The 5th Annual Run the Ridge 2025 is a little more than a week away. 8am, Saturday, October 11, at the Monroe Homeplace.
As usual I’m kicking my own tail to get everything ready. One task I’m hard at is making the race medals, one for each participant.
They’re little cedar mandolins on a piece of jute string. I actually started making these back in ‘03 (minus the jute) for the Bill Monroe Foundation to sell. I’ve made hundreds.
So when we started the race in 2021, I thought it would be neat and unique if we used the little mandolins as race medals. I mean, hey, our logo is a mandolin, right? Bill Monroe’s iconic instrument!
I’m often asked how I make them, so I thought I would take you through the process. Who knows? Maybe you’d like to give it a try.
Obviously, the first thing needed is a piece of cedar, like this…
Next is to trace the outline of a mandolin. Since I started in ‘03, I’ve been using the same little template I cut from a piece of plastic.
I’m drawn to unique pieces of wood and anything that gives them character. On this piece of cedar, I noticed a small knot. Of course that has to be incorporated into a medal.
Next, the design has to be cut out. I’ve always used a scroll saw because you can manage smaller, more precise designs.
Cedar is one of the softest woods around, so this step is fairly quick unless the cedar is extra thick.
Now, I take a rotary tool and clean up the edges of the cutout.
Once I have the shape how I want it, the front and back need sanding. I use a plain, old sheet sander.
The next step is to use a wood burner to write “Run the Ridge ‘25” on it.
There was a time when I wrote on the mandolins with a rotary tool with an engraving head, but it takes longer. I’m thinking next year I might try it again instead of burning.
This next step doesn’t have to be in this exact order. It could be done earlier or later. A hole needs to be drilled for the lanyard string. I use a drill press because some mandolins are extra thin, and it’s difficult to drill a hole without breaking out the side.
If I’m careful and take my time, I’ll end up with a clean, straight hole.
So now I’m ready for at least a couple coats of polyurethane.
This might be my favorite part of the process because the polyurethane brings out the wood grain of the cedar. It’s kind of like seeing someone’s face for the first time.
Admittedly, though, this step is the messiest. And the longest because of dying time. Once they’re dry, they’re ready for jute!
Each year I use a different color jute string, just like our race T-shirts are different colors from year to year.
And there it is! One done! I’m in the process of making 60 of these for this year’s race. About a dozen are finished. The rest are in various stages along the way.
I sure would enjoy placing one of these one-of-a-kind medals around your neck after you cross the finish line next Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Monroe Homeplace.
Come join us on Jerusalem Ridge!
