Allied Running Medal Hanger review and giveaway!

Most of you know already that I am a once dubbed, now self proclaimed medal wh*re. Yes, it's true. I will run a race just for the hardware. Granted, I am now learning to enjoy the fruits of my labor of a hard earned, well run race....but still...race medals to me are like those little mice full of catnip to cats. I can't get enough. So needless to say, I'm really excited about this review for the
2010 HSGFTCR/TIYL (ha!)

Back in November of 2006, I started running. Back in those days, facebook was only for those in college and Myspace was where all the cool kids hung out. Upon starting my running journey, I joined a running group on Myspace. I met a few online friends that have stuck around through the years, and even through the transfer to facebook.

One of those online friends is Brad N out in Washington state. Years back on the myspace running page, I remember Brad asking the group as a whole if anyone would be interested in a medal hanger. He worked in steel fabrication and had come up with an awesome design for an easy, decorative way to display your medals.

Fast forward a few years, and long story short, his idea has really taken off. It has become so much more, and now Allied Running Medal Hangers sells countless designs based off of Brad's original ideas.

Allied running medal hangers are laser cut from heavy-gauge brushed stainless steel for a smooth, grained finish. And the designs have come a long way from the original "runner" and "marathon" hangers. Stainless steel not your preference? They offer some of the hangers in black or hot pink powder coated mild steel. Have a custom idea in your mind? Chances are good they can accommodate you.

How good, might you ask?

Let's rewind a little bit. When discussing this review/giveaway, Joel from Allied Steel Fabrications asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing a custom medal hanger. Immediately something popped in my head. You see, a few weeks earlier, I had been watching/cheering/crying happy tears as I watched complete strangers cross the finish line of Ironman Wisconsin on the live feed over the internet (it's what I do on Sunday nights, haha). At one point towards the end of the night, a woman was running down the finishers chute, when she reached out in the crowd and was handed a sign. She held that sign high and ran with it over her head across the finish line.

It read "Dream it. Believe it. Live it."

That saying had stuck with me ever since as a powerful, motivational saying. So I suggested it to Joel, on a whim, thinking it was probably too long for a custom design. Turns out, I was wrong.

Look what now resides on my wall:

I am beyond thrilled! I'm not sure which is better, the quality craftsmanship of these products, or the customer service. Both are top notch. The medals slide easily right onto the hanger and stay securely. The hanger itself is secured to the wall with two small nails, and they are almost invisible once the hanger is mounted.

If you are a runner, triathlete, cyclist, or anyone who has some hard earned prized medals (these are not limited to endurance sports! Check out the hangers for gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, and more!) and you are looking for a way to display those medals, look no further. Looking for an awesome gift for the loved medal-earner in your life? This is it.

And on a side note, DO NOT BE FOOLED by competitors trying to sell knock off, imitation medal hangers. They have been popping up left and right lately. Only Allied Running Medal Hangers sells the original, best medal hangers.

After taking that first picture....I have to admit I moved my medals back to their original home on a shelf (with one of the early "marathon" hangers from Brad a year or so ago). Because this new one? I know this may sound cheesy, but this new one is more than just a medal hanger. This one is a fresh start, and is documenting my journey to an Ironman, and it will not be complete until it has a big 140.6 (M-Dot or otherwise) medal hanging right in the center! Dream it. Believe it. LIVE IT!

Ok ok enough rambling. YOU SAID THERE WAS A GIVEAWAY, how do I win one?

Well the guys at Allied Running Medal Hangers were awesome enough to offer up not one, but TWO hangers for two of my lucky readers! We have a hot pink (I'm talking *hot* pink! The picture doesn't do the color justice, it's awesome!) "Runner" with a runner girl on the side, or a stainless steel "Marathon" with dual male running figures. Both are ten inches long by three inches high

I'm giving you a ton of ways to enter this one, because I'm really excited about it. Enter once or try them all! So without further ado....

TO ENTER: ***Leave a separate comment for each, and be sure to specify if you want to be entered in the drawing for the female or the male hanger***

Mandatory:

1) Become a follower of this blog

2) "like" Allied Running Medal Hangers on facebook (and while you are there, check out the photo album, TONS of great custom work!)

Bonus entries:

3) check out the catalog on Allied Steel's website and tell me which hanger you like

4) Suggest an idea for a hanger you don't see

5) re post this giveaway somewhere else (your blog, twitter, facebook, etc) post a comment for each place you re post this

BUT WAIT...that's not all! Want to win 10 extra entries? Email me a picture (heathergannoe (at) gmail.com ) of where your medals are stored now (in a shoe box under your bed? Stuffed in a dresser drawer?) showing us why you NEED to win one of these medal hangers! Your picture will be featured with the rest in a future blog post, and you will get ten bonus entries into this giveaway.

One winner for each hanger will be randomly selected Friday October 22nd and posted here on Saturday October 23rd.

GOOD LUCK everyone! Happy running, and keep earning those medals!