Standard Awards Policy

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Bricks
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Chicago
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 222

Standard Awards Policy Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 2:51 pm

So I got my medal in the mail yesterday for my 3rd Place Division finish. But when I turned over the medal it said "1st Place Male 25-29". My only guess as to why this happened is that the 1 and 2 runners in my division placed 2 and 3 respectively overall in the race and thus trumped thier division awards with the overall prizes. Is it standard practice to 'spread the wealth' with race awards, or was it just this race. I would think, say, the second place runner, should have gotten that award and the 1st place division medal. Anyone know what ususally happens in most races?

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: Standard Awards Policy Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:04 pm

That is standard practice. It's not considered proper "race management etiquette" to award a runner twice. You win in either the open division or the age group division, but not both. In all of the races I've run (about 70) I've only been in one were some winners were allowed to "double dip." This same race, when held the following year, changed that practice to the more standard pratice of one award per winner. I often see race applications mention "duplicate awards will not be given." I actually finished 4th in my age group at the NH Marathon, but since the person who finished first in my age group came in 3rd over all, it bumped me up to 3rd place in my age group. I think the idea is to spread the wealth, as you said. In most races there are actually two race divisions; Open Division and Age Group Division. I think the distinction is actually determined by how you finish. The only people who are actually recognized as being in the Open Division are the top three finishers for both men and women. Everyone else is considered Age Groupers. So, the top three get awards in the Open Division and everyone else is then competeing for top honors in the Age Group Division. And then some races recognize additional Divisions such as Professional, Juniors, Masters, Seniors, Clydesdales, and Athenas. There may be others that I'm forgetting or not aware of. Congratulations Bricks!!! Display your medal proudly!

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: Standard Awards Policy Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:37 pm

Ditto what mfox said-- this is normal. However, I've definitely been in some smaller races where this practice wasn't followed, because there really weren't any awards for the overall winner, and everyone just got age group awards. Congratulations on the hardware!

Bricks
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Chicago
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 222

Re: Standard Awards Policy Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 6:32 am

thanks guys, that clears things up a lot. i wanted to make sure i shouldn't feel guilty for getting the 'wrong' medal or something. that is great information and it makes a lot of sense. i think it's a good practice. the open vs. age explanation is a great way to do it. And MFOX..... Hardware in a Marathon.... that is Awesome!

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