah. If also-rans want a souvenier for their accomplishment give ‘em a T-shirt not a medal. A T-shirt is more appropriate as it’s less expensive and will help reduce race costs/entry fees. Besides, they’re less likely to collect dust, discarded after use, or donated for a tax deduction. Medals are NOT an entitlement! They should be reserved as a high honor and only for those experiencing the Thrill of Victory, not the Agony of Da Feet! Otherwise, I want a medal for showing-up to work every day on time, staying late, and busting my ass with a smile for years without a promotion or raise ;o) Thank you very much…

  • http://sesainstride.wordpress.com Sesa

    I agree that some runners take medals way too seriously. I know someone who is doing 10 RNR races this year in order to get a bigger medal. And I think her enthusiasm for the events is great, but I think she could get a huge PR if she focused on fewer races. Plus I cannot imagine spending all that money for a medal, no matter how big it is.

    My own race medals — even the ones I won for placing at tiny events — are scattered around my apartment. My cat is probably gnawing on one right now. That said, from a professional standpoint, if a race organizer says they will give medals to finishers, finishers are entitled to one. They SHOULD feel entitled, if they are going to spend all that money on the race fee, hotel and traveling!

    Events like RNR Las Vegas have such huge price tags, and in that case participants had paid for not only a enjoyable and well-organized race, but also a glow-in-the-dark medal. I can understand why people felt frustrated when they didn’t get one.

    The only time I think a runner shouldn’t get a medal is if: 1) the race organizers didn’t say they’d give ‘em, 2) the runner didn’t show up, 3) the runner didn’t make the cut-off time.

  • http://twitter.com/megchapin Meg

    Yes to more guest posts.  Also, I bet a lot of the people who got pissed about not getting medals at RNR Vegas were probably just pissed because that race sounded like it was AWFUL and organized TERRIBLY.  But yeah, I bet some of them were entitled asshats.

  • http://RunForPi.blogspot.com Maggie

    I disagree, I feel like high school was about nothing BUT winning. You have the class president, the prom queen, the cheerleader captain, the valedictorian, etc. Everyone’s always voting or being picked as the best, etc. Plus in college you can get your diploma, but you can also get with honors – cum laude, etc. Much like in a race there are finishers medals and winners medals. 

  • http://RunForPi.blogspot.com Maggie

    Send them here instead: 
    http://medals4mettle.org/

  • http://RunForPi.blogspot.com Maggie

    No no no, hang your race medals on it!

  • Laura F Riley

    LOVE this post!! My friends all think I am a grump when I say things like this, but it’s so true! A medal from placing at a little local 5k is SO much mote rewarding to me than a finisher’s medal from a ginormous marathon I didn’t even come close to winning!

  • sarah

    I’d like to think it’s more of an argument against materialism. I have no idea where my diplomas are (in fact, I KNOW I never received the last one, something I’m kind of piqued about). Of course, if you are promised something, there is the expectation of receipt. But when your race registration includes money you are spending on your medal…gosh, that just seems kind of tawdry. I remember one race still had the medals in plastic baggies as they were handing them out to finishers. For me, it cheapened the whole experience.

  • Guest

    I think getting a medal just for finishing a race is totally appropriate – for anyone 12 years of age or younger. 

  • Anonymous

    Given how terribly that RnR Las Vegas event went, I’d be glad just to leave not ILL. That said, I do display my finisher medals… maybe it’s just because I am a relatively new runner. I can understand how vets like yourself, the guest poster, would be over them.

  • http://absolutlyfit.blogspot.com Laura

    What really kills me is when I’ve heard of people who didn’t do the race for whatever reason but still want their t-shirt. To me, that’s just like a medal – don’t wear it if you didn’t run it!

  • http://absolutlyfit.blogspot.com Laura

    I think the problem is that a lot comes down to what is a long distance FOR YOU (generic you, and caps only because I don’t know if this comment form accepts HTML for emphasis otherwise). My first race was a 5K, and I was so proud of my medal – but now I’d agree with you about it being ridiculous to provide a race for that distance. However, I’ve also run a ton of marathons now, so I consider medals for half marathons to be unnecessary. The problem is, mileage varies (no pun intended) amongst different people and what is an achievement for them.

