While running the 2012 NYC Non-Marathon on November 4th, I remember wondering aloud to Alison what would happen to all the finishers’ medals. They had to be ordered before the marathon so obviously New York Road Runners (NYRR) had them somewhere.
That was pretty much the last I thought about the medals until 6 weeks or so later a friend of mine told me that someone she knew had been able to pick up her medal from NYRR. Supposedly if you went to the NYRR office you could get your medal. If that was true, I knew I wanted my medal. I’d paid for it anyway with my entrance fee.
The next day I called NYRR and sure enough they told me that if you came to the office and knew your bib number you would be given your 2012 medal. You can’t imagine my excitement! I asked if my husband could pick mine up since he works in the city while I don’t and again the answer was yes. I decided to push my luck a little further and inquired if he could possibly get my friend, Alison’s, medal too.
“Sure!” was the response. “Just make sure he brings in her bib number too.”
Now I was hatching a plan. I wanted to get Alison’s medal without her knowing and surprise her with a belated Channukah present. But how would I get her bib number? I didn’t have it memorized. Luckily I’d taken a picture of her after we’d finished the Non-Marathon and I knew that picture was now her Facebook profile picture. Did the picture show her bib number? I didn’t know so I quickly popped over to Facebook and took a gander. Yes! The number was there clear as day.
So thanks to a very nice hubby who made a detour up to New York Road Runners after Christmas was past, I soon had two 2012 NYC Marathon medals in my possession. I wrapped one up and brought it to Alison telling her it was a belated Channukah present, but not to worry, she’d actually paid for it herself. (She looked a little bewildered at that comment.)
When she saw what it was she at first looked confused, but then I explained and her smile was priceless. I’m sure it was the same smile I had when my hubby handed me my medal.
My medal isn’t engraved with my name and time like the last two, but it’s still terrific to have it. I have a feeling it will actually be the medal that I covet the most as it will always remind me of the marathon that never happened and the wonderful Sunday I spent running 26.2 miles in Central Park with a good running buddy. The 2012 Non-Marathon is the one that I will always most remember.
Thanks NYRR for giving me my medal! I truly do love it!
Hi Karen,
I did the non marathon run too in Central Park and our tour operator got our medals from NYRR!! I collected for my friends too and surprised them!! It was fantastic! While I still feel the need to run the official NYC marathon because last November was my first! I do cherish my first marathon medal!!! And to get it under such crazy circumstances! I reckon it will be quite a collectors item!!
Emma- That’s so cool that you were there too and got your medal. I’d had no idea we could get our medals, but it made sense since they were already ordered.
Definitely do NYC in 2013 then! It really is an amazing experience to run the marathon through the streets of NYC. It’s like a big party and you’re one of the stars. Just amazing!
It was truly awesome when you gave me that medal! Thanks to you and Joe! I agree, it was more important that my medal from the year before, simply because the marathon didn’t exist and we ran it anyway. We ran it for us!
Yeah! It was awesome!
That’s so great that your still got your medal! And that was so sweet of you to do that for your friend!
Thanks Kristen. It was nice to be able to get my medal even if the race was cancelled.
I picked up my sisters for her as well and she is now using it as her inspiration to train harder for this years race. It is hanging by her treadmill
Perfect place for it! I’m sure glad I was able to get my medal.