Awards

[kirby111]

Are there medals or something like that given out at teh Santa Cruz 50K for finishing, like a marathon would have?

[pctrailruns]

Yes, we award all 50 Km runners a custom coaster that has the event logo and "Ultramarathon Finisher". Starting this year, all ultra finishers receive an award.

Wendell (PCTR)

[thr3ee]

Awards such as medals, t-shirts, coasters, etc. are all really nice and I enjoy the way they look all jumbled up in that big drawer in my closet mixed in with the crumpled race numbers. However, these are trail runs and if you don't take home some form of trophy on your own body, then you really don't deserve any award. Furthermore, the "trophy" should really be appropriate to the accomplishment.

Here are my suggestions:
====================
Finsher's Award:
At least one scrape or scratch to show your co-workers or caked-on dirt/mud that you fail to wash off for a full day.

Third Place:
One blister at least as large as a 50-cent piece forcing you to either grimace or grunt with each step.

Second Place:
Large visible bruising either on an area of exposed skin or on a part of your body that makes it difficult to impossible to sit down.

First Place:
Some form of open wound guaranteed to scar.

Course Record:
Anything requiring stitches or an extended hospital stay.

Newbie Award:
Poison Oak pustules or chaffing in an area that either stains clothing or makes it difficult and painful to perform daily functions.

Female Winner:
Blood stain from the last male runner you passed as he stumbled and fell in a futile attempt not to be "chicked".

Age Group Winner (19-under):
Twisted ankle from leaping over that "old guy" who fell, face-down on the trail trying to keep up with you.

Age Group Winner (20-29):
Strange limp from pulled muscle as you tried to keep up with the 30-39 year old who whipped past you on the last downhill muttering something about "young punk" (yes, it was the same guy you passed on that early uphill muttering something about "old fogy")

Age Group Winner (30-39):
If you didn't win the race you are a disgrace to your age group and deserve no award.

Age Group Winner (40-49):
Chronic injury that has been a consistent and repetitive problem since your mid-30s and would probably go away with a little rest (you really should consider taking a day off before stepping up to the next age group).

Age Group Winner (50-59):
Nothing visible as everything is so significantly scarred or callused that any new cuts/scrapes/bruises do not show. Furthermore, it is impossible to tell if you are injured or if you "just walk like that".

Age Group Winner (60-69):
Collected blood stains or simply the treasured memory of shocked looks from every runner under 50 whom you passed on the trail.

Age Group Winner (70+):
Course marking ribbons collected from important trail junctures since anyone younger than you (which is everyone) who couldn't keep up clearly needs the extra training miles.

DNF Award:
Self inflicted wounds as you continually beat yourself up over whatever stupid decision (lack of training, wrong turn, out too fast, "I thought that stick was a snake", etc) lead to your demise.

DFL Award:
Mental illness from the repeated hallucinations of the large, cheering crowd and bountiful feast awaiting you at the finish that kept playing through your mind over and over and over until you actually got to the finish only to find an annoyed RD taking down the finish line and one dried up chili bean in the bottom of a pot.
Unless of course, this was a PCTR event in which case you get to take home tear-stained cheeks from the realization that the people cheering you on and the feast were for real!!!!!


Remember, the journey is the reward. Enjoy yourself out there!

[chihpingfu]

On first glimpse, I thought PCTR might increase the fee for these awards, but what those great ideas from Steve! These are actually what we enjoy after a trail run.

For bib numbers, I just pin them all together in one batch for a year. As for T-shirts, I have started to request XS size for my family.

Btw, Glenn Tachiyama (Scott Jurek's crew) has a house of bib numbers - Race Numbers. Perhaps this gives us some idea to keep racing and display our trophies.

Chihping

[jeffontrails]

Before I read the reply I was going to say that I carefully pin my bib #'s together after I write my finishing time on the back. Sometime in the future I'm going to design a collage or use them as wallpaper.

Nice ideas!

[Jon]

Classic one thr3ee! Thanks. ;D

[kirby111]

thr3ee said:

Awards such as medals, t-shirts, coasters, etc. are all really nice and I enjoy the way they look all jumbled up in that big drawer in my closet mixed in with the crumpled race numbers. However, these are trail runs and if you don't take home some form of trophy on your own body, then you really don't deserve any award. Furthermore, the "trophy" should really be appropriate to the accomplishment.

Thats true. I just wanted to know if there was something i could wear to school after.

The coaster sounds sweet though. I can sit back and drink my daily hot chocolate .

Or I could bring that to school or like tape it too my chest.

Those awards thr3ee said sound a lot like cross country races ;D

[leinfellner]

Steve,
are you bored from time to time?

Norbert

[thr3ee]

I need some sort of outlet since haven't actually been able to run much at all over the past week since I had a nasty stomach bug.

My plans for Diablo this weekend were starting to look bleak, but I think its all cleared up now. I'm gonna do a nice little test run this evening to make sure the stomach holds together OK.

Hmm...I forgot to include the "puke stained shirt" award in my list

-Steve

leinfellner said:

Steve,
are you bored from time to time?

Norbert

[velasqu7]

I made a quilt from all the race t-shirts I have collected.... It looks cool and is warm too.

But I think a black toenail or two would also make a good award.... You can show your coworkers, I am sure they would love to see them. The blacker the better. If they are detached, even better, you could actually glue them to a corner of your computer monitor, etc.

[leinfellner]

Cool!! How can you make a quilt out of those? Ist this an online shop service or something?
I like Chihping's idea a lot, too! (Giving the shirts to the kids so that YOU as a DADDY are actually able to look at the shirts and get reminded of the races).

Steve, as for not running much lately, yesterday I was on a "business trip" in Napa Valley and today I had a all day meeting with presentations, so when we run on Saturday I'll have the same weekly miles as you, only I didn't have the stomach bug. I had the wine bug, though. Absolutely nasty.
;D
Norbert

[Pacific Coast Trail Runs]

Scott Dunlap used a place called CampusQuilt.com to have his made. He wrote about it on his fabulous blog in January of this year.

Sarah

[leinfellner]

Thanks, Sarah - yes I saw Scott's blog, I just thought there are more options (Scott's feedback was that is rather costly...).
Norbert

[Pacific Coast Trail Runs]

I think he did list some other options in that post - from January 21st or something.

Sarah

[thr3ee]

I actually managed to get in about 10.5 miles this week including 4 fast, but effortless miles yesterday as I discovered the one benefit of being sick for a week....I'm lighter ;D

leinfellner said:

Steve, as for not running much lately, yesterday I was on a "business trip" in Napa Valley and today I had a all day meeting with presentations, so when we run on Saturday I'll have the same weekly miles as you, only I didn't have the stomach bug. I had the wine bug, though. Absolutely nasty.
;D
Norbert