    It’s really too bad they can’t have an “entry fee if you want a medal” and “entry fee if you don’t want a medal.” I think that would make a big difference for a lot of people, because you’d only take it when it meant something to you.

  • Anonymous

    Ok, initially, I was like “Noooo Sarah that’s just mean and sooo cynical!” After finishing a few marathons and not coming close to winning, you better believe I loved it when they placed a medal around my neck. It was a symbol not only of the accomplishment, but of the whole experience. I “earned” it through months and months of training and a good deal of pain. But that said, I don’t think people *need* objects to validate the fact that they ran 26.2 miles or any other distance. It’s just nice to have, that’s all :)

    I vote for regular guest posts!

  • http://absolutlyfit.blogspot.com Laura

    I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this (see my fairly ambiguous responses to other comments), but I DO feel strongly that Sarah should guest post often :)

  • Sara

    I’m a long time lurker, but I HAD to comment.  My name is Sara and my roommate/best friend just laughed as I read this post to her out loud and asked if I was the anonymous blogger!  I couldn’t have said it better. :)  YES PLEASE let her post more often…although, Megan, your posts are pretty fantastic themselves! :)

  • Sara

    P.S. I happen to be a Soldier and just wanted to say thanks for the honorable mention ;)

  • Stacey Sarber

    I’m totally with you on the overemphasis on marathons. I’ve always been a distance runner and everyone assumes that running a marathon is/should be my goal… not right now, no thanks.

    I did just complete my first half marathon this past weekend (at Disney World, hell yeah!) and was pretty excited about the medal, but it was for the same reason as Heather mentioned above. It’s nice to have something real in front of you that says “I did it”. But will I care about medals at any future half marathons? No, not really. I do like my t-shirts though!

  • Angela (SF Road Warrior)

    I started to write a comment, then realized it was getting kind of long, so I’m thinking I might just write a blog response! The 30-second story — I mostly agree with you, except for a few sort of nuanced points. Now excuse me while I go write. ;)

    (And yes, definitely more Sarah guest posts! Not because we don’t love Megan, but because Sarah is equally awesome. :) )

  • Roomthreeseventeen

    I don’t think I’ve ever commented here before, but I read all the time.

    I could not disagree with this post more.

    When I was born, the doctors told my parents I probably wouldn’t be able to walk. I ended up walking when I was two.

    I was always the slowest and clumsiest person in my class.

    I started running on a dare two years ago, and finished my first marathon last weekend. It took me very close to six hours.

    I am certainly a winner, am DAMN proud of my medal, and have it hanging in our bedroom next to all my other medals.

    What you do with your property is your own business, but don’t say that everyone else doesn’t deserve a medal.

  • Laurakasselrn

    Completely agree!!!!!! No one should get a medal but the winner!! Our society has become ridiculous in giving out medals that are not deserved- which leads to much bigger societal problems- lazy people thinking they deserve raises just for showing up to work ect. ( too tired to be more articulate) . I went to a great talk by a motivational speaker who said he made his 9 year old daughter cry because he told her when he was a boy only the FIRST place winners got a trophy (Her recreational lacrosse team placed FOURTH and got a trophy). He said although he probably got “worst dad of the year” it taught her an important lesson. I could not agree more!!!

    Great post- you are soooo right!
    Laura
    http://smiles66.blogspot.com/

  • http://nyflygirl.wordpress.com/ nyflygirl

    Oh, one of the occasional hot topics on the NYRR facebook page is that more races should have finishers medals-I especially seem to remember one complaining about the Brooklyn half not having them…

    I definitely have my share of finishers medals from races from 5 mile to marathon.  Some I did donate to Medals 4 Mettle a few years ago, but there are quite a few that have some sort of sentimental value for me.  The medal from the More Half 2 years ago when I paced the 2-hour group in the pouring rain?  I’ll look at it when I am tempted to be a weather wuss :)   A finishers medal from a turkey trot I did with my uncle several years ago, I still keep as a reminder.  The 2004 Mini 10K medal from my first race as a Flyer.  You get the idea. :-)

    That said-I did not receive a medal for my first half marathon (Manhattan Half when it was at the end of August in 80+ degree heat, remember that?)  And I did not feel cheated at all, for me the satisfaction of crossing the finish line and finishing my first half, especially in a respectable time, was good enough for me.  I guess it’s all what you choose to make of it…

  • Katherine

    Firstly, bring back Washington Ran Here! Or at least have regular Sarah posts (but, just to clarify, I love Megan’s posts too). Also, can Washington Ran Here repost that post she did on the different men you encounter at road races? I always tell people about it, but would love to have the actual post back. 

