How’s your running going? Spring has mostly definitely sprung here, tee-shirt and shorts are the order of the day, and it's light enough for evening runs again.
In Spring, too, many a runner’s fancy is turning lightly not to thoughts of love, but to…. bling!
My own collection, gleaned from one virtual event and two real ones, is about as non-blingy as it gets:
•A Dove House Hospice running vest, Bunny Run medal, and a pair of bright yellow bunny ears (perfect attire for a solo first metric marathon!)
•A small jar of dried and powdered local cep mushrooms. Yes, really.
•A pair of running socks and a Trail du Gévaudan Finisher technical tee-shirt.
Do I regret not having a host of shiny blingy medals? No. I’m not into races anyway, and prefer practical goodies, whether that’s running wear or local products, and medals in sustainable, biodegradable materials.
I’m inordinately proud of that Finisher tee-shirt though, and if I could only keep one item from my exceedingly small collection, that would definitely be it.
*** Are you a fan of race bling? Does bling influence your opinion of a race? (cf Beyoncé: If you liked it then you should’ve got some bling for it!) Tell us about your favourite bling, and why it means so much to you. Photos welcome, as are comments from all non-blingy ladies (and gents) like me! ***
If you're new here, you're very welcome, and please join in the fun.
Happy running, everybody!
The Marathon Team xxx
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Hi Cmoi! Thank you for hosting the Chat this week xxx
Mushrooms: Awesome!!!
I have a fair few medals, and until recently they've been kept shoved away in drawers. I caved in and got a medal hanger for our cloakroom, and I do think it's nice to see them there and to reminisce about the events - all very special memories! I also keep the medals from the most recent year on my desk on a mug tree 😂 - currently the three from 2021 are still there, but they will be relegated to the loo in a couple of weeks!
A lot of the medals are lovely, but I think the very nicest one I have is probably that from the Hastings Half in 2019, which is a mini horse brass. It doesn't have a ribbon so I've hooked it up to the hanger with a bit of an old buff 🤩 The design on it comes from a sculpture in Hastings that depicts King Harold dying in the arms of his wife. Most of my other medals are a bit more cheerful!
All that said, I gave away my first marathon medal to one of my nephews, and I think there will come a time when medals will be thought unsustainable. I already opt to "plant a tree" instead of having a finisher t-shirt, when I can.
Hi Cmoi, the only bling I have is the one of The London Vitality Virtual 10,000 that I ran last year, I also got a T Shirt with it which I wore at a family New Year's Day party this year, I was congratulated by everyone at the family gathering, I hope to get a second medal and T Shirt again this year when I run that 10K again in early May.I also have a parkrun T shirt as well as a 25 T Shirt for running 25 official Parkruns.
Excellent idea to wear your London Vitality Virtual 10,000 tee-shirt when all your family could admire it AlMorr ! Wishing you every success on the road to your next medal and tee too 👍😀
Only one medal and two finishers’ shirts for me. Lockdown has played a part in that. That said, I only have one race in my diary for this year, leaving plenty of time to build up my fitness after a long period with very few runs. Another 5k today feels like getting a medal 🙂
I’ve got mugs, paperweights, commemorative beers, medals galore and far too many tees. Got some very nice long sleeves too. I do wear one of the tees for my runs as it’s so comfy. One XS tee I won was hilarious. It was the size of a marquee! ☺️
My son asked me yesterday if I wanted a new medal hanger 😁.
Your collection is way more impressive than mine misswobble ! I love my Dove House vest too. Taking part in the Bunny Run was free, you just had to raise £25 or more and they'd send you the vest and bunny ears beforehand, and the medal post-event. The first vest never arrived (think they forgot the post-Brexit Customs declaration) so they sent a second, and I was feeling a bit anxious and guilty about whether I'd raise enough money to compensate for all the costs and hassle. The final total was a bit over £800, thanks to fabulously generous family and friends!
I love that kinda music. There was a no earphones request at my race as it’s on a public trail so lots of folks, dogs and kids about. Folks ignored it though, and a young lass ahead of me could be heard singing “Miss Brown to you” 🎶🎵😀
Well, it’s well documented here that I’m a bit of a bling slut and will enter some races purely for the shiny stuff at the end! I LOVE my bling ✨
I’ve had T’s and bottle openers and food/drink goodies but if a race doesn’t have a medal then I don’t enter 🙄
But my favourite? Oooh that’s a tough one because each and every one has a memory and is special for some reason. But I’ve chosen this one, a virtual HM during lockdown mainly because it’s a hefty medal but also because of the words. They are especially pertinent today.
In running news, I’ve not been running for a week now as I strained my back with too much gardening 🙄 I never learn as this happens very other year.
But it’s getting better so I’m hoping when I get home (from Ireland) at the end of the week I’ll be good to go out for a little trot 🤞
Have a good week everyone and take care in the gardens! x
Oh ouch to the back Irishprincess , wishing you a speedy recovery!
