Reasons to run

I’m not talking about the reasons we run day to day, eg fitness, loose weight, mental well being or in my case to eat CAKE.

No I’m  talking about the reasons we run races. Now I have a growing collection of running t-shirts gained by completing a race

in fact I have far too many, some have been relegated to a draw  labelled ‘quilt’ and I am hoping someday to off load a few of them and commission they be dissected and stitched together to create a blanket to keep in the car.

Then there are the medals

this is half of them and they are kept in the cupboard under the stairs except for VLM ones

they have their own hanger (I am trying to ignore the fact that they are on a hanger made for 5 medals!) and are on display.

The medals help as a reminder of the runs I have done but I fear one day will end up in the bin!

Then I have a collection of mugs, this stands at four at the moment.

Are these the reasons I run races? Do I check out what you get at the end of a race before I enter? Do I enter certain races because I know what the loot will be?

No, No and No.

I enter a race because:-

• I like the sound of it
• It fits in to a training plan and saves me running on my own
• It’s a challenge
• I would like to get a better time
• The course is on the coastal path
• Its local
• The scenery should be good
• It would mean a meet up with a friend

yes many different reasons but never because the medal, shirt or mug are amazing. In fact I would like the design of the medal, shirt or mug, to be a secret for me to discover at the end of the journey (kind of like not knowing the sex of a baby when expecting!) sadly quite often this is released on social media to get people to enter.

Now, I know that others don’t feel the same in fact I have heard them ask what you get at the finish before they commit to a race, each to their own. Maybe I feel the way I do as I have  way too many of all or maybe it’s because I am a grumpy old woman!

These thoughts came about this week when I read this on FB in regards to winning prizes which in my book is a totally different kettle of fish…………………

Message to race organisers: Please no more trophies! They are all destined to become clutter, most of them don’t look that great and not in any way recyclable. Personally I’d prefer a certificate or a book 🙂 Let’s think outside the box for prizes hey!

Interestingly this was written by someone who would have achieved a lot of trophies and more interesting to me was the person who organised the runs I did recently where I won my age category (granted the lack of old people running was a factor!) and am still awaiting my prize!. I would have loved a trophy, in fact the tackier the better, something like this

oh how I would love this. I would polish it, dust it and build it its own shelf. I would place it by the front door so it could be admired by all who entered.

So race organisers before you rush out and purchase book tokens in bulk, spare a thought for those of us that have never won anything with their running and how much they would love a trophy. Tokens are for Christmas and Birthdays, not for winners. Just saying.