When I first started in the marathon medals supply game three years ago, I had a super basic thought: who even collects these flimsy, heavy metal bling that hangs around your neck after 26.2 miles? I mean, sure, I’d hang my own half-marathon finisher on my closet door for a few months, but that was it. Boy, was I wrong. Every week now, I get DMs from runners I’ve never met—from a 5K rookie in Des Moines to an ultra-marathoner in Norway—rambling about their “medal walls,” “duplicate stashes,” and that one holy grail medal they’ve been chasing for years. Let’s break this down, because marathon medal collecting isn’t just a weird runner quirk—it’s a whole community, and we (as suppliers) are right in the middle of it. Marathon Medals
First off, let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t the same as coin collecting or stamp collecting, and thank God for that. A lot of people think it’s just “running junkies hoarding metal,” but no—these medals carry stories. I’ve had a regular client send me a photo of a 2019 Boston Marathon medal (pre-pandemic, when it still had the city’s skyline on the front, not a “comeback” design) taped next to a chemo treatment plan they kept in their jacket pocket. Another guy bought 12 of the same 2021 marathon medal—said his three best friends all ran it, and each one needed one for their kid, their mom, their roommate, etc. Medals aren’t just metal; they’re physical proof of something you struggled through. That’s why collectors care so much—way more than a random sports trinket.
Now, who are these medal collectors? I’ve noticed a few distinct groups in my years of supplying, and none of them fit the “elite runner” stereotype everyone thinks of. First up: the Finisher Hoarders. These are people who run at least one marathon a year, and their collection is just every medal they’ve ever earned. No duplicates, no fancy chase pieces—just every bling that says “I crossed the finish line” on it. I had a woman last month order 8 medals, all different designs, for her 8 marathons in one year (she calls 2023 her “Year of the Blitz”). She told me she can’t bear to skip one—“each one marks a day I didn’t want to lace up, but did anyway.” That’s the group that orders bulk, not for resale or trade—just for their own wall.
Then there’s the Event Groupies. These are people who only collect medals from a specific race—like all NYC Marathon medals, or every Comrades Marathon (the big ultra in South Africa) ever made. A guy in Tokyo hits me up every few months to see if I have leftover 2018 Tokyo Marathon medals (the year it had a cherry blossom on the back, his mom ran it and passed away last year). He doesn’t run marathons anymore—he walked his last one with her—but he needs that medal to feel close to her. This group is super specific, which means they’ll pay extra for hard-to-find, no-longer-produced medals. That’s a big deal for us suppliers—we keep a small stock of “vintage-like” medals (ones we didn’t sell the first year, or special limited runs) just for these people.
Next, the Trade/Resellers—and before you side-eye them, they’re a huge part of the community. These aren’t the guys scalping event tickets (though I’ve had to turn down requests for that, since it feels slimy). Most of them are runners who got a duplicate medal, so they’ll trade it for one they don’t have, or sell it to someone who’s missing it. I had a teen in Florida swap a 2020 virtual marathon medal (the ones everyone got when races got canceled) for a 2019 Chicago Marathon medal that a collector in Denver needed. These resellers don’t hoard for profit; they hoard to connect with other runners. I even host a little monthly Facebook group for our medal clients to trade—no fees, just people helping people. And yes, they order from us too, especially when a new race is launching and they want to grab a few extras to put in the trade pile.
Wait, there’s also the Sentimental Collectors—the group that surprised me the most. These people don’t even run marathons themselves. A few months ago, a teacher from Ohio ordered 10 marathon medals for her classroom’s “perseverance wall.” She told me her students love hearing stories of runners who overcame injuries, and the medals are a tangible way to show that effort matters, even if you never lace up shoes. Another client ordered 5 medals for a breast cancer fundraiser—each medal goes to a survivor who walks a “virtual marathon” in their town, and they order duplicates from us because each survivor wants their own, plus an extra to display at the local hospital. That’s when it hit me: marathon medals aren’t just for runners.