That Magna Carta bling is definitely special, great choice. I just can't compute the idea of not entering a race because there's no medal though. That would have ruled out both my real-life races!
In fact when I entered the Trail du Gévaudan it hadn't actually occurred to me that I'd get something at the end of it! How stupid am I? (Don't answer that!) By race day I knew a Finisher tee-shirt and a free craft beer were on offer at the end of it, and I actually stood at the start line visualising myself with them, saying "I am having those and nothing will stop me!" Surprisingly powerful!
That’s the way I think of the bling. During the race I just imagine getting my hands on it and how I’ll feel. In fact “think of the bling, think of the bling” is a common mantra for me 🙂
I did a slow 5K and back was a bit tight during but all good now 🤞 The test will be how it feels in the morning… but it feels much looser so I’m confident. Did lots of stretching and Pilates moves and once I loosened up the old hip flexors it felt much better.
March can be a brutal month. It started to snow on my run and now it’s off and on in between sunshine but at least it’s preventing me from getting into the garden. And it’s freezing out there 🧊 Mind you, you’re no doubt even colder “up north” 🥶
I’ve had the dog for two days so been out regularly. Got thoroughly blasted by hail yesterday 😁🌧. The dog had the trots yesterday so I was outdoors a lot! 🥶.
My Christmas gift Barbour gilet was dead tight as I’ve gained some poundage since poorly knee stopped play ☹️ I’m as stiff as a board since my run so not doing much at all. Got to get back to normal weight and back to running. I decided pre-race to take a break for a few weeks. Seems like I’m going to have to rather than want to 🙂
I’ll join you on the break MissW 🙂 as I’ll be out of running for a while yet too. Back was ok this morning but after a Pilates class it’s not been good ☹️ Patience is required methinks 😇 *sigh*…..
I’m coming out in sympathy 😫. My back is aching now 😤. I couldn’t tie my trainers this morning. I was going to the corner shop for milk ☕️ I left them undone 😬
I’m sowing seeds indoors, standing up, so as not to solidify 👵🏻
I’ve ordered some Torins from the sale. My current retired ones are virtually treadless. I’m aiming to be back out there next Sunday, which makes it a full 14 days off. I’ve got a fresh tub of Epsom salts from my son (bless im) so hopefully I’ll be hot to trot -with new daps -by then 🏃♀️
I hope you too will be back out there shortly 🤞😀🏃♀️
Oh no! Sorry to hear that MissW. What are we like? I’ve been icing, heating and gently stretching my back today. But as I can’t run I went for a walk to explore a new route for when I’m back. Found this little wood with Wood Anemones and Primroses running riot 😍 cant’ wait to run there. It goes on for miles but I turned around so I wouldn’t walk too far.
I hope the Epsom Salts and new shoes do the trick 🤞
Our forecast says snow from midnight tonight and possibly all day tomorrow and into Saturday. The obligation for vehicles to be fitted with all-season or snow tyres, or to carry chains, ends at midnight tonight. 😕
Might go out later, though I need to do some overdue work stuff. It's still snowing, though there's only a couple of inches on the fields and our road is clear. The Préfet has decreed an extension of the snow equipment obligations...
Thanks misswobble . I didn't get out and haven't yet today either. Guilt guilt guilt. Still finishing off the work that I should've done before! More snow overnight and still snowing lightly now. Road was under a couple of inches this morning. Can now see most of it again, think the tractor's been through, judging by the tracks.
Our snow has cleared up and just flurries here and there. It was freezing while out with the dog. He was poorly so we spent a lot of time outdoors 🙄. We were like two old crocks together. His running days are done bless im but hopefully mine aren’t 🤨
I’m not running yet but hope to by next weekend. The weather by then will be wonderfully balmy 😎 Sunlit uplands await 😁. I will run like a cheetah of course, having dropped ten pounds this week whilst languishing on the sofa 😆
I’ve ordered new running shoes this morning in preparation 🏃♀️ If I’m not fit by then there’ll be earthquakes 🤨
Here's to your back getting better, new shoes and the sunlit uplands misswobble !
It's still snowing here and is unlikely to stop until at least tomorrow morning, if the forecast is to be believed. Finished my work so went for a run. Snowy, windy, freezing and because I couldn't see where I was putting my feet for much of the time they got soaked through. Absolutely loved it!
That was taken during my run yesterday. Kit: Brooks Cascadia 16s, Lidl softshell running pants, and long-sleeved hooded top from Decathlon's kids' range! Epitome of running style, moi!
Today it's just below freezing, still snowing, but as the ground's quite warm the road's fairly clear. I'm planning a run and/or dog walk later. 😀
I have zero bling as I’ve never entered any races. I could have had a medal each year for running virtually around Australia but opted out to receive that. I get the run down under t-shirt as it comes with my membership! I’ve done 31 park runs now but won’t buy a t-shirt until I hit 100.
