How Engraved Wooden Medals Gave the Cleethorpes Marathon a Clean, Distinctive Finish

A marathon medal does not need to be overcomplicated to feel right for the event.

For the Cleethorpes Marathon 2025, the organisers chose a custom engraved wooden medal with a simple, race-specific design and a bright yellow ribbon.

The result was a medal that felt natural, clear and easy to recognise, while still carrying enough detail to make it specific to the race.

About the Cleethorpes Marathon

The Cleethorpes Marathon takes runners through North East Lincolnshire, with the event offering a full marathon challenge in and around the coastal area.

For a race of this distance, the medal needs to feel appropriate for the scale of the effort without becoming visually cluttered.

That made a clean engraved wooden design a strong fit.

The Design Challenge

The medal needed to be recognisable as a marathon award while still feeling specific to Cleethorpes.

The organisers also wanted something that could work clearly in engraving, without relying on full-colour print.

The design therefore needed to:

• Include the Cleethorpes Marathon name clearly.
• Use simple artwork that engraved well.
• Feel appropriate for a full marathon distance.
• Retain the natural look of the wood.
• Pair well with a bright ribbon for contrast.

Why Engraved Wood Worked

Engraved wooden medals are a strong option when the organiser wants the material itself to remain visible.

Rather than covering the medal with colour, the design is laser engraved directly into the timber surface.

That allows the wood grain to stay part of the finished award.

Designing for Engraving

Artwork that works brilliantly in full colour does not always work equally well when engraved.

For engraving, it helps to simplify the design and focus on the strongest elements.

That normally means:

• Clear typography.
• Bold outlines.
• Simple logos.
• Recognisable silhouettes.
• Enough spacing between details.
• Avoiding tiny lines that may disappear in the finished engraving.

For Cleethorpes Marathon, the runner and caravan artwork gave the medal local character without making the engraving unnecessarily complex.

The Ribbon Added the Contrast

Because the medal itself was deliberately natural and understated, the bright yellow ribbon could provide the colour.

This is a useful approach for organisers who like engraved wood but still want the finished award to stand out.

The ribbon can carry much of the visual energy while the medal remains clean and natural.

Engraved or Colour Printed for a Marathon?

Both can work well, but they create different results.

The right choice depends on the event identity rather than the distance itself.

What Other Marathon Organisers Can Learn

The Cleethorpes Marathon medal is a good example of not adding detail simply because there is space available.

For long-distance events, the award should still be clear and easy to understand.

Before designing a marathon medal, consider:

• What are the strongest visual elements of the event?
• Does the logo work well in engraving?
• Is colour essential to the brand?
• Could the ribbon carry the main colour instead?
• Is there a local landmark or icon worth including?
• Will the event name and distance remain easy to read?

Starting with those questions normally leads to a cleaner and more effective design.

Case Study Summary

The Final Result

The finished Cleethorpes Marathon medal gave runners a clean and event-specific award without needing a complicated full-colour design.

The engraving kept the wood grain visible, the local artwork helped connect the medal to the race, and the yellow ribbon gave the finished piece enough contrast to stand out.

It is a good example of how a simple design can still feel deliberate and specific to the event.

Want to Compare Engraved and Colour Printed Medals?

If you are deciding between engraved wood, colour printed wood or slate for your next running event, request a free sample pack and compare the materials and finishes in person.

Planning a Marathon or Running Event?

Send us your event branding, date and approximate quantity and we can suggest whether engraved wood, colour printed wood or another medal style would work best.