REFLECTION: More than metal: How a marathon medal can carry memory, identity and unexpected connections
Now that marathon runners increasingly have the option to opt out of receiving a finisher’s medal, it raises the question of what makes a medal worth keeping.
Marathon medals are more than just pieces of metal; they hold memories, identity, and can even forge unexpected connections. With the option to decline receiving a finisher's medal becoming more prevalent, runners must ponder the significance of these tokens. Many medal-holders keep them prominently displayed for a while before eventually relegating them to a drawer or box. However, upon revisiting the collection years later, a particular medal often conjures vivid recollections of the race.
Mass-participation events imbue the medal with a unique meaning. Runners don't need to triumph to earn a medal; completing the race is enough. The medal signifies the grueling months of training, early morning runs through chilly weather, setbacks and injuries, and finally crossing the finish line. While its monetary worth may be minimal, its symbolic importance can be substantial.
Consumer researcher Russell Belk's concept of the "extended self" highlights how possessions can intertwine with one's sense of identity. Autobiographical memory studies reveal how objects can stimulate recollections tied to specific individuals, locations, and periods in our lives. A medal, therefore, transcends its physical form and becomes a conduit to something larger than itself.
At events like the London Marathon, runners can either accept the medal or opt out, redirecting funds towards environmental or charitable causes. This shift towards optional medals raises an intriguing question: what compels us to keep them?
The Whale of Trail in the De Hoop Nature Reserve showcased a unique solution. The medal, crafted from ceramic and hand-painted by schoolchildren from the surrounding community, embodied not only the race day experience but also the artistic expression of a child. At the finish line, runners received an object steeped in memories and connections.
Though objectively the medal may be worth little more than others, its true value lies in the intangible aspects - a person, a place, a relationship, a memory, a unique version of ourselves. The journey from the start to the finish line imbues each race with its own personal significance. Two runners may embark on the same route but depart with psychologically different experiences upon receiving their medals.
Choosing a medal beforehand becomes a complex decision. At the London Marathon, the prospect of receiving another medal might seem unappealing. However, the choice demands contemplating the value of an object before experiencing the event that could imbue it with value. The Whale of Trail, the longest trail run the author had ever completed with her daughter, left an indelible imprint on her memory. Knowing this now, she deemed the medal worthy of keeping.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
