File this one under Things I Keep Meaning to Tell Y’all…
When I sign up for a race, I do it for the experience. I’m looking to run a certain distance and to challenge myself. I am generally not at all interested in the race swag.
But…
If I sign up for a race that’s 10 miles or a half marathon, I do expect to get a finisher’s medal when I cross the line at the end. It’s a silly little thing, really, but I think we all know that I have silly tendencies.
The Jenworld fridge is much like most families’ fridges: Covered in photos, kids’ art, important reminders, and more. Hanging on one side are some photos, some other odds, and ends, and a few medals that we here in Jenworld have brought home. One is from Grace’s first fencing tournament and one is mine from the 1o-miler.
And then there’s this:
If that looks handmade to you, you would be correct.
When I crossed the finish line at the half, someone handed me the hat pictured at the top, not a medal. The hat is black mesh, just like the kind that truckers wear. It is, I repeat, not a medal. Luckily, my sister had already told me that this half marathon doesn’t include medals, so I wasn’t expecting one. And, really, I should be mature enough to not need one.
But it irked me to no end. Ask Pete. He’ll affirm that I griped incessantly about it for weeks. Weeks, I tell you. I threatened to make a medal of my own and finally, a week or so ago, I did.
The metal end of a tube of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls + a leftover ribbon from a gift + plus a piece of packing tape + a Sharpie = equals one rather low-brow and pathetic, but just-fine-with-me medal. The Martha I am not, but I’m not too fussed by it.
Tell me, what have you jury-rigged lately?
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One year I did the Buck Mountain Half Marathon. No medal, no t-shirt, no splits. I think there was a drawstring bag?? Anyway, there was also no entry fee, so I couldn’t really be picky.
Of all the activities in life for which I think I deserve a medal, putting one foot in front of the other for any distance is not one of them. But, it’s still nice to have, and I admit to keeping my medals where I can see them often.
Since my son moved down, my dining room has morphed into a bedroom. Does that count?
I made lightsabers. 10 of them. Out of plumbing supplies, duct tape, and spray paint. They were pretty damn awesome if I do say so myself. (They were the take-away for the kids at the boy’s birthday bash. It was more than necessary but damn if I couldn’t resist. Plus it was cheap. They worked out to about $2 each.) I need to post photos…
I definitely think a half-marathon deserves a medal…mine is disturbingly purple, and shaped like grapes, but that’s what you get for running a race that’s part of a wine festival. (You might also have to run a few miles breathing through your mouth to avoid the sickly sweet stench of fallen grapes rotting and fermenting in the vineyards…) I’ve got it hanging from the mantel right now, but I like to think of my grandkids playing dress-up with my medals one day, and I can tell them they’re from when granny ran 21.1 km….because granny rocks.
Can’t think of anything I have jury-rigged recently but that medal is FABULOUS!
If I worked in metal, I’d make you a medal! I can totally understand how that would be a great way to remember that experience –a black mesh hat is a stupid idea for a giveaway for pretty much anything.
I think dinners around here are often jury-rigged.
My husband jury-rigs dinners on a regular basis. Seriously, the man has never met a recipe he could follow without going all Frank Sinatra on it.
If I ran a half-marathon, I’d want major recognition, NOT a hat! You deserve a medal.
You earned that medal for sure.
Brilliant medal. Sometimes we have to take care of ourselves.
I finished the last race so late that I didn’t get a medal. Enh.
Well there’s one for your other blog – I always thought it was jerry-rigged.
If I ran a half marathon I’d want a three course meal in a Michelin starred restaurant. At least.
Heck, anyone running that far deserves more than a trucker’s cap. Sweet job on the DIY award there. If I ever need to make a bunch of medals, I’m totally stealing that idea.