Year Of The Marathon Class Photo

Okay, I got all the medals from the "Year of the Marathon" up on the curtain rod. I immediately took down the Texas medal for fear it would connect with my foot in the middle of the night. Originally the plan was to keep medals from the current year up on the rod. But I haven't yet had the heart to take them all down. Boyfriend and I joke and call it our Earthquake Alert Device.

I'm glad everyone likes the rod. It is very economical and adjustable (though we reached the limit of the rod for 2010). I got the idea from people who hung their medals from curtain rods. I don't have any curtain rods over windows, but figured that wouldn't stop me from buying one and putting one up.

BunnyGirl asked if I have a favorite swag item. I think my favorite medal of the year is the Austin Marathon medal.

Mica wanted to know what The Year of the Marathon cost. To be honest, I don't know and I don't want to know. If you are talking about the races themselves, they probably averaged about $100 each give or take $20. If you're talking travel costs associated with the races I'm guesstimating $2,500 (this does NOT factor in 2 one week Disney World vacations -- let's not go there). I tried to travel as cheaply as possible and spent a few nights in motel rooms some of you would surely have declined. And while I minimized missing work for this endeavor, if you factor in lost wages, we're up in the bury-my-head-in-the-sand price point.

Mica's Harrison wanted to know why I don't plan to apply to Marathon Maniacs. I hear they are a very supportive bunch of people. I happen to personally know my fair share of Maniacs. And lately I've "met" more of them while listening to the podcast, "The Marathon Show." They sound like a fun bunch. I choose not to join for a few reasons:

1. I don't think my multiple marathoning has ever been defined or validated by their group. I have no desire to be a star-chaser and to think of ways to increase my star ranking. It would seem to me that after a certain point, going up the ranks in Marathon Maniacs is a monetary achievement and I'm not interested in that.

2. I've been told that wearing the shirt is a great way to meet people and to garner support while out on the course.

2a. I don't like their shirts. I highly doubt I'd regularly wear their shirts while racing. My one personal shopping weakness is running apparel and I love planning outfits for races. The idea of wearing the same shirt to every race makes me rather glum.

2b. While I do enjoy running with other people, if I had to choose, I'd be a solitary runner. In marathons especially I actually dislike the idea of people excessively chatting to me on course. In other words, if wearing that shirt is an invitation for people to talk to me, I'd rather RSVP "no thanks."
2c. I have no doubt in my mind that a lack of a Marathon Maniacs shirt would never stop a Maniac from being friendly or supportive towards me if I chatted them up. So they're friendly if I'm wearing the shirt, they're friendly if I'm not wearing the shirt (see 2a.)
3. There is not only a fee to join, there is an annual fee every year thereafter. It isn't much, but I'd rather put it towards something else.

Hope that answers some of your questions!