New Year 2016: 3 Medal Trends Already Visible in January Briefs 🏅

First-Monday-of-the-year orders set the tone for spring. Three shifts in race-director briefs landing this week will define what runners post about in 2016 — an Olympic year that amplifies every medal decision.

65mm Becomes the New Default

After several years of 50-60mm finisher medals dominating Thai race calendars, 65mm is replacing the smaller sizes as the default for 2016 spring races. The cost increase is small (~฿8/medal) while the perceived weight gain is significant. With Rio 2016 approaching, runners will benchmark every medal against Olympic visuals — bigger is the safer brief.

Cut-Through Shapes Replace Round-Only

Race directors are asking for medals with CNC cut-outs through the body — silhouettes of the course, the city skyline, or the event mascot. The cut-through reads on Instagram thumbnails far better than a flat round disc and adds only ~฿5/medal at typical 60-70mm sizes. Specify the cut from the original mold rather than retrofit.