UKA possible rule book changes Roads Events

[SteveJ]

Report in Athletics Weekly (13.12.07) says that UKA is condsidering a recoomendation by UK Road Running Management Group (RRMG) to ban the use of audio equipment with earphones at races (is such a ban in USA from this year) and is proposed because of safety concerns. Interesting, but how would an organiser enforce it in a huge field? The RRMG have suggested that such use of equipment may result in disqualification.

Another suggested change is for Numbers...in that medical info must be provided by competitors on the reverse. Many races do already request this info to help marshals and first aiders. Although I always complete this personally, I doubt that all do but it is an important safety issue...but how would you check or enforce it?

Comments welcomed!!!

[rick]

There was talk of a ban on music devices the club (Team Red Lizard) message board before the marathon here in Portland last October.
The Portland Marathon declared themselves "the Ipod" friendly marathon so the USATF ban isn't comprehensive.
dailyviews.runnersworld.com/2007/11/headphone-ban-w.html

The general view on the message board was that unless you were in the first hundred or so finishers there's little the organizers could do about it. Think of the resources it would take to enforce an iPod/MP3 player ban at the London Marathon or the GNR.

On a similar note: Apparently devices are now available that will collect GPS information, transmit it to your iPod and give you a constant update on your pace.

Race numbers: I guess the best you could hope for is that by having a place for medical info printed on the back people who feel they are at risk might fill it in. The only way to enfore the rule is either to have stewards check each number before the race of rule that competitors to wear their numbers back-to-front. ;D

[stevemort]

Another annoying one is mobile phones!

Anyone who's done the London Marathon will probably agree.

People were running along having conversations, zig-zagging from side to side and not really concentrating on what they were doing

[syoung]

The medical point is interesting. Could get like France and insist on a medical certificate before taking part in any event ! Which interestingly enough (prior to the Paris marathon) was the reason I found out about my heart murmur !!