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

[makelab]

I think at the end of the day what this debate comes down to is how you feel about a medal. I have personal experience, I did not have an official finish time for Hawaii 70.3 three years ago. They were nice enough to give me my medal and finisher shirt. I did finish and quite frankly I would be pissed if anyone had said I did not deserve the medal they gave me. People are getting out of bed at 3am and doing a Disney race. If they started then they deserve something to show for that.

What the question really is when you are in that situation will you take the medal or not. No one else has the right to decide for you or look down on your decision.

The people who everyone is talking about wouldn't have the nerve to register for a 70.3 triathlon to begin with, and you actually finished. The discussion is about people who do not finish at all, being taken to the finish by a van.

And I do agree with the color coded bibs on whether you paid for a medal or not. Count me in.

 

[Stitch_lover_Sith]

So I guess I was not really clear with that. According to World Triathlon Corp of you finish a race above the 8:30 time limit did not finish. That day I was 15 seconds from being swept on the bike. I was the last person they let out onto the run course. I then passed some people and got so between the sweeps and passing people that it was me and one other woman. The race director kept the finish line open and let us finish in 8:37 and 8:47 respectively. We were then given oversized shirts because it was all they had left and our finisher medal. The point I was making is the race director decided to keep the finish open, to let us get our medals and shirts.

At the RunDisney events it is the decision of RunDisney to offer the medals. A guy I know was offered a medal and he turned it down because he did not earn it. Some use the medals or race posters as a visual reminder of their unfinished business.

Now of these people were not doing the whole course then strolling through the finish line. That I have a real problem with. But if you were out there giving it your all and your all was not good enough that day, you make the decision for you.

Last thing if it bugs you so much that RunDisney does this then perhaps you can do Diva races or Rock and Roll, or local events instead.

 

[dburg30]

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 would have it somewhere that I would have to see it and be reminded that I didnt finish. It wouldnt be in a place of pride, but someplace that only I would see it. After I met my goal in whatever race that medal would be destroyed in some fantastic way because I now had a medal I could be proud of. No more need for the reminder

I'm guess I'm in the minority.....

If they get it and they didn't finish, they still tried. Doesn't bother me. It's a personal walk for me.. I wear it because it's my accomplishment, but if someone wears it and didn't complete, what do I care? They know they didn't, but they may be proud of what they did do. That's all that matters.

FTR, I also don't care about clothing labels or have the other nonsense appearance things most ppl do, so this is a big eyeroll subject to me and I feel like people can get very snarky over nothing. I also read the blogs of those people and I feel they are way more positive than most of the people getting an attitude about this. Let's practice what we preach, people. Disney is supposed to be about positivity and uplifting others/feeling good about ourselves, no?

I think that more people would be "ok" with people getting a medal if they made it say to mile 20 on a marathon, IMO those people TRIED. If you get swept before mile 2, sorry you did NOT try, no matter how you try to pass it off to me. For any other distance below a full, if you didnt finish no medal.

And I guess I missed something about clothing labels, if you are talking about major brand running clothing? There are certain items I have tried to go cheaper on, but for training for 26 miles there are items that just are not comfortable in the cheaper brands so I wind up with the high priced ones. If you meant something else, then sorry I misunderstood

 

[princessallegra]

Seriously people, it was a Disney princess race. Fat girls were wearing Snow White costumes. It wasn't an Olympic or military medal. It was a Disney princess race medal. Who cares if they all got one..

You just pop up everywhere with your nasty comments, don't you? Shoo fly.

 

[cewait]

In answer to the original post... Personally, no, I am not ok with lowering the standard. I think the fact it is called a "Finisher" medal should mean that only finishers receive the medal. Call it a "Participant" medal and hand them out at packet pick up if you are giving them to all. In deference to my Blizzard toting friend, Disney actually DOES say, “Finisher medals will be distributed to finishers after the race.”. While not specifically stating no finish no medal – it does in fact imply that only finishers will receive hardware. I thought what would happen last January as I plodded around the course with the flu - I think I would simply drop the medal on the ground if the volunteer insisted or sell it on EBay last my late friend Charles Cohn did after failing his last Disney marathon attempt.