I like that event organisers are giving people the option to opt out but I’m not sure that I would ever refuse a medal if I did a marathon especially NYC or Boston (in my dreams 😜)
Happy running everyone ❤️🏃♀️🏃🏻♂️
My see me for miles run down under 2022 tee shirt 😍
I love that tee-shirt RunWillie ! Also admire your restraint re the parkrun tee-shirt. I think if I'd qualified for one, I'd be getting it. I'd probably opt out of a medal, though - back to my practical streak!
Never rule out these marathons of a lifetime 😀. My WW pal ran Boston and NYC, plus the main ones, eg Tokyo, Rome, London etc. she gave me the Boston race entry times book and I would have been able to make the qualifying time for my age group. That was several years back, but foreign travel to races is out of my price range, sadly
I watched the NYC on YouTube and it looks a hilly course Lots of support though😀
Now, let me think for a second …. am I a fan of race bling? Nah. I never bother to take mine. 🤥 🤥 🤥
That seriously couldn’t be further from the truth! 😅 The lure of the shiny (or even not shiny) bling is what gets me through the end stages of races. 🏅 The Bristol HM was unexpectedly tough for some reason, but thinking of my bling gave me the resilience to get to the end. 🙏🏻 Shame I won’t be getting a Bath Half one in May …… cheers Bath, your organisation is stellar. 🙄
I’m a huge fan of Trees not Tees though. I have enough running tops, so I take that option whenever possible. I have 2 little saplings around the UK so far, and hope to get more! 🌲 🌳
Oh I'm quite a fan of bling, but being a newbie at entering races and peopley things I only have 3. I do love a teeshirt though and think that is much more useful! My running is going well... today is run club and this meet will be my first after my three free trial meets and that means I have to commit. I'm having mixing with people worrying thoughts.... out balanced by it will be good for me to be sociable .... I am sociable but stupidly shy 🤭 so this commitment requires.....a pros and cons list!!! I'm spoilt by having this fantastic resource at my finger tips!!
Yes, it's tee-shirts' usefulness that I appreciate Cowladyrunning .
I empathise with your feelings about the running club, plus for me it would also feel too much of a constraint. Having recently retired from a working life that required huge amounts of interaction with others and adapting my life to suit other people's schedules, I'm currently choosing to avoid any more regular commitments, particularly those which require me to be sociable to order!
Hi, It is definitely a ‘bling thing’ for me. Cycling or running they can influence my choice of event and motivate my efforts. During lock down I did a few virtual events and founding that waiting 6 weeks for a medal to arrive didn’t really work for me, so I’m glad we are back out with ‘real’ people and ‘bling’ as you cross the line.
Most of my medals are the metal ‘made in china’ types but I do have a couple of wooden ones and one made of recycled plastic. They are on a hanger in the study so I can look at them and remember the effort it took to get them. I also have some t-shirts and buffs and have received Easter eggs and bottles of beer in goody bags as well but never mushrooms!
Yes, I can completely understand that waiting six weeks for a medal would take the shine off it (sorry not sorry!) Shake-and-run ! I can't imagine race bling influencing my choice of event though - maybe I'll see things differently in future.
The powdered mushrooms were from a local business and would've been picked in the area where we ran the trail, so that was rather nice.
As for Easter eggs, if I ever got one after a race I fear I'd scoff it on the spot!
I'm not answering this question on the grounds it is incriminating! I will say though, I wish more events did womens fit t-shirts, the unisex ones are useless for me. Favourite bling? has to be a close run thing between my first HM medal - LLHM and my virtual London marathon one, but if pushed I'd go for the LLHM one as it evokes such strong memories of an amazing day, running my first half marathon with (behind) my eldest son 🥰
Sorting bling for my (then) new hanger; I think this says it all ...
Umm I think you've incriminated yourself with that photo linda9389 ! Oh to be that organised - I couldn't find my Bunny Run medal for my photo, until I realised it was actually hanging off a reading lamp. On my computer desk!
My Trail du Gévaudan tee-shirt is allegedly women's fit - I'm not sure how they make that out! Fits me pretty well and is in proper technical material, so it gets worn. Particularly on days when I need a confidence boost!
I think the medals are nice to have but I only tend to wear them on the day that I get them. I guess the Yorkshire Marathon one was good because, wandering around York with it on after the event, it made a good talking point with other medal wearers.
Thinking about it, I prefer T-Shirts because I actually wear them. From the photo, I have the greatest sense of achievement from the Yorkshire Marathon (and it was a great weekend). However, I tend to wear the Newport one more often because it’s brighter!
I don’t usually consider the bling etc when I enter an event but I really would like to earn the t-shirt for the Bristol Green Man Ultra.
