MORE than 100 people who completed the Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon are still waiting for their medals – nearly a month after crossing the finishing line.
A nurse has complained to race organiser Sweatshop after she wasn't given a medal to recognise her achievement. Sarah Shortland, 33, of Appledore Avenue, Wollaton, trained for a year in the build-up to the race and raised more than £700 for the Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre, in Chaucer Street.
Mrs Shortland, who works at the Queen's Medical Centre, hurt her knee four weeks before the race on September 30, but still managed to complete the 13.1-mile run in two hours and 50 minutes. It was the first time the mum-of-one had taken part in the half marathon. When she finished the race she was not handed a medal celebrating her achievement but was given a medal to say she had completed the children's fun run.
She said: "It took a lot of determination and training to complete the race. When I got that medal at the end of it, it left a nasty taste in the mouth.
"Everyone I have told the story to thinks it is wrong.
"I have contacted the organisers and they have apologised and said they would send me a medal in the post but, three weeks later, I still haven't received it.
"I just think after putting so much work in and people deciding to sponsor me, it's not that great that I've got nothing to show for it at the end."
Sweatshop admitted that it ran out of medals to give to all the competitors on the day.
Race director Claire Bond said they were 107 medals short. She said: "Normally, there is a no-show rate for half marathons of 28 per cent; in Nottingham, the no-show rate was only 18 per cent.
"The medals will be arriving in the country this Friday.
"All participants who did not receive a medal have been apologised to and they will be receiving one in the post as soon as possible."
Mrs Shortland decided to support the Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre charity after hearing that it was short of cash and could have to close.
She said: "I think the advice and support they offer women is incredibly important, and I wanted to raise money for the one of the smaller and more local charities."