    And I generally agree with the feelings on medals. I’m kind of meh on receiving finisher’s medals (I’m not as against them, per se). For longer races (well, half marathons, I don’t do fulls), they’re kind of a nice reminder. For short races (10K and under) they seem ridiculous. I even kind of feel nothing toward age group/overall awards. Or rather, I should say, I’m excited when I go up to collect one at a race, but then I just toss them in the drawer with all of my other race paraphernalia when I get home anyway. I am kind of a “stuff” person, but I think I actually take more pride in my bibs. I think the people who vocalize complaints on the internetz about a lack of finisher’s medal are the same dbags who place those medals on racks in the middle of their living room in order to scream “Look at me! Look at what I did! I’m so special!” (Though, I do think a lot of the Vegas complaints stemmed more from the overall poor coordination of the race).

    I think hobby joggers are generally an entitled bunch. Why shouldn’t I be able to buy my way into a race and “run” as slowly as humanly possible while taking pictures and call it “racing”? Why shouldn’t I get a finisher’s medal? Why shouldn’t I get a women’s fit tech tee? Why shouldn’t I wear a fuel belt/camelback/eat gu on a 3.0 mile training run? I grew up with a runner dad, so I tend to be old school in general when it comes to running. I just recently moved to Phoenix and the small road races here are 80s style, just the way I like em.

  • Anonymous

    yes, +1,000 to Katherine’s comment. i think a lot of people forget the meaning of “racing”. you race to win! to beat other people (and your own previous race times). sure, finishing a 10k or half marathon or marathon is an accomplishment, but how many people actually race these events with everything they’ve got? until they can barely stand up at the finish? i’m not saying that someone’s hard training and effort is worthy of a congratulations, but a medal? i don’t think so.

  • Anne

    I never ever take the medal they give at the end. It doesn’t mean a thing (i know what I have run) and it’s SO not environment friendly ! Go green !

  • http://katiessweatylife.wordpress.com/ Katie

    Haha, I love Sarah’s posts AND Megans!  That said, on this topic, I don’t really give a shit (though I enjoyed reading it, of course!  And holler for being a Sondheim geek, Sarah!  Please tell me you saw the recent South Park where he and Randy get into a rumble!) 
    Anyhow, my mom made me a medal holder for Christmas and I thought it was cute.  I’mma put it up in my bedroom in my new apartment and hang my medals on it.  However, If I had lost all my medals in my move, I would have been like, “Damn.  Where are my medals?  I guess I’ll get a new one the next time I run a race that has medals.”  I absolutely cannot fathom feeling entitled to one or throwing a hissy fit if I didn’t get one.  I find it more annoying when I pay out the ass for NYCM marathon entry and say that I want a small shirt and then wind up with an XL shirt that I will never wear, ’cause they ran out of my size.  But none of this stuff really gets my panties in a twist.  People need to chill. :)

  • Desireemdc

    Sarah….wondered where you disappeared to! 

    I love my medals!  I’ve worked hard for them. They are not a symbol of winning, they are a symbol of something that I have accomplished. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  Personally I think my bush league WDW Donald Duck medal is pretty awesome. 

    Swing by the store soon….we haven’t seen you in a while! Hope all is well with the new job.

  • http://www.susanruns.com/ Susan- Nurse on the Run

    My diplomas are at my parent’s house in Chicago…doing me lots of good there!

  • http://amandarunsny.com/ AmandaRunsNY

    I love this post.  It’s pretty controversial and I’m not sure I’d be bold enough to write something that I’m pretty sure a lot of runners would disagree with.  So I applaud you for speaking your mind.  I had to think about this for a second before responding.  I like my medals because I like to show them off.  Running is a big part of me and it’s one way I can share that part of me.  I can’t exactly enshrine my old running shoes, can I? I also keep my medals because they are a small token of the many great experiences I have had running..more they remind me of the training then the race.  

    and yes, I would like more posts from Sarah!

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