Hi , I took part in the Brentwood 1/2 yesterday i had a fab race & got a pb of 1.55 so was really chuffed, however i got disqualified... as i was wearing one ear piece in of my ipod! [ luckily was wearing my garmin so knew my time!] Wouldn't have minded but most of the time i didn't have it playing but didn't take it out as it would have been flapping about & driving me nuts!! I have done this race 6 times before & never known that ipods where not permitted. I did go back over the rules & in the small print on the 2nd page it does say no ipods/mp3 players, so i am in the wrong, which i accept, however its a shame they couldn't have publised the ruling more, i didn't see any signs up to say no ipods at the start or hear any anouncements [ no i wasn't listening to eye of the tiger then before anyone comments!!] All in all a fab race, i understand that the wearing of ipods can cause problems but having done the race before i know what the roads & lanes can be like, hence i only put one earpiece in, so i could listen for traffic & commands if they where called.
Anyone else got dq at Brentwood or any other races??
Comments
Good.
Best news I've had all day.
I think every race organiser should do it and maybe then we could close this debate forever.
By the way - A DQ means no PB.
OK - I'm being harsh.
I apologise for that.
Sentiment remains the same though. I think ALL runners with headphones in should be DQ'ed.
You won't believe me but its actually the first race i've ever worn an ipod in!!! As the route is around lots of lanes where there is not many supporters i thought it may relieve the boredom of me telling myself to get moving!
HALVES, FF!
Back to school! You have baby brain!
CAN'T HEAR YOU I HAVE MY IPOD ON
I hate the no headphones rule and is incredibly harsh if people are disqualified, might be in the rules, but running should try and be inclusive as possible. I can always hear marshals and cars with my music on, if I go the wrong way or get run over then it's my loss.
Deaf people are allowed to run, what's the difference?
I've been warned by lots of marshalls at the end of races that I could be disqualified, it hasn't happened yet though. If races start enforcing it regularly and I therefore don't get a time etc. I'll stop entering races and just happen to be running the same route at the same time.
Real time pacing info is a pacing aid and therefore againt the rules. Ipods are banned as an aid, but arer highlighted because of H&S.
Sian - live and learn. Unfortunately for you ipods and races are a contentious topic on the forum. Escape while you can.
Not according to the rules. It's not real time. Using the markers and a watch is part of the skill of racing, rather than looking at a device every few seconds to ensure you're on course, or learning to pace yourself.
abingdon have DQ'd people for wearing them ....they even informed someone on these threads before that if they wore them they would be stopped from entering the stadium at the finish and therefore would not be able to finish the course...............The person had been boasting on here that as it was public roads the organisers could not stop them wearing an ipod whatever they stated on the entry form...........
....they make it quite clear...........I find it hard to believe that they didn't mention it at the start when they were going to take a firm line with it.....
I'm guessing that pacers themselves are breaking the rules, but if someone happens to stick with them, they aren't. I've no idea how pacemakers for elites work.
But the point is that music players are banned in the rules as technical assistance, just as GPS pace info is too. The former is more of an issue because of H&S but mainly because of people's prejudice. So, if a rule is going to enforced I think it should clearly say in the race instructions, not just within the UKA rules which most wont read, together with a reminder of the some of the other technical assistance rules too.
There's a huge difference between enforcing rules strictly for people who are at the top end competing for prizes and those that are running for their own enjoyment or own personal goals.
These rules are created to ensure a fair playing field for the very elite. Running is relatively unique in that Joe public can run in the same event as the best in the world, so the same rules have to apply to both, but the enforcement can be different.
As a sport I think we should try and be as inclusive as possible and for a lot of people music forms a large part of their running experience. A lot of the bannings are just petty marshalling and strong enforcement will discourage people from entering races, which can only be a bad thing.
Am taking Little Ninja's advice & escaping while i can!!
Didn't realise what a can of worms i would have opened!! Anyway i wont be running a race with an ipod in again not making the same mistake twice
Thanks for all the replies & comments
"These rules are created to ensure a fair playing field for the very elite"
the no ipod rule is there on H&S grounds - yeh another pile of shite for many issues as well - but most races won't get a race licence without H&S rearing it's head. it's there to ensure that marshalls instructions are HEARD not ignored. it's nothing to do with "fair play" but simply your safety.
well done Brentwood
No difference at all.
In exactly the same way that Lewis Hamilton can't drive down my street at 100mph in a Ford Fiesta.
It's either a rule or it isn't. Whether a rule is enforced or not does not stop it BEING a rule. It's a rule for all and you suggesting that rules should be enforced differently for different levels of ability is about the stupidest thing I've heard all day.