What's your feeling about getting a medal without finishing Princess?

[JenaRuns]

I'm not judging--just wondering how most of you feel about this. I know somebody who got swept at Mile 5 of the Princess Half. The race officials loaded those who were behind pace at that point onto a bus, drove them to the finish line, and gave them the medal. So really, it's more of a participant's medal and not a finisher's medal. Are you okay with this?

 

[joan4mickey]

NO

 

[flatlandcycle]

I'm not judging--just wondering how most of you feel about this. I know somebody who got swept at Mile 5 of the Princess Half. The race officials loaded those who were behind pace at that point onto a bus, drove them to the finish line, and gave them the medal. So really, it's more of a participant's medal and not a finisher's medal. Are you okay with this?

Disney is expensive. Take the unearned bling and sell it on ebay. Come back again and finish.

I like the finisher medals, but part of me still thinks medals should be for winners of categories. I do races because they have cool finisher medals.

 

[MasonDuo]

I can go either way with this.

For me personally, I know I finished and that medal is priceless to me as it serves as a reminder of an accomplishment. If others are satisfied with not finishing and get a medal it may represent something different or they may be happy with that.

On the other side (don't hate me for this) I get a little irritated because the RunDisney events seem to be attracting quite a few people who are no where near ready to complete the races. I personally don't care how you complete them run / walk / run-walk but those who aren't ready for it are getting in the way of others trying to go around them during the ratce as well as eating up spots for sold out races.

If Disney starts cracking down on non-finishers (no medal), people may be a little deterred from signing up if they aren't ready or in training to complete the race. I'm all for everyone trying but it seems like there are quite a few people not finishing and with each year/race the number is growing.

 

[cimrk01]

I'm thinking of participating in the Walt Disney World Marathon next year and I am mentally preparing myself for the realm of potentially getting swept somewhere after the 20th mile. Having said that no, I wouldn't feel right accepting a medal honoring a completion of something I didn't earn.

I would rather get some type of separate certificate, discount, coupon, mini award (you get the idea) honoring and recognizing the training and effort it took to achieve completion of "X" many miles. Otherwise, as it is now your essentially just paying $150+ for your bling.

 

[VickiHD]

It's a FINISHERS Medal not a participants.

You get the shirt for participating, along with other stuff in your bag. But lets leave getting the medal for those who actually cross the finish line.

 

[EMHDad]

I am torn on this. I am running my first marathon next Jan. I WANT that medal. To me it is going to be a constant reminder of reaching a lifelong goal. However, I am always one that likes to give more grace than not. Giving a medal to someone who got swept at mile 20 doesnt hurt me in the slightest.

That said...

A while back someone posted 2 links to blogs of women who didnt finish who got me pretty angry. One particular, the woman had not run(sounds like mostly walking) more than 2-3 miles EVER. And then, it was maybe a handful of times. She traveled to Disney, started the marathon and then got swept up for not keeping the 16 min pace before MILE 2!! Even more surprising, she blogged about it and celebrated getting her medal. Again, to each their own, but gah! Lost the link to that blog, sorry. Maybe someoneelse knows.

 

[helloirishkitty]

It's a FINISHERS Medal not a participants.

You get the shirt for participating, along with other stuff in your bag. But lets leave getting the medal for those who actually cross the finish line.

100x this! It took me F-O-R-E-V-E-R (3:24) but I finished, and I refuse to take the medal off. It stings that people who didn't finish get one too, but Disney is in the business of selling out races, and I'm sure there are people that sign up, walk a mile, get swept and get the bling.

 

[JCH]

I am torn on this. I am running my first marathon next Jan. I WANT that medal. To me it is going to be a constant reminder of reaching a lifelong goal. However, I am always one that likes to give more grace than not. Giving a medal to someone who got swept at mile 20 doesnt hurt me in the slightest.

That said...

A while back someone posted 2 links to blogs of women who didnt finish who got me pretty angry. One particular, the woman had not run(sounds like mostly walking) more than 2-3 miles EVER. And then, it was maybe a handful of times. She traveled to Disney, started the marathon and then got swept up for not keeping the 16 min pace before MILE 2!! Even more surprising, she blogged about it and celebrated getting her medal. Again, to each their own, but gah! Lost the link to that blog, sorry. Maybe someoneelse knows.

Is it this one? http://shrinkingkrista.blogspot.com/2012/03/lonliest-2-miles-of-my-life.html

FYI, she made it to Mile 10 this year before being swept.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

The Princess 1/2 was my first Disney race... I had done a couple of 5Ks and wanted to see if I could do this..I took it really seriously. I trained really hard... really went thru the training plans and made sure I could make it 13.1 miles in the pace required.

