Final weekend, as a result of potential for an unusually scorching day — forecast to be over 80 levels Fahrenheit (26.5 levels Celsius) — the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon introduced that runners may select to finish their marathon at mile 18 and nonetheless obtain a finisher’s medal. Large-city marathons like LA work with state and native officers to make choices in the most effective pursuits of runners and the occasion to maintain everybody secure. I’m positive that was the case right here, however one thing concerning the resolution to award runners with a medal for finishing solely 18 miles as a substitute of the complete marathon bothered me.
AJW proudly shows his 2024 Javelina 100 belt buckle after finishing the complete occasion. Picture courtesy of AJW.
Again in 2015, I wrote an article right here on intrinsic rewards. On the time, all three of my sons had been lively members in youth athletics, which was within the midst of the participation trophy period. I wrote about two occasions that my sons, Logan and Tully, participated in that went the wrong way, awarding trophies solely to the highest three members.
For my sons, these experiences proved extremely helpful. Each of them discovered to worth their athletic experiences not a lot for the awards they gained or accolades they acquired however for what taking part in these occasions did for them on the within. In evaluating their childhood experiences to my long-distance working, I spotted that lots of my very own fondest working recollections didn’t come from the buckles or plaques I acquired however quite from the inner gratification I loved in finishing one thing actually tough.
Inserting Worth
There have been just a few issues that didn’t sit nicely with me concerning the LA Marathon awarding finisher’s medals to those that stopped at mile 18.
First, the choice was a press release of how necessary these medals have turn out to be to runners. Lately, plainly the medal — a bodily manifestation of the accomplishment — has turn out to be extra necessary than the intrinsic satisfaction of the accomplishment itself. It’s nearly as if within the absence of some bodily award, the outcome didn’t occur.
The Western States 100 belt buckles on show. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Second, whereas I perceive that the potential for warm climate factored into the organizer’s resolution, the 18-mile cutoff gave runners an out, a security web of types. Operating lengthy distances is difficult, and it’s alleged to be arduous. There’s a good bit of struggling that’s mandatory to finish arduous issues, and for the LA Marathon to say, in a method, “When you’re having a tough day, you’ll be able to simply cease right here and nonetheless win a prize,” they’re diminishing the accomplishments of all the opposite runners who did the complete marathon distance.
Lastly, I consider this resolution encourages different races to do the identical, and has the potential to water down the game as an entire. From my perspective, providing a reward not just for finishing an occasion, however for not finishing it as nicely, additional reinforces extrinsic motivations. The interior satisfaction of doing one thing arduous is the reward itself, and falling wanting that aim can in the end result in higher accomplishment down the highway. Whereas I definitely perceive the LA Marathon’s reasoning behind this resolution, I’m hopeful it doesn’t have unintended penalties sooner or later.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Ska Brewing in Durango, Colorado. Rue B. Soho is a deliciously complicated grapefruit lager brewed within the Helles model. Barely candy and tangy, Rue B. Soho is a superb beer to get pleasure from on an early spring day within the mountains.
Name for Feedback
- Would you consider not signing up for a race if there wasn’t a belt buckle or medal awarded to finishers?
- What do you consider the LA Marathon’s resolution?
