Gone in a flash… invisible medals become a running joke

CHARITY run organisers have been accused of ‘woke tokenism’ by offering ‘sustainable invisible’ medals.

Runners completing the 10km event in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, usually get metal alloy medals. But the town’s Striders running club, which organises it, said that for its next event on January 2 – with 650 runners – ‘our unique medals will be invisible’.

Finishers will receive sports shop vouchers but one participant, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Runners love getting a Tshirt and a medal at the end of an event – it’s one of the traditions of running events.

‘This sounds like a bit of woke tokenism to me.’ Another said: ‘The idea of being more sustainable is good. But runners, like me, do love a medal.’

Organiser Dean Ovel admitted the move was controversial but said the club no longer wanted to use metal medals made in – and shipped from – China.