Think I may have a medal from the first event that I took part in (I was still power walking then) but I don’t know where it is!
Oh I do like the idea of be-medalled marathoners wandering around York identifying one another SkiMonday ! I *think* I wore my maratrail Finisher tee-shirt to walk back to the car afterwards, but I can't actually remember.
Agree re wanting to complete a particular event and thereby earning the medal or tee-shirt, but still can't get my head round deciding between events, or whether or not to do an event, on the basis of bling. There again I'm not good with events at the best of times!
To be honest, it was in the pubs, not just wandering around York!
For me, the Green Man is special (and unfinished business). I usually enter events for the challenge (as in chasing a PB) or just for the atmosphere. I entered the Forest of Dean HM (which was a couple of weeks ago now) because cheekychipmunks and Irishprincess suggested it and it fitted in with my training plan, I guess it makes a nice change from running solo. It also feels good to be able to do these events (and finish in a reasonable time).
Yes, I certainly get why you want the Green Man Ultra.
The Trail du Gévaudan only appealed to me because so much of it follows the Chemin de St Jacques, and the only reason I felt able to enter was because the event was moved from June to October, so I had time to train.
I'd need really strong reasons to do any more events though, as I don't like being in crowds of people and I'm never going to finish in a reasonable time!
Ha, well I do keep a few medals in front of my desk while I work just to remind me on really crap days that I am capable of more than I thought. I really don’t wear most bling shirts very often, but there is a warm zip jacket I got from the Chilly Half last year that I wear frequently. Its just got a quiet logo on the breast. I also loved my Sticks n stones race hoodie, but then it shrank in the wash and now belongs to Mrs Decker 🙂
As for training, with Berlin firmly out of my picture, I went and signed up for the Sulphur Springs 20k trail race in May just to have something closer to work to. The last one was back in 2018 and I recall there was a huge thunderstorm and deep, slick mud everywhere. It was fun but I had so many headers on the hills! 😂 Hope I will be ok for training as it is just 2 months away. I do feel a bit more confident this time around as I have more trail experience now than I did back in 2018.
Oh how I understand that "I'm capable of more than I thought" comment Decker . You so deserve the positive reminders.
While I'm really sorry that Berlin's out of the picture for you now, I'm sure you'll do well in the Sulphur Springs trail. Knowing how to manage conditions - or at least not be completely intimdated by them - is, on the basis of my very limited experience, really important in trail running. Enjoy!
Thanks Cmoi, yes with the Sulphur 20 in May, and the Haliburton 50 and another 25 trail (can’t recall its name) in September, I have some goals to help focus me through the season.
Having discussed with my other half the road closures for the Manchester Marathon this coming weekend, I was looking at the Great Manchester Run, a half marathon, and saying, "I could probably do that now." "Well, why don't you?" was the reply.
I looked into it and it's still open. It's Sunday 22 May. Should I or shouldn't I?
I've no doubt you could do it nowster , the question is do you want to?!
For: the date suits you, you'd like an official HM race time, you're happy to structure your other runs or training around the event, emotional/sentimental reasons, you want bling!
Against: if you don't identify with the reasons above, or you feel that you should do it, rather than want to.
I knew I really wanted to do the Trail de St Jacques when I tried to register and the website wouldn't initially let me! However I've no urge to run it again because I've nothing to prove, and no interest in just trying to better my time. In any case the route's been changed so it would be a nonsensical comparison. I've registered to volunteer instead.
Maybe visualise yourself cheering on runners on race day, particularly if the route goes past or near to your house or other places that are important to you. Is your instinct that you're disappointed not to be among them, or that you're happy where you are?
If I felt like that I wouldn't do the event, because that would tell me I didn't care enough about it. But you have to bear in mind that I am a non-racing, bling-sceptic weirdo!
You have a good point. Apart from parkrun which isn't really a race, I don't usually get involved with organised events. If it wasn't for my colleagues all doing it (well, the four out of twelve of us who originally signed up) I wouldn't have bothered with that 10km race I did on Halloween.
Hi everyone, well I'm yet to do an 'official' race so I have my 25 ParkRun teeshirt which I love, beautiful purple colour( although on my 50th, I must remember to order a size up!!) Thinking about doing the London vitality virtual 10k to get a teeshirt and medal, although my friend reckons it's not the same running on your one in a race, and the teeshirts are apparently all XL? But I just want an official race t shirt and my first medal! 😁🏅
I don't know about London Vitality Virtual 10k tee-shirt sizing Hedgehogs123 , maybe AlMorr and others who've actually done the event could help?
I certainly found that running in an official real-life race wasn't much like my preferred solo running! Having to run with lots of others and being timed puts me under too much pressure. It was really nice, though, to have people applaud and cheer when I crossed the maratrail finish line, and to be able to look at my tee-shirt now and remember that feeling.
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