Now, let’s talk about why we as suppliers need to care about this, not just make and ship metal. When I first started, I just cranked out standard medals—round, engraved with “Marathon Finisher,” a generic finish line on the front. But then I started getting notes from collectors: “Can you make the 2025 medal have more of the state’s national park on it?” or “I need extra medals for a race where 100 people signed up, but some people’s got dents, so can I get two spares.” So we shifted. Now, we offer limited-edition runs—like a medal for a small-town marathon that only makes 500, not 5,000, because those are the ones collectors go crazy for. We also keep a backup stock of every medal we make, because someone will reach out six months later needing a duplicate—maybe they lost theirs, maybe a friend’s broke, maybe they just want a second.
I even had a moment last year that made me realize how deep this collector thing goes. A woman from Canada ordered three of the same 2022 Vancouver Marathon medal. I asked her why—she said she’d run the race with her two sons, who were 12 and 15 at the time. The next year, one had outgrown his medal (wait, no, she explained—he’d dropped out half a mile from the finish with a knee injury, so he didn’t get a medal. She wanted to give him one for his 16th birthday, to show him effort counts even if you don’t cross first, and the third was for her to frame with his race bib. That’s the stuff that makes the late nights designing medals worth it—when you’re not just shipping metal, you’re helping people hold onto moments.
But wait, are there downsides? Yeah, of course. Some collectors get too obsessed. I had a guy email me last month asking if I could “modify” a 2017 Boston Marathon medal to look like the 2024 version—said he wanted the “newer, better design” for his collection. I had to tell him no, that’d be unethical (and probably impossible, since each race’s medals are trademarked). Another person tried to order 50 of the same limited-edition medal to resell on eBay for twice the price—we turned that down too, because it’s not about profit for us, it’s about supporting the community. Collecting should be about joy and connection, not a side hustle.
Here’s the thing: when I talk to other race directors, a lot of them still think medals are just a “nice add-on” to a race. But the collector community? That’s a huge reason people come back. If a marathon has a cool, unique medal, runners will travel across the country (or even the world) to get it, just to add to their wall. I’ve had a runner tell me he planned his entire summer around three marathons because their medals were the ones he’d been hunting for. That’s not just race marketing—that’s people building something meaningful around a piece of metal we help make.
So, if you’re reading this and you’re a medal collector—whether you’ve got a whole wall full, one random one from your first 5K, or you’re just thinking about starting—hit me up. If you’re a race director who’s looking to make medals that runners will actually fight over (in a good way), or you need bulk medals for a big race, I’m here. We’re not just a medal supplier—we’re part of the story, too. Whether you need one duplicate medal to replace the one you dropped at the race, or you want 200 limited-edition medals for a new marathon, we can hook you up. No weird hoops, no hidden fees—just people who get why a tiny piece of metal means so much.
Wait, before I wrap up, let’s debunk one more myth: not all collectors are super serious. I’ve got a coworker who collects marathon medals because her niece runs marathons—every time her niece hits a finish line, she sends her a little note and a photo of the medal, and she’s built a collection of 12 so far, each one tied to a story she’s heard. It’s not about having the rarest medal or the biggest collection—it’s about what that medal stands for. That’s the heart of this whole thing, right?
So yeah, marathon medal collectors aren’t a niche—they’re a huge, vibrant community, and we’re honored to work with them every single day. If you’re looking to get your hands on a medal for your collection, or you’re a race organizer who wants to create a medal runners will talk about for years, reach out. Let’s chat about what you need, and maybe even make something that’ll end up on someone’s wall (or in their heart) for a long time.
Marathon Medals References
- Running USA: 2023 Marathon Industry Report, 2024
- International Race Directors Association: Medal Collection Trends Survey, 2023
- Runner’s World: "The Hidden Stories Behind Marathon Medals", 2022
Global Art Gifts Co., Ltd.
Global Art Gifts Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional marathon medals manufacturers and suppliers in China. We are committed to providing high quality customized products with competitive price. Welcome to buy bulk durable marathon medals in stock here from our factory. Also, pricelist is available.
Address: Hushan Tech Park, Shiwan, 516127 Huizhou China
E-mail: nicole@globalartgifts.com
WebSite: https://www.globalartgift.com/
