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Edinburgh Marathon Under Fire After Running Out of Finisher Medals

How important is a finisher medal to you?

One of the most exciting parts of running a marathon is the post-race medal. Getting that big piece of hardware around your neck as you cross the finish line is a nice reminder of all the hard work you put into training and race day.

But at this year’s Edinburgh Marathon, some runners were left frustrated after organizers ran out of finisher medals during the event, which saw around 35,000 participants over the weekend.

Many runners who crossed the finish line were left confused and frustrated upon realizing that the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, the company that organizes the event, hadn’t ordered enough medals for the full field of finishers. They were told they would receive their medal by mail after supplies ran out on Sunday.

The organizers issued an apology on social media and promised to investigate the issue, assuring runners that replacement medals were being ordered.

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In a Facebook comment, the organizers said: โ€œWe know that there were a small number of finishers for whom we did not have a medal. We are so sorry about this. Your achievement merits being presented with your amazing medal straight away, and we were not able to do this.โ€

We got in touch with one runner, Allan Fraser, who took on the half marathon in Edinburgh but was luckily fast enough to pick up one of the medals. He expressed frustration for the runners behind him who werenโ€™t so lucky to get their medals.

โ€œYou know, everyone is on their limit when running a marathon, regardless of whether it takes them two, three, four, or more hours. And for the people at the back end of the race, theyโ€™ve been on their limit for a lot longer than those at the front, so itโ€™s a bit of a punch to the gut to be handed a bar instead of a medal at the finish,โ€ Fraser said.

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Another runner on social media shared their frustration, questioning how the shortage could occur given the known number of entrants.

Criticism also targeted the handling of heavy rain, with one attendee comparing the post-race conditions to a muddy swamp. Suggestions for improvement included using ground sheeting. Another participant described the event as disorganized and was upset to find their bag left out in the rain, soaking their dry clothes.

The organizers have asked affected participants to check their emails, including junk folders, for updates about receiving their medals.

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Jessy Carveth

Senior News Editor

Jessy has been active her whole life, competing in cross-country, track running, and soccer throughout her undergrad. She pivoted to road cycling after completing her Bachelor of Kinesiology with Nutrition from Acadia University. Jessy is currently a professional road cyclist living and training in Spain.

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