Before I left for Disney I was running 13.1 in 2:18. With the crowds I ended up a whole 30 mins off that. I know I could of done better if I had room to move.

I am really amazed at the amount of people that seemed to do this race on a whim? that don't run regularly or run/walk or speed walk or whatever..

I don't think you should get a finisher medal for not finishing.. It kinda makes the whole thing into a farce..

 

[JCH]

I can go either way with this.

For me personally, I know I finished and that medal is priceless to me as it serves as a reminder of an accomplishment. If others are satisfied with not finishing and get a medal it may represent something different or they may be happy with that.

On the other side (don't hate me for this) I get a little irritated because the RunDisney events seem to be attracting quite a few people who are no where near ready to complete the races. I personally don't care how you complete them run / walk / run-walk but those who aren't ready for it are getting in the way of others trying to go around them during the ratce as well as eating up spots for sold out races.

If Disney starts cracking down on non-finishers (no medal), people may be a little deterred from signing up if they aren't ready or in training to complete the race. I'm all for everyone trying but it seems like there are quite a few people not finishing and with each year/race the number is growing.

I agree with this, and this has been my argument about the finisher medals before. It is to the point where it is almost dangerous seeing the people attempting half marathons who really shouldn't! They are simply untrained, and will brag about it in the corrals! They have 0 race etiquette, on account of never running a race before, and are self absorbed enough that they feel they can stroll along with no intention of finishing while people who have trained for months are forced around. You can easily pick them out, as there is a big difference between "race" walking and strolling.

With the heat and humidity of the last few races, there is just no place for untrained people out there. I think I saw it worst at Tower of Terror, with the puking and passing out and constant calls for medics.

Now, I'm not saying people shouldn't try, and if Disney gets them off the couch, great. But at the same time, there is an untimed 5k the weekend that has all the bells and whistles. If you aren't going to train, but still want to experience a Disney race and get a medal, do us all a favor and do the 5k. Leave the 10miler, half marathon, and marathon spots for those who actually train!

Okay..off soap box...

 

[VickiHD]

I agree with this, and this has been my argument about the finisher medals before. It is to the point where it is almost dangerous seeing the people attempting half marathons who really shouldn't! They are simply untrained, and will brag about it in the corrals! They have 0 race etiquette, on account of never running a race before, and are self absorbed enough that they feel they can stroll along with no intention of finishing while people who have trained for months are forced around. You can easily pick them out, as there is a big difference between "race" walking and strolling.

.

I agree !!!
In my corral at Tink 1/2, a group of ladies were bragging about how they had not trained and look forward to getting on the bus and still get their medial. This was before we even started the race. People around me also looked horrified at what they were saying.

 

[EMHDad]

Is it this one? http://shrinkingkrista.blogspot.com/2012/03/lonliest-2-miles-of-my-life.html
*Edited

FYI, she made it to Mile 10 this year before being swept.

Yes, that is the one I was referring to exactly. I see she tried for the half this time instead of the full. Its good to see the improvement there.

 

[Diskidatheart]

I know personally, if I trained really hard for a half or full marathon and for some reason (such as overheated, muscle pull, etc), I couldn't finish the race and I got a finishers medal, I certainly wouldn't be bragging about the medal or showing it off anywhere. It would just sit in a shoebox somewhere so that I wouldn't be reminded that I wasn't able to make it. It certainly wouldn't be hanging anywhere near the medals I earned by finishing a race.

I know Disney would never consider this, but maybe they should have an "unfinished" medal, which would be less formal than the FINISHERS medal. That way, there would be even more incentive to FINISH the race.

 

[mare1203]

I agree about medals for finishers only, but I like the idea of giving something for all finishers at the end (getting it in your bag is great, but people would ignore that, I feel, and still want the medal). As others have said, there is a 5k option, so perhaps Disney could do more to make this the option for the less trained. I noticed the medal for the 5k seemed to be rubber (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here!), and with the number of people obsessed with the medals maybe changing the 5k medals to a smaller version of the 1/2 marathon medals will help??

I was in one of the middle corrals for PHM and it took a good while to find a pace due to running around so many people who just stopped or did nothing to indicate the walking or even worse, walked in groups of 4-5 across thus taking over the whole road. It becomes almost unsafe for someone to start in D or E and then walk the whole thing just because they want pictures. If you know full well you're going to finish in over 3 hours, but putting yourself in corral with 2:35-2:50 finishers it just becomes a cluster... Overall, it was a good experience, but definitely frustrating at times since I did take the time to really train for the race.

