Age Group Awards

[Christine Thorne]

When a race is set up to give age group awards, what is an appropriate
prize for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners?


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[Steve Moland]

This is completely the choice of the race management and is often governed
by money you have or don't have.

Choices can vary from money to baked cookies.

I run small races in Maine in the summer. Great prizes of cookies, pies,
blueberries, maple syrup, local pottery, gift certificates for vegetables at
local farms and even from private gardeners, cider, bouquets of flowers from
people gardens, lobster, boiled wool mittens, locally knitted stocking caps,
Fishing gear, tons of stuff, food, paper goods, cleaning products donated by
a local supermarket.

Sometimes there are small medals or trophies and the stuff above.

My wife and I ran a small 5K in Lake Tahoe last summer. All the winners got
a small hand made pottery medals and they had 2 folks there that wrote
beautiful calligraphy and they put your time on the back with a felt writer.

Guess what? Judi and I will always remember that race.

[Jay]

Hi Christine,

Based on what Steve said, I'll have to enter more races in Maine -
they've got some terrific prizes up there!

Steve is right that there are very few standards for age group awards,
and their value is most often dictated by your budget. From what I've
heard, $15-$30 is about the max that many RDs will spend for a 1st
place AG prize, and then will step down from there. Keep in mind that
to most age group winners, it is more the recognition that they have
achieved something, rather than the value of the award that is most
meaningful. And, as Steve also pointed out, it is often the unique/
creative awards that are most appreciated by the winners, regardless
of their "cash value." We're not that creative, so we try to put
together a combination of gift baskets and gift certificates for our
age group winners, and we try to get most of those items donated.

One other think to keep in mind is that your younger age group winners
may run on their school teams. To continue to compete as amateur
athletes, they are prohibited from receiving awards with more than a
minimal cash value in a road race. So keep that in mind when choosing
your prizes for age group winners under 20. Trophies, mugs, medals,
etc. are acceptable for those winners.

Jay

[Stearns, Guy]

Hi Christine,

Just adding my two cents...

Steve and Jay have very good advice. The larger races with big budgets usually spend more money on their AG awards. Many smaller races will offer medals or local gift certificates. Especially in the small races where the competition isn't too steep, the recognition is the big thing. In fact many of the small races offer just medals or trophies to their overall winners. It really does come down to your budget.

Guy

-----Original Message-----
From: road-race-directo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:road-race-directo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jay
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 1:17 PM
To: Road Race Directors of Northern N.E.

[Todd Hanson]

I'll share an pre-race e-mail comment I received from a "veteran 60+" runner who had recently moved to New England from Tennessee.

"For me the prize is simply seeing my name listed above others (it does not matter how many) in my age bracket....it was never about prizes.  I love going online and seeing results and seeing my name listed (higher is better when possible).   I believe my total swag is a glass mug, a medal of some kind, free membership in the track club for one year, and a free photo or two.  And always the race t-shirt.  One thing Knoxville did not do very much of was cash prizes, but we all showed up every week to compete anyway.  And the races were always well attended.  You almost always had splits on the course, water where needed, and security.

When I suggested five year age brackets, it was simply with the thought of being able to compete more with those who are my peers.  I truly do not feel that a quality, well run race, needs cash prizes.  If a race is well organized (splits, water, course marking, safety), that is all the motivation that should be needed in my opinion. Other things such as on course music etc add to the joy of the event."

I personally believe some kind of acknowledgement three deep in each age division is much appreciated.  I think that 3rd place age group finisher relishes that distinction more then the guy that wins each weekend. I agree with this gentleman's comments, it doesn't have to be much just the recognition can be the prize for many.

Unless it's a huge race I don't think 5 year age groups are warranted.  It certainly makes for a painfully long awards ceremony if you break the groups every 5 years.  Also my opinion is the 20-39 is the open division.  There is no reason to have 20-29 & 30-39 divisions, age doesn't effect their performance.  Save the awards for the older groups so you don't have an 84 year old in the same division as a 61 year old or 70 year old.

-----Original Message-----
From: Stearns, Guy [mailto:Guy.S...@LibertyMutual.com]
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 2:03 PM
To: road-race-directo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Age Group Awards

Hi Christine,

Just adding my two cents...

Steve and Jay have very good advice.  The larger races with big budgets usually spend more money on their AG awards.  Many smaller races will offer medals or local gift certificates.  Especially in the small races where the competition isn't too steep, the recognition is the big thing.  In fact many of the small races offer just medals or trophies to their overall winners.  It really does come down to your budget.

Guy

-----Original Message-----
From: road-race-directo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:road-race-directo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jay

Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 1:17 PM
To: Road Race Directors of Northern N.E.
Subject: Re: Age Group Awards

Hi Christine,

Based on what Steve said, I'll have to enter more races in Maine - they've got some terrific prizes up there!

Steve is right that there are very few standards for age group awards, and their value is most often dictated by your budget. From what I've heard, $15-$30 is about the max that many RDs will spend for a 1st place AG prize, and then will step down from there. Keep in mind that to most age group winners, it is more the recognition that they have achieved something, rather than the value of the award that is most meaningful. And, as Steve also pointed out, it is often the unique/ creative awards that are most appreciated by the winners, regardless of their "cash value." We're not that creative, so we try to put together a combination of gift baskets and gift certificates for our age group winners, and we try to get most of those items donated.

One other think to keep in mind is that your younger age group winners may run on their school teams. To continue to compete as amateur athletes, they are prohibited from receiving awards with more than a minimal cash value in a road race. So keep that in mind when choosing your prizes for age group winners under 20. Trophies, mugs, medals, etc. are acceptable for those winners.

Jay

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[Stearns, Guy]

Todd,

 

This gentleman has a valid point about age groups.  At the Great Island Road Race, we do 10 year brackets from under 20 up to 80+.  As I am becoming painfully aware, it isn't until you get well into your 40s that 10 year spread seams to be too much.  A 59 year old runner is at a significant disadvantage against a young (that's me!) 50 year old.  I am going to give thought to narrowing the age bracket once you 40 or 50.  Of course on the flip side, we have far fewer participants in our 70 and 80 year bracket.  In fact, we usually don't have 3 males or females in our 80+ group.

 

Guy

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From: road-race-directo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:road-race-directo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Todd Hanson
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 2:40 PM