Wait, hold up for a sec—before you toss that stack of dusty old fitness medals in the back of your closet, or worse, let ‘em get donated to a random thrift store, let’s talk: can you actually sell ‘em? And no, this isn’t just some random “side hustle 101” post—this is from a real guy who’s been in the fitness medal game for over a decade, runs the business that makes those shiny race, gym challenge, and group event medals you’ve probably held at some point. I’ve seen every angle here, so let’s break it down straight, no fluff, no fake “I made $10k in a week” lies. Fitness Medals
First, let’s get the obvious out of the way: of course you can sell your old fitness medals. But the bigger question is—should you? And who’s gonna buy ‘em, anyway? That’s where most people mess up. They think “old medal = garbage, so I’ll just list it on eBay for $5” and wonder why it sits there for 6 months with zero views. I’ve been on both sides here: I’ve designed custom medals for 5K runs, crossfit competitions, corporate wellness days, even little local stuff like high school triathlons, so I know what makes a medal worth anything. Let’s start with the “what people actually want” part, because that’s the secret no one tells you.
Not all old fitness medals are created equal. I see this all the time from people who hit me up asking about selling their personal collection: half the stuff in their closet is a cheap, mass-produced medal from a local 5K that costs the race organizer $1.50 to make. It’s flimsy, the paint chips if you look at it wrong, and it says “2023 Small Town Turkey Trot” or whatever—no name recognition, no unique design. Those? Good luck giving ‘em away, let alone selling ‘em. But the other half? The ones with a backstory—wait until you hear this—actually matter to someone. Like, think about that marathon medal you cried crossing the finish line of, or the crossfit medal you won when you thought you’d never get your first RX. That’s not just metal to you, it’s a memory… and a lot of people will pay good money for those specific memories they can’t get anywhere else.
Let’s get specific about what’s actually sellable, because this is where most people waste time. First: limited-run medals. Like, if you did a legendary race that only had 200 finishers, or a niche challenge that’s not done every year? Those are gold. I worked with a small ultra race a few years back that only did 300 medals total, no re-runs. A guy hit me up last year trying to track down one of those because his best friend finished it and lost his—he offered $150 for a single one he found on Facebook groups. That’s not a small number for a chump metal, right? Then there’s themed medals that had a cult following—like those Nike women’s half marathon medals with the embedded rose, or the 2019 Boston Marathon medal that had that weird, iconic blue lanyard. I’ve seen those go for $80-$120 on resale sites, easy.
Then there’s the thing most people overlook: event-specific medals that were part of a bigger series. Like, if you did every medal in the “Virtual Challenge Series” from that popular fitness app a couple years back, and you have the full set? Collectors go nuts for full sets. I’ve had people reach out to me (the supplier, remember?) asking where they can get a complete 2021 Strava Challenge set because they missed one event and can’t find it anywhere. Turns out, when app-based fitness challenges blew up during the pandemic, a lot of those medals were only produced once, in super small runs. People will pay top dollar to fill a gap in their collection.
Okay, so that’s the “what” but what about the “how”? Because listing all your stuff on eBay is okay, but if you wanna actually make money and not waste weeks of your life waiting for a random buyer, there’s a smarter way. Let’s be real, I’ve seen so many people post 10 old medals on eBay and tag “fitness medal” and “marathon” and get no traction. Why? Because the algorithm is garbage and no one’s searching for “random 2022 local 5K medal”. So where do you list?
First, niche Facebook groups. I can’t stress this enough way more than regular resale sites. Join groups like “Fitness Medal Collectors United” or “Race Medal Swap & Sell” or even specific groups for races that interest you. If your old medal is from the NYC Marathon, join a NYC Marathon fans group—post a pic, note the year, any flaws, and what you’re asking. I’ve seen that work way better than eBay because you’re already targeting people who care about that exact thing. The other pro tip here: don’t just sell the medal alone. If you have the original lanyard, the original box, even the race photo that came with it? Post that too. That’s the stuff that makes people go “oh my god I need this” instead of scrolling past.
Then there’s the other side: selling bulk. Wait, what? If you’re clearing out a whole box of old medals from a gym you used to go to, or a bunch from a corporate wellness event your old company did? Bulk sales to smaller sellers or even local event planners are a thing. I know a few guys who run small custom medal shops (they’re competitors of mine, don’t worry) who buy bulk surplus or old stock from people, if the medals are in good shape. Why? They refurbish them a tiny bit—touch up chipped paint, re-lacquer— and sell them as vintage limited runs. It’s not as much per medal as selling one-off to a collector, but if you have 20 or 30, that’s a way to unload a whole box in a week instead of holding out for one $100 sale.
