Finishers in this year’s edition of the Charleston Distance Run will receive more than a huge sense of satisfaction when they cross the line. Each participant will be presented with a special finisher’s medal commemorating the respective anniversary of the event in which he or she is competing. The bell-shaped, bronze-colored 2 1/2-inch medals will all feature the Distance Run logo on the front and text that says the recipient was a finisher on Sept. 1, 2012. Gold trim will accent the back of all the medals. For the 15-mile run, text on the back of the medal will indicate it is the 40th anniversary of the race. The name of the sponsor for the 15-mile medals, Frontier Communications, will appear on the back and on the attached red-colored ribbons. For the 5K race, text on the back of the medal will indicate it is the 20th anniversary of the race. The name of the sponsor for the 5K medals, Alpha Natural Resources, will appear on the back and on the attached blue-colored ribbons. For the 5K and 10K walks, text on the back of the medal will indicate it is the fifth anniversary of the walks. The name of the sponsor for the walks, the City of Charleston, will appear on the back and on the attached green-colored ribbons. “With this being a historic year for the Distance Run, we wanted participants to have a special, high quality finisher’s medal that they could really cherish,” Charleston Distance Run committee member Gary Smith said. The 2012 Charleston Distance Run is scheduled 7:30 a.m. Sept. 1 on Labor Day weekend. Participants can choose to compete in either a 15-mile run, three-person, 15-mile relay, a 5K race and 5K and 10K walks. Online registration is available at www.charlestondistancerun.com. Registration forms can be printed from the website for those who want to register by mail. America's only 15-mile race is run on a scenic but challenging course that tarts at West Virginia’s majestic state Capitol, takes runners through downtown, rolls through beautiful hillside neighborhoods and along Charleston’s riverfront and finishes at the University of Charleston’s Laidley Field.