Saying this, it IS Disney's race and they can run it as they see fit. If they want to hand out medals to everyone in the park the day of the race to help them overcome the inconvenience of having a race in their way– then so be it. If they want to take the long out and back out of the equation for the back of the packers, or bus the slower folks to a point back in front of the sweep line; again, their race, their decisions.

I want to add; those who fail to finish, do receive a medal and then claim to be a half marathoner or full marathoner are only cheating themselves. I actually pity those who publicly claim to finish, but did not. They may never understand the rewards of sacrifice and pushing into mental and physical areas that seem beyond possible.

Finishing an endurance event IS a life-changing event. I run them for that alone.

 

[sunnygal041]

You just pop up everywhere with your nasty comments, don't you? Shoo fly.

Agreed! That comment is offensive. Hey moderator, can ya help us out here?

 

[davedmaine]

You just pop up everywhere with your nasty comments, don't you? Shoo fly.

Instead of attacking people, you should participate in the discussion. Maybe you feel good about putting people down, but that's not the way I was brought up.

 

[mickeysgal]

In answer to the original post... Personally, no, I am not ok with lowering the standard. I think the fact it is called a "Finisher" medal should mean that only finishers receive the medal. Call it a "Participant" medal and hand them out at packet pick up if you are giving them to all. In deference to my Blizzard toting friend, Disney actually DOES say, “Finisher medals will be distributed to finishers after the race.”. While not specifically stating no finish no medal – it does in fact imply that only finishers will receive hardware. I thought what would happen last January as I plodded around the course with the flu - I think I would simply drop the medal on the ground if the volunteer insisted or sell it on EBay last my late friend Charles Cohn did after failing his last Disney marathon attempt.

Saying this, it IS Disney's race and they can run it as they see fit. If they want to hand out medals to everyone in the park the day of the race to help them overcome the inconvenience of having a race in their way– then so be it. If they want to take the long out and back out of the equation for the back of the packers, or bus the slower folks to a point back in front of the sweep line; again, their race, their decisions.

I want to add; those who fail to finish, do receive a medal and then claim to be a half marathoner or full marathoner are only cheating themselves. I actually pity those who publicly claim to finish, but did not. They may never understand the rewards of sacrifice and pushing into mental and physical areas that seem beyond possible.

Finishing an endurance event IS a life-changing event. I run them for that alone.

As usual Coach, well said.

 

[dburg30]

Instead of attacking people, you should participate in the discussion. Maybe you feel good about putting people down, but that's not the way I was brought up.

Ahh.. but calling someone fat is not putting a person down? Just quoting your own words. So I guess you were brought up that way after all???

 

[cewait]

Instead of attacking people, you should participate in the discussion. Maybe you feel good about putting people down, but that's not the way I was brought up.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander....

I have not seen your brand of sarcasm here before. Sorry, your phrasing in your original post was inappropriate.

Let's keep moving on - nothing to see here.....

 

[sunnygal041]

What's good for the goose is good for the gander....

I have not seen your brand of sarcasm here before. Sorry, your phrasing in your original post was inappropriate.

Let's keep moving on - nothing to see here.....

Well said, Coach. BTW, during the PHM, I kept repeating to myself: relentless pursuit of forward momentum. Thanks again!

 

[goofeygirl]

Backtracking and reading some posts...someone mentioned that they thought two people died doing the Disney full marathon this year and I am pretty sure that is just a rumor.
I had seen several people taken away in an ambulance...I even saw one fellow fall right after crossing the start line because there was a cluster of runners trying to get started.
I am almost certain no one died though...but if there is any proof please share.

 

[cewait]

Backtracking and reading some posts...someone mentioned that they thought two people died doing the Disney full marathon this year and I am pretty sure that is just a rumor.
I had seen several people taken away in an ambulance...I even saw one fellow fall right after crossing the start line because there was a cluster of runners trying to get started.
I am almost certain no one died though...but if there is any proof please share.

There was a serious code in the half but no deaths that I read about in 2013. The only two I know of were 2000 and 2006.

