What's with the all the people wearing Marathon medals for a week?

[Dave Rolen]

I agree it's a legit question. But when you start off asking it by saying over and over that "you're not judging, BUT..." clearly you're judging.

So maybe tone doesn't come across well on a forum.

I never meant to say people cannot. Or that people should not. Or to imply that it necessarily bothered me as some posts seem to imply.

I asked a question and some answers were pretty solid like wanting to get character pictures or just to continue the celebration in a closed Disney System.

Sooo.. How do I insert some tone here that doesn't draw such ire to a question.

Maybe some of these..

 

[rteetz]

So maybe tone doesn't come across well on a forum.

I never meant to say people cannot. Or that people should not. Or to imply that it necessarily bothered me as some posts seem to imply.

I asked a question and some answers were pretty solid like wanting to get character pictures or just to continue the celebration in a closed Disney System.

Sooo.. How do I insert some tone here that doesn't draw such ire to a question.

Maybe some of these..

I would suggest to not say I'm not judging but... that clearly implies judging.

 

[Ariel484]

So maybe tone doesn't come across well on a forum.

I never meant to say people cannot. Or that people should not. Or to imply that it necessarily bothered me as some posts seem to imply.

I asked a question and some answers were pretty solid like wanting to get character pictures or just to continue the celebration in a closed Disney System.

Sooo.. How do I insert some tone here that doesn't draw such ire to a question.

Maybe some of these..

I agree that it's hard to tell tone on a message board. Starting your post off by saying "not judging, but" implies that you're judging the people you're asking about. That's how it came off to me.

 

[FFigawi]

So maybe tone doesn't come across well on a forum.

I never meant to say people cannot. Or that people should not. Or to imply that it necessarily bothered me as some posts seem to imply.

I asked a question and some answers were pretty solid like wanting to get character pictures or just to continue the celebration in a closed Disney System.

Sooo.. How do I insert some tone here that doesn't draw such ire to a question.

It's not only your tone. It's also what you said. You could have simply asked "why do people wear their medals in the parks all week? This is something I've never seen before." Instead, you expressed very clearly your opinion that people should not wear them past Sunday, or Monday for those who ran Goofy/Dopey. No tone needed.

 

[Disney_traveler]

It's the whole "but" that set the tone. "Not judging, BUT.."
sounds just like "no offense, BUT" when you're about to say something offensive. Similar to the whole "Sorry I'm not sorry" thing kids are doing now. It doesn't matter if it was said with a smile and a perky sincere tone, it's still judging/offensive/not sorry whatever fits the situation.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It was not just the tone but the choice of words.
"What's with", "not trying to be judgmental but..."

If you were truly only wondering then you should have said that or that you're curious.

The words you use set the tone to a question and your word choice made us go on the defense.

 

[ANIM8R]

Is this just a Disney thing or do you guys see this elsewhere. Maybe it's because I only have experience with single day events that I've never noticed this phenomenon?

thoughts?

As far as I've experienced, it is just a Disney thing. Further, it's mostly a WDW thing.

I've noticed a few people walking around Detroit later the day of the marathon with medals. Not many but still a handful.

I did not notice people with medals while out-and-about at Cocoa Beach after the Space Coast.

Also, I've noticed far, far less people at DL wearing medals after the races. A few do but nowhere near the way it's done at WDW.

 

[Kender]

I wore my Dopey medal in the parks a full week after I finished the challenge. I went on a cruise the day after marathon day and was gone all week so I didn't get a chance until then. I worked hard for that medal (and all the others one I earned) so I chose to wear it.

Sure, I have my "I Did It" shirt, but I'm not going to wear that every day. My Dopey medal was an easy thing to wear that didn't stink after one wearing and was always weather appropriate.

I would love to wear all my medals I earn in a race weekend, but like others have mentioned, that "clank clank" noise is annoying (and damaging to the medals). So I usually just pick one. If I want a picture with more of my medals, I carry the rest in a bag.

I also walk around the parks with a panda stuffy balanced on my head. Why? Because I want to. Although he's also a tool to help with my crowd anxiety, but that's another conversation. Point is we all have our reasons for doing things.

I appreciate that you've tried to clarify your standpoint and that it was just an unfortunate choice of words. I hope things are more clear why some of us wear our medals through an entire trip.

 

[Keels]

OK. I'm not judging. I'm not judging. Trying not to be judgmental here. BUT!!

I arrived at WDW marathon Sunday and departed this past Friday evening. Every day we saw tons of people wearing their medals. I understand rocking that bling all day race day. Maybe even all the way through Sunday if your race was earlier in the weekend. Maybe even the next day for Goofy/Dopey.

But wearing the medal for 5 days after the marathon? Isn't that what shirts, hats and jackets are for?

I understand that a marathon is a pretty big deal to most people and the longer distances even more of a big deal. So maybe to each their own. Maybe I am being judgmental even though I'm trying hard not to be.

Is this just a Disney thing or do you guys see this elsewhere. Maybe it's because I only have experience with single day events that I've never noticed this phenomenon?

thoughts?

It's not a "Disney thing", as I've seen runners in other places like New Orleans do the same thing.

