Guy Who Likes Wearing Medals Tired of Everyone Assuming He Just Ran a Marathon
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Richard Moranis is tired of telling everyone he meets that, no, he did not just run a marathon.
"Everywhere I go, it's the same routine," says Moranis, 36, a technical writer. "First, their eyes go straight to the medal. Then it's, like, 'Oh! Congratulations!' or 'What marathon did you run?'"
The answer, invariably, is: None. In fact, Moranis has never run a race of any distance. He simply enjoys wearing medals.
“I just think they’re cool-looking.”
"I just think they're cool-looking," he says. "And I like the aura they project. When I'm wearing a medal, I feel more confident."
Moranis, who estimates he owns about three dozen medals, finds most of them in thrift stores or on sites like eBay. They run the gamut from grade-school participation awards to a taekwondo medallion, and at least one faux-gold medal stamped "World's Best Mom."
Moranis knows his habit is unusual, and says he can understand how it creates confusion.
"On the other hand," he says, "can't a guy just wear a medal on the bus or out to dinner without everyone making assumptions?"
One exception, says Moranis, is his workplace.
"My coworkers see me every day, obviously," he says, "so for the most part they don't really mention (the medals) anymore."
Still, he occasionally finds himself explaining his "hardware" to visitors, delivery people, and new employees.
"It can be exhausting, frankly."
More exhausting than running a marathon?
"I wouldn't know," he quips. "I've never run one."