In 2000, a Canadian runner died of a heart attack less than a mile into the marathon. A FHP officer also had a heart attack assisting the runner. I was stopping about the same time a bunch of south FLA EMT's stopped so I continued on. The officer survived. The Canadian was there with his cardiologist's blessing having had a bypass previously. The really sad thing was that his wife was running from a different corral and the race could not find her until she finished near the 7 hour mark. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-01-10/news/0001100081_1_first-marathon-plumb-mile

Then in the 2006 half, an AZ golf pro had a heart attack at the finish line. He had passed me around mile 10 and was not looking well; really sweaty on a not so warm morning. He was being wheeled off as I crossed the line. He had started exercising as a way to get healthy; he wanted to live a long time for his kid's sake.

 

[longhorns2]

Backtracking and reading some posts...someone mentioned that they thought two people died doing the Disney full marathon this year and I am pretty sure that is just a rumor.
I had seen several people taken away in an ambulance...I even saw one fellow fall right after crossing the start line because there was a cluster of runners trying to get started.
I am almost certain no one died though...but if there is any proof please share.

Have a friend in my running group who is a medical doctor. She checked with her friends who were working wdw marathon- and YES, 2 people died at marathon. One man, one woman. One was a heart condition (happened afterward in race retreat I believe) the other they were attributing to heat concerns (I don't think she had specifics) But she did confirm 2 deaths during marathon from medical personal on scene.

 

[cewait]

Have a friend in my running group who is a medical doctor. She checked with her friends who were working wdw marathon- and YES, 2 people died at marathon. One man, one woman. One was a heart condition (happened afterward in race retreat I believe) the other they were attributing to heat concerns (I don't think she had specifics) But she did confirm 2 deaths during marathon from medical personal on scene.

Not arguing, but it is rare that these would not have made the press in some way. 2013 would have been the year for a heat related issue for sure.

 

[goofeygirl]

I know that WDW is very clever to avoid negative press but I didn't find any info on deaths from the race. I would hate to think that two people did in fact pass away resulting from these races and the heat and nothing was mentioned (that I could see).



Some years back I lived in London. A colleague (we didn't work together so I never knew him) from the same company had ran the race and collapsed at the very end and died. Very sad as he was quite young and at that time they had reported he had no health issues anyone was aware of.


This past race was certainly very hot and esp for a 26.2 mile journey. My brother felt aweful and it might have been the worse race he had ever done.He finished it though but not without feeling horrible for quite a while afterwards. I think people should just call it day if you feel terrible.

 

[afnaechiquita]

There was a serious code in the half but no deaths that I read about in 2013. The only two I know of were 2000 and 2006.

In 2000, a Canadian runner died of a heart attack less than a mile into the marathon. A FHP officer also had a heart attack assisting the runner. I was stopping about the same time a bunch of south FLA EMT's stopped so I continued on. The officer survived. The Canadian was there with his cardiologist's blessing having had a bypass previously. The really sad thing was that his wife was running from a different corral and the race could not find her until she finished near the 7 hour mark. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-01-10/news/0001100081_1_first-marathon-plumb-mile

Then in the 2006 half, an AZ golf pro had a heart attack at the finish line. He had passed me around mile 10 and was not looking well; really sweaty on a not so warm morning. He was being wheeled off as I crossed the line. He had started exercising as a way to get healthy; he wanted to live a long time for his kid's sake.

Terribly sad, especially to see dangers existing in trying to be healthy.

 

[Gryhndmom]

I am one of those, because I stopped for 8 pictures. I only stop at Disney races. MANY of the people with higher times are 2:30-3 hour halfers who spent 30 minutes or more in picture lines, and ended up with times above 3:30.

Edit: And yes, we do account for time. We know what corral we are in, and therefore how much extra time we have for pictures. I know I run a 3 hourish half on a normal day, so a 3:15 on a day that hot and humid, so in Corral E, I can spend no more than 45 minutes on pictures and bathroom stops in order to finish. It's highly calculated.

Amen sister ! DH and I were in corral E with you and thought it was right where we needed to be corral wise. We both did a 3:11 with stopping for pics along the way.

Here's my thoughts on everyone getting a medal. Disney should have a separate medal for DNF and/or state in the rules that only those that cross the finish line will receive an official medal. Would I personally wear a medal that I got and didn't actually cross the finish line...no..but that's me. I believe in what goes around comes around so if you wear a medal you don't truly earn...it will come back to bite you.