 

[JCH]

I know personally, if I trained really hard for a half or full marathon and for some reason (such as overheated, muscle pull, etc), I couldn't finish the race and I got a finishers medal, I certainly wouldn't be bragging about the medal or showing it off anywhere. It would just sit in a shoebox somewhere so that I wouldn't be reminded that I wasn't able to make it. It certainly wouldn't be hanging anywhere near the medals I earned by finishing a race.

I know Disney would never consider this, but maybe they should have an "unfinished" medal, which would be less formal than the FINISHERS medal. That way, there would be even more incentive to FINISH the race.

I always thought they should have different ribbons that are just plain, no fun colors, no date, no name of the race. If they can do different ribbons for the perfects, they can do it the ones who didn't finish, also.

 

[Jenn310]

I wonder why when the TOT race was a 13K and they also had a 5K,they gave a real medal just scaled down version. I'm sure people would be a bit more willing to just do the 5K if they were getting a real medal.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I *hate* the fact its become a participants medal as I feel (as others do) that it promotes 'inclusion' of those who do NOT have place attempting a half or full.. It's not safe for them nor is it safe for those around them who have trained (and I say this as a rather slow runner..)

Its amazing if you look at the results for ToT last year HOW many people DNF (3+ pages) and most did not have times that you could tell it was due to injury (sub 40ish 5K) most of the times were 18+ min miles and most didnt get beyond the 5K mark...

Its a catch 22 as in some ways Disney sees it as being 'all welcoming' yet they really need to do something to stop the 'trend' of not attempting to finish...

I wish Disney would offer some timed 5Ks/10Ks with real medals (more than everest but part of other weekends) so that those who are not physically able to do 13.1 have a 'challenge' thats achievable and only offer FINISHER medals to 10 miler + runners.

-em

 

[cobbler]

Warning: I have a very strong and in some circles quite an unpopular opinion....

No finish, no medal - PERIOD!

Our society has become such that it caters to the lowest common denominator that everyone is a winner. Little Johnny must have his participation trophy because he just might feel bad that he isn't good enough. Too bad. Life is not fair and some people just can't be good at everything. You shouldn't be rewarded and shouting, "Look at me, I crossed the starting line!"

This then enables those that attempt to do things that they can't or have not properly prepared for.

Then you have the entitlement folks. "I paid XXX and I deserve...." Um, no you don't. Too much entitlement and not enough self-responsibility.

Then you get the excuse of - well if you try you should be rewarded. Your reward is self value, that you attempted to do something many won't try and THAT is your reward. I'd like to maybe do Boston, so if I try - based on the arguements - then I should get in because I tried and I should be rewarded.

I'll get the arguement that people went out there and trained just like I did and had an injury on course or an injury before and should get the medal too. My answer is still NO.

There are two events that I paid for and didn't even toe the line. One was due to injury about a week before the event. Did it suck? Absolutely but I'm smart enough to not want to exacerbate the injury or permanently take me out of the running game. Why would I want to do that for a medal? Yes I trained, yes I paid the money but the money is a sunk cost at that point and is the $100 worth making things worse?

Second time was because I was grossly undertrained. I signed up for the Disney marathon and when it came close I had no business even attempting. Heck I should have and gone around bragging how at least I tried and here is the wonderful medal for me because I tried. I paid for it too, I should get the medal. Nope.

I'm not that old and I just can't stand the entitlement mentality of some folks and the excuses as to the justification on why they should get something they don't deserve. Just starting and attempting shouldn't and doesn't bestow you the same priviledges as those that finish. End of story.

Why would you want a constant reminder of something that you didn't achieve? Then you have those that say well it doesn't matter because it doesn't devalue your medal. Yes it does. You are given the same rewards as those that actually did it, that is like saying to those that those that complete, well good for you but next time don't try as hard because you'll get the same benefits. Of course personal satisfaction would be greater because I know I finished.

Anyway, you get the idea. YMMV.

 

[deekaypee]

I'm not that invested in keeping my medals, so I'm probably not one to talk. But as long as it's runDisney's official policy, I try to embrace a "as you see fit" position.

That said, I'd prefer it was a finishers medal for many of the same reasons other posters have brought up. For some people, knowing they will be given a medal regardless of whether they finish might encourage undertraining (or no training); that could be dangerous. Knowing that a finishers medal is only awarded to those who finish - and finish within the pace requirements - might be extra motivation to complete the training.

I've said before that I'm willing to give up the medal if I could get a lower registration fee, something that was either an across-the-board decision or by offering an optional finishers medal fee for those who want it. Yeah. Like that's going to happen.