Why Running Medals Hold Emotional Value Beyond the Finish Line

Running medals are not shiny things that hang well. And even as we cross the finish line of a race, they can mean so much to us. So let’s explore why these tiny awards are so meaningful to runners both young and old and how they can remind us of our hard work and accomplishments.

A Symbol of Hard Work

This can be the case: after finishing a race, you’re often gasping for breath, trying to catch your breath. After running hard, this is normal to feel. And then the emotion of being handed your medal tends to make you forget all those sore bits. You persevere to train for that race and having the medal in your hand is a means to remind yourself of everything you accomplished during training. It’s the time you spent working on your craft and improving. That cool medal is the symbol that you have done your utmost to achieve your goals. That medal can remind you every time you look at it hanging around your neck or sitting on a shelf, of how hard you fought for it. You may recall waking up before dawn, log hours in the training room, and the moments when you thought about quitting but stayed the course.

Reflecting Upon Rising Through Hard Times

There is nothing easy about running a race. When the going gets tough, it takes an immense amount of physical and mental strength to keep pushing. You can look at the medal to be reminded of all the struggles that you went through and pushed through and the hard times that you overcame. It tells you that you are more rugged than you realize and can undertake more than you ever dreamed possible of yourself.” That medal is not a mere piece of metal of a symbol of your strength and determination. You can outlast yourself and that you never surrenders, not even if it gets tough. So, when you look at it every time, you know that you did climb up those mountains and conquered them.

Becoming Part of a Community of Runners

A special group of run-lovers just like you, and when you wear your running medal that’s who you join. It knows what it takes to run and the work and commitment involved. Stories and experiences can be shared with other runners, relating to the struggles and joys of running. Over the years you will find friends who feel your pain and are running enthusiasts themselves, whether they have run 100 races, or none. It can be so helpful, this community, because you can encourage each other, trade tips and just make the run experience more fun. You can share in each other’s successes and inspire each other to continue.

Recognizing Successes

So definitely a big deal, and well worth celebrating! This is a clear indication of just how hard you have worked and how much you love running. If you have the medal, that means you can afford to celebrate your success and something to be proud of. Finishing a race, no matter where you rank, is an accomplishment and deserves to be celebrated. Your medal is a reminder of how far you have come as a runner and a human being. Each medal represents a story of your journey and reminds you of everything you went through to get to where you are today. So each time you are getting better and better, and each race you complete you are getting a little bit better.

So inspired for the next race

Once you finish a running medal, you may get inspired and look forward to the next one. A medal has a sense of pride attached to it which encourages you to set higher goals and accomplish them with all your efforts. Your medal can remind you on a daily basis of all that you can achieve if you put your mind to it. It inspires you to be great in running and in life. You might discover a new urge to run faster, attempt longer distances or sign up for different events altogether. That sense of drive can then help you ride through any hurdles down the line.

At the end of the day, running medals mean a lot and they really carry an emotional weight. (to their personification): You are work, persistence and growth. They link us to a community of runners who love running just as much as we do and provide support for us throughout our running journey. They challenge us to reach beyond what we thought possible, to take on new challenges with excitement and enthusiasm. So, the next time you find that metal around your neck, know that it is much more than a piece of metal waiting to hang somewhere—it is a true testament to your strength, will and unbreakable determination.

And when you do, hang it up proudly, whether on a wall or a shelf, or around your own neck, as a reminder of everything you’ve done and everything you can do moving forward. Dear Ones, Running is not only about what happens at the end when you cross the finish line, it is about everything you go through from the moment you start to the last step. So tie on those sneakers, hit the pavement and pursue that next medal. None of this is easy, but since hard things are easy to come by, why not unravel a life-changing journey? There is so much running can teach you, and the journey is worth taking.