Totally agree with a post that as a USA society we have become over sensitive...not everyone can win, and sometimes your feelings will get Hurt. Such is life...

Back in Nov I did a 10k...got lost and totally missed about 1 1/2 mi of the course. Got back on track and finished...my posts time said 8.32 min miles and the winner of my division. I told the race officials what happened and therefore would not accept any award. Also didn't turn the time in to rundisney...would not have been right to do just to get in an earlier corral. Maybe it's just me...

 

[DrMomof3]

In answer to the original post... Personally, no, I am not ok with lowering the standard. I think the fact it is called a "Finisher" medal should mean that only finishers receive the medal. Call it a "Participant" medal and hand them out at packet pick up if you are giving them to all. In deference to my Blizzard toting friend, Disney actually DOES say, “Finisher medals will be distributed to finishers after the race.”. While not specifically stating no finish no medal – it does in fact imply that only finishers will receive hardware. I thought what would happen last January as I plodded around the course with the flu - I think I would simply drop the medal on the ground if the volunteer insisted or sell it on EBay last my late friend Charles Cohn did after failing his last Disney marathon attempt.

Saying this, it IS Disney's race and they can run it as they see fit. If they want to hand out medals to everyone in the park the day of the race to help them overcome the inconvenience of having a race in their way– then so be it. If they want to take the long out and back out of the equation for the back of the packers, or bus the slower folks to a point back in front of the sweep line; again, their race, their decisions.

I want to add; those who fail to finish, do receive a medal and then claim to be a half marathoner or full marathoner are only cheating themselves. I actually pity those who publicly claim to finish, but did not. They may never understand the rewards of sacrifice and pushing into mental and physical areas that seem beyond possible.

Finishing an endurance event IS a life-changing event. I run them for that alone.

As usual you have spoken beautifully. Endurance running has changed my life forever. I've only been running for about 3 years but my children (ages 9, 7, 4) think that I am a runner. I try to teach them integrity and for that reason alone I wouldn't want a medal I hadn't earned, unless I could use it as a teaching point.
But it's not up to me to judge others and we each have our own story. runDisney got me off the couch and I felt undertrained for both my first half and my first full (but I finished both in respectable times). i learned from my training errors and did better the next time. My achievements are my own and done for my own sake. Having participation medals handed out does not affect my sense of accomplishment at all.

Amanda

 

[Freight Train]

I'm extremely internally motivated, so for me wearing a medal for a race I didn't finish and pretending I had would make me feel dishonest.

That said, I don't hold anything against those who got a medal but didn't finish as to that specific issue. It does nothing to diminish my accomplishment because I know what I did. Perhaps I'm used to the similar (but certainly not the same) argument that walkers shouldn't be considered finishers because it's a "run." People are entitled to their opinion, and if they don't consider my 3:21 1/2 or 6:47 full "legitimate" because I walked, that's fine with me. I know what I accomplished in my first races ever.

I realize that the arguments are not truly analogous but my point is that there will always be those who don't think someone else's performance in a race isn't worthy of a medal. There are those who think only the winner should get a medal. There are probably some who think even the winner shouldn't get one. That's OK. This is America. Truth be told, if we're honest all of us have that line where we would say "OK, that's too far. It's not a legitimate performance to warrant a medal." For me, I would call it the halfway point of the race. I would think if you make it to halfway you've put in a moderate amount of training and are more likely to be a victim of bad luck (injury, heat, etc.) and not in the crowd blogging about how great it is to be a "start and park" (yes, a NASCAR reference).

But ultimately it's Disney's race and they'll set their policies. Would I take a medal after getting swept? Yes I would. As I said, I'm internally motivated. I'm also motivated by negative emotions. So I would carry that stupid medal with me on every single training session for the next race, letting it mock me and remind me of past failure and pushing me to work ever harder. Once I finished the next race, I'd take the failure medal and chuck it off the tallest bridge I could find. Or maybe find a friend with a gun who would let me shoot it. Or introduce it to a table saw. Whatever. The point is it would die badly.

In the meantime it doesn't hurt me to have non-finishers get a medal, so I'm OK with it, though I do see the point of the crowd complaining about the "participant trophy" state of the country.