I’m not ANTI-race medal, exactly. But for all the effort I put into making things beautiful, I’m also all about the function. When beauty and function combine, well, that sweet spot, friends, is what I imagine heaven to be like.
And try as I might, I just can’t come up with any worthwhile function to these beauties. If I had a man-cave, I’d consider mounting them in there. I’ve considered hanging them in my closet, but all of the wall space is devoted to purses and belts and other accessories that I ACTUALLY WEAR. (No hate if you wear your race medals from time to time—or heck, even regularly. More power to you.)
I had one creative friend suggest lawn ornaments. I just don’t spend enough time gardening to pursue that option.
One of my kids wondered if they’d make good refrigerator magnets. While I’d be game for sporting these little hunks of metal on our fridge (and the magnet idea does play nicely into the functionality factor), they’re simply too bulky and heavy for that application.
So for now, the most recent ones hang on the doorknob to my closet, and the older ones end up tucked away in a drawer. I’m sorry, race directors everywhere; I know some of you put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this particular piece of race swag. I mean no disrespect. I’m just not a display-my-finishers-medal-kind-of-gal.
But my Bandera 100K belt buckle. Swoon. At this point in my ultra career, it is my *only* belt buckle. It is the belt buckle that inspired my first on-line purchase during recovery week: a standard black belt strap.
So I can WEAR it.
And I do!
I love the snake design. It’s organic and interesting, and it’s got a Bandera, Texas feel to it. I adore the two-tone effect that’s achieved with the glossy brown background against the silver snake. I’m a two tone kind of girl, actually.
And it makes me want to earn MORE of them! My next potential belt buckle earning race is Tejas Trails’ Rocky Raccoon 100 mile, and you’d better believe that the prospect of another buckle to add to my wardrobe will be part of the motivation that keeps me moving for THAT distance!
Speaking of THAT distance, as far as I know the only races that dole out buckles in place of medals are ultra marathons. (And—according to the internet—Spartan Ultra Beast races . . . apparently this Spartan doesn’t share my affection for the buckle accessory?)
There are a few 50 milers out there that award belt buckles. There are LOTS of 100 mile races that award them. There are multi race challenges like Tejas Trails’ Kap’tn Karl’s Night Trail Series that award a buckle finishers of all four 60k races throughout the span of one Texas summer. I found at least one 60k race and a few 50k races that give out buckles if you finish just one.
I did not receive one for my first ultra, a 50 mile race, and honestly, I’m okay with that. This post isn’t about advocating for buckles to replace medals all together. They’re obviously the superior race finish hardware, but part of the honor of wearing one comes in knowing they are not easy to earn.
So how did all of this come to be?
Most ultra runners can tell you that the belt buckle as a race award dates back to the Western States Endurance Run: the original race included horses, and for that set, western-style belt buckles were a thing! It follows that the first runners to complete the course on foot also were awarded buckles. The iconic Western States Endurance Run buckles are a well documented and much revered tradition!
So when and how did the buckle tradition creep into other foot races—the ones without the equestrian history? I guess my question is: We know that WSER was the first foot race to award belt buckles to finishers. Which ultra was second to award them?
Are you an ultramarathon race director? Which events do you have buckles made for, and why a buckle?
Have you been racing forever? Maybe you remember when there were only a few races in which a belt buckle was awarded; which were they?
If you’ve got any leads or stories, I’d love to hear them!