But thanks for taking away from people's pride in their accomplishments.

FWIW - when you start a post repeating "no judgment", it means that it's completely full of judgment. So, no judgment, but it takes a special kind of tool bag to come to a run-specific forum and post something like this. Congrats on being special!

 

[Dave Rolen]

but it takes a special kind of tool bag to come to a run-specific forum and post something like this. Congrats on being special!

Uhm. Wow. I think we've went way off course here.

From a question which, while not intended, drew some deserved rebuke, to a complete flame.

It takes two to engage in a flame war though and I won't be one of them.

For those of you who were offended, or offended on behalf of others I apologize but for anyone posting an outright personal attack I just won't engage in that.

 

[Keels]

I'm just honestly curious what purpose posting that terrible "question" would serve other than to make yourself feel cool from behind a keyboard?

You obviously knew it was judgey. It wasn't funny. It wasn't a real inquiry about why people were doing it.

So, what was your point?

 

[Dave Rolen]

Glad to see others see this as a bit unique and not commonplace. I'm not alone seeing this as unusual.

As far as I've experienced, it is just a Disney thing. Further, it's mostly a WDW thing.

I've noticed a few people walking around Detroit later the day of the marathon with medals. Not many but still a handful.

I did not notice people with medals while out-and-about at Cocoa Beach after the Space Coast.

Also, I've noticed far, far less people at DL wearing medals after the races. A few do but nowhere near the way it's done at WDW.

 

[bumbershoot]

Have to agree with bumbershoot, though, I find them really annoying to walk around in (clank, clank, clank!). But even I have a tradition of going to a park and getting a picture taken with my medal with the character from the race.

Clarifying that I mind the clank on ME. Not on others.

Oh wait. There was a guy at Seattle Beat the Blerch who wore about 10 medals *while running* and I spent a good long while thinking extremely negative thoughts about him.

* clarifying...I have both hearing loss AND very sensitive hearing. There are certain things I can't hear, and others that when I hear them it's all I can hear. And some noises I don't hear right but I really hear them. The clanking of his medals as we ran slowly along at the same pace for way too long was very very loud and painful.

Pride is awesome. But he hurt my ears that 5 minutes or so and I didn't know why he was wearing them. Blerch isn't a challenge because the runs go concurrently with staggered start times in such a way that you can't do them all. So they weren't from that race event.

Heck, I even wore my 1/2 medal for a little while this year even though the race was cancelled. It took me about 3 hours to get it at the Expo and back, so yes I earned it!

I did not notice people with medals while out-and-about at Cocoa Beach after the Space Coast.

What a shame! Those space coasts are cool.

 

[Barca33Runner]

 

[rteetz]

@ohMom @Tiger Lily 03

I think it's time this thread should be put to rest. It's doing no good.

 

[Kender]

Clarifying that I mind the clank on ME. Not on others.

Haha! Right?!

I don't mind it on others either. I actually giggle when I hear the medals of others clanking. But I don't hear their particular clank all day. I hear mine @_@.

 

[bellrae]

I think it is great that people take pride in what they achieved by showing it off. Does it really matter WHEN they choose to do so?

 

[croach]

Your question didn't offend me but I will agree with others that you set yourself up with all the judging stuff. Anywho I think it's important to remember that for a lot of people, runDisney events may the first race and sometimes the only race they may do. For others it's tackling the challenge of doing multiple races in one weekend. It's a major accomplishment for a lot of people who worked hard to get out there and do whichever race they chose. And while running is a community, runDisney is its own sub-community. I mean look at these boards for proof of that. And I think people like to identify with each other while they are in the parks. No harm in that right?

 

[Suz333]

But wearing the medal for 5 days after the marathon? Isn't that what shirts, hats and jackets are for?

.....

thoughts?

I don't usually wear my medals for a lot of time, but that's only because I find the ribbon to be super uncomfortable. The edge feels sharp on my neck, and the Velcro closure is bulky on the back of my neck, but it looks lopsided if I adjust it to a lower position. Otherwise I'd be wearing that bling for days!

You asked about the shirts, jacket and hats. Those don't mean the same. Most of those items can be purchased by anyone willing to go to the expo. (Well, if they get there before the eBay sellers...). The actual race shirts are only for folks who register, but you could still decide to skip the race.

The medal is the one thing that you have to actually show up for. (And some mornings just getting to the race corral feels like an accomplishment- catching a 3:30 am bus to go stand out in the cold for a few hours is not a normal vacation activity.)

A lot of folks here sacrifice a lot of time to train, and many run hoping to achieve a certain pace. A year or more of training vs a week of wearing a medal? Why not?

Note: I was not offended by your question but I can see why others would be. I'm not really a runner, though, so my perspective is probably different. I hope one day to be trained enough to have a goal for this or that pace. So far my only 3 goals for my Disney races have been:
1. Don't get swept
2. Don't get injured
3. Have fun

(I've been meeting my goals )

 

[DOOM1001]

I only wear the medal from the finish line to my house or hotel,I just find the ribbon bothers my neck.Race shirts however I wear all the time,on any given month I probably wear a race shirt 15-20 days out of the month,I probably have close to 40 race shirts by now.