But wait—before you grab your box and start snapping pics, let’s talk about the stuff you shouldn’t sell, because there’s a line here. First: medals that have sentimental value you shouldn’t sell. Like, the first medal you ever got when you ran your first 5K when you were 10, or the medal you got after recovering from an injury that almost ended your running? That’s not metal, that’s a piece of your story—keep that. Second: don’t lie about the condition. If the paint is chipped, or the ribbon is frayed, be upfront. I’ve seen people get burned so many times where they buy a medal that looks perfect in a pic, and it’s actually all scuffed up. Third: don’t re-sell medals that are counterfeit. Wait, hold up—there are scammers in every hobby, and fitness medals are no exception. If a medal looks way too good for a random local race, or someone is trying to sell a super rare medal for way less than it’s worth? That’s probably a fake, and you don’t wanna be the one selling that. I’ve had people reach out to me asking how to spot fakes, so trust me, that’s a real risk.
Now, let’s get real about how much you can actually make here, because I don’t wanna hype you up like this is a get-rich-quick scheme. Most mass-produced, common medals from local races? You’re looking at $5-$15 each, if you can sell ‘em at all. The limited-run, legendary marathon, cult-app challenge, full set stuff? $50-$150 each, sometimes more if it’s super rare. I had a customer last year who sold a 2018 Boston Marathon medal (the one with the gold embossed finish) for $220 on a Facebook group—she even got that just because she had the original race bib to go with it. That’s not nothing, right? But don’t expect to sell every old medal in your drawer for $100 a pop. Most of ‘em are just… regular old race swag, same as the free water bottle or the t-shirt you forgot in the back of your closet.
Wait, and let’s circle back to me, the fitness medal supplier, because that’s my side of this. A lot of people who have a bunch of old medals from events that I’ve made? Hit me up asking if I can take them off their hands, or if I know anyone who collects ‘em. And honestly? A lot of time I do. I work with a network of small collectors and even other small medal makers who will buy good condition, unique old medals to use as inspiration for new designs, or to sell as “vintage event stock” for small races that wanna have a retro vibe. So if you’re stuck, and you can’t figure out where to start, hit me up— I can point you to the right people, no middleman, no weird fees. I’m not here to lowball you, I’m here to help you move stuff you don’t need without wasting your time.
Wait, one last thing that a lot of people miss: donating vs selling. If your medals are super beat up, chipped to hell, or just from a random race that no one cares about? Donate ‘em to a local youth running club or a school PE program. Those kids would love getting a little metal prize for their own little races, and it’s way better than tossing them in the trash. I’ve donated a bunch of surplus old sample medals from my shop to local 5K youth events, and the kids lose their minds over ‘em. So if selling seems like a hassle, that’s a great option too.
Let me wrap this up straight, no extra stuff: yes, you can sell your old fitness medals, but only if you know what’s actually worth selling, where to list ‘em, and how to not waste your time. The key is to target the right buyers—collectors, race fans, niche groups—instead of spamming eBay with every random medal you own. And if you have a stack of unique, limited-run medals, you might actually make some decent cash instead of letting ‘em collect dust in your closet.
Medal Materials If you’re ready to clean out that old medal box and wanna chat about selling, or even just get tips on how to price stuff, reach out to connect. No sales pitch, no weird hoops, just real advice from someone who’s been making these things for over 10 years and knows the ins and outs of this whole space.
References
- Running USA. (2022). 2022 Road Race Industry Report: Finisher Medals and Participant Engagement. Retrieved from industry publications for race organizers and fitness event suppliers.
- Strava. (2021). Virtual Challenge Event Medal Production and Collectible Trends (internal industry analysis for fitness app creators and custom medal manufacturers).
- The Medal Collectors’ Guild. (2023). Niche Market Analysis: Fitness Medal Resale Value by Event Type and Rarity. Published for collectors, sellers, and event suppliers specializing in athletic memorabilia.
Global Art Gifts Co., Ltd.
Global Art Gifts Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional fitness medals manufacturers and suppliers in China. We are committed to providing high quality customized products with competitive price. Welcome to buy bulk durable fitness medals in stock here from our factory. Also, pricelist is available.
Address: Hushan Tech Park, Shiwan, 516127 Huizhou China
E-mail: nicole@globalartgifts.com
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