We Woke Up Early for This?

 School groups and non-profits frequently hold runs, races & walks. Outdoor events are a great way to raise both money and awareness for your organization. Planners for these types of event seek items to reward participation, yet the problem arises; what to give out?

Our friends at EMT suggest we consider these points: 

• The trophy looks different for everyone. For some, it is an intangible. The trophy is simply the satisfaction of having achieved a goal or realized a dream. For most, however, a physical object is what they are after. But why? What’s so important about a statue of a generic shape on a pedestal or piece of metal fastened to a colored ribbon?

• Like most tangible objects people tend to value in life, it’s not about the object. It’s about what the object represents. In the case of military medals and pins, these relatively small objects with what is usually very plain decoration often represent a lifetime of service, incredible bravery, and inhuman sacrifice. 
• For Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, patches are given only when they are earned and serve as trophies for learning new skills and participating in certain experiences. 
• Then there are runners who receive medals for finishing and/or winning races. People of all ages participate in one mile fun runs, 5ks, half and full marathons, mud runs, color runs, and even wine runs. There are also turkey trots, splash and dashes, Ragnar relays, and so many more. In any of these cases, the medals are a big deal!

We've established why give out medals but now what type of medal? 

• Some of these medals offer a lot of choice in terms of appearance, materials, details, color and function- yep, you can even purchase medals that are bottle openers or even fidget spinners.  
• Budget, how many participates do you have for the event. 
• What's the demographic? Expectations will vary by age bracket and type of event. 
• For example we have one client puts on an annual race where participants run over a 24 hour period- that's dedication! 

• For serious runners who wake up early, spends hours a day training, investing in footwear, gear and pay entry fees, as well as travel there is an extra level of preparation that goes into running a race and crossing a finish line is unparalleled. It requires patience, persistence, and discipline. Taking all of this into consideration, it’s now easy to see why runners value these pieces as they do. These medals represent a level of dedication and effort that very few are willing to put forth and when participants see the medal, a deep emotional connection that is made that extends far beyond metal and ribbon. If you are a race organizer, consider this your reminder that the pressure to produce a medal worth waking up early for, is on!

Maybe you are just looking for some exercise- note a marathon? When you are in a rush for metal projects- EMT has us covered for you!