Medals and Shirts and Bibs, Oh My!
Putting your race swag in its place
I take second place to no one in my love for the goodies that you receive at races. It’s an obsession I’ve indulged for decades; lest you think that’s an exaggeration, here’s proof:
These are my first place ribbons earned at sixth grade field day in 1969 — I was evidently something of a relay specialist back in elementary school.
While I relish a good Swedish Death Cleaning, race swag is one category I have a tough time parting with; in particular, medals hold a special place in my heart. Each one represents so many hours of training, so much sacrifice; in some cases, they rekindle memories of travel or time spent with family and friends. A handful of them symbolize the culmination of a long-cherished goal or surmounting of significant obstacles. At the very least they are little pieces of artwork — although, as is the case with all art, different people have different tastes and when it comes to medal design, opinions differ widely.
Like many runners and walkers, you may have boxes or drawers in your home that are overflowing with race regalia and souvenirs. What are the best ways…
