It's Almost Medal Ceremony Time!!

'Never worry about numbers.

Help one person at a time,

and always start with

the person nearest you.'

- Mother Teresa"

100 Mile Club® Medal Ceremony from 2005-06 at McKinley Elementary School in Corona, CA

The 100 Mile Club® Medal Ceremony has its origins right in my little classroom, and began the first year of The 100 Mile Club Project over 17 years ago. It is almost time for yours! The medallions this year are fabulous and so meaningful!  I can't wait to see them on kids! 

You need to know that...

• The 100 Mile Club® does not publicly identify or announce individuals who hit 100 miles until the end of the year awards presentation. Some individuals make 100 miles by mid-January…We let these individuals savor the inner rewards that come from humility, poise, confidence and friendship as they help others reach their goals, too. We ask that these individuals reach inside themselves and set new personal goals in order to reach their true level of competitive greatness.

Now that some kids are reaching 100 miles...

• They should keep running. They ran 100 miles with ease, and so they need to strive to hit THEIR personal best...whatever that may be. It may be 120, 150, or even 200! That is something the child needs to decide for him/herself.  We want them to practice the lifeskills of poise and confidence. Feel that pride and refrain from boasting. We will celebrate their personal best at the medal ceremony. We promise.
• They should help their friends. They are now a true role model. Others will look to them and seek their assistance, right along with you as HEAD COACH. Students who reach 100 miles become MENTORS themselves.
• They can pull together a group to run together as a team...Kids who reach 100 miles  have the opportunity to show true friendship, cooperation, and team spirit as they bring their classmates along so may all reach their personal best...TOGETHER!!

We ask that you schedule your medal ceremonies to allow as much time as possible to get those miles in.  Don't cut off too early (or too late!). 

• Medal Ordering can begin in April.  PLEASE allow at least 14 days from the date you place your order to receive your medals and certificates.  You can always come pick them up!! You will definitely get them faster that way.  :)

Here are MEDAL CEREMONY basics:

1. EVERYONE receives a certificate with the total miles run/walked written in and signed by the Site head Coach/es. Even if they walked 1 mile, they are recognized for making the effort.  Each Incentive Package comes with a certificate, so you are eligible for the total number you have ordered.  If you need more, let us know...


2. Make sure that everyone wears their 100 Mile Club® t-shirt the day of the ceremony. It is spectacularly unifying to have everyone in their tees, and it LOOKS really cool! Take pictures!

3. Only those who run/walk 100 miles will receive a medal. Everyone knows this going in, so it is no surprise. Trust me when I say that the medal is a huge motivator, and so is the recognition by one’s peers. The will work for it, and if they don’t quite make it, you celebrate anyway.

4. No you do not get 2 medals for 200 miles.

5. Have FUN! Ceremonies can be any of (but of course not limited to) the following:

• A School-wide Assembly. These can be wild and crazy, or dignified and noble. You make it what you want… have balloons, make a slideshow, have music, invite local dignitaries.
• A Family/Company Potluck, Picnic, or BBQ. Yes, families and businesses can be a 100 Mile Club™ chapter, too! You can end the year with a group picnic at the beach, lake, or local park.
• A Reflective Year-End Classroom Activity. This is actually how the ceremony began in my classroom. We invited all of the families of our individuals and spoke of each individuals’ achievements, as we announced their miles and presented medals and final certificates.

In sum, what you need to know is that The 100 Mile Club® Medal Ceremony is something that should be meaningful to you, your colleagues, and your participants. You are creating tradition with this, so plan well and make sure to always have FUN!!
 

Medal Ceremony in 2008-09 at Lakeview Intermediate in Stow, Ohio

Your site is eligible for the same number of certificates as you have Incentive Packages. For example, if your school has ordered 250 Incentive packages, your school is eligible for 250 certificates. We will add in extras in case you mess up. :)

Additionally, you will get medals for those participants who have crossed the 100 Mile point. PLEASE only order what you need. Again, we will add in extras for you "just in case". Ordering only what you need will ensure that we keep our costs down in the years to come.

Soon, you will receive a form in which you may include your order for these certificates and medals. They are already paid for...we just need to get them to you in a timely manner. PLEASE allow at least 14 day window for medal and certificate delivery. DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE. It will make us and you freak out.

Medal ceremony time is SO exciting! Make sure to set those ceremony dates and let us know when they are. More on this later! Woohoo!!