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New UKA road running rules - now with added headphone bans!!

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The_Saint May 2016 5:13pm, 19 May 2016 5,837 posts	Quote Pin The_Saint I simply just don't get the fixation people have with shutting themselves off from the world whilst doing something that is about getting out there and connecting with the world. If someone doesn't enjoy running and finds it boring so needs entertainment then maybe running just isn't for them and they could find something they prefer. People who simply don't accept the safety aspect are to me just like the people we get week after week on winter evenings who refuse to accept that wearing black head to toe is a risk and won't wear anything hi viz because of reasons varying from not finding it flattering to "I'm only running on the pavement". Then there is the "I'm such a free spirit and I do what I want" argument - fine but don't do things that will affect others, you may be prepared to accept the risk of being smeared over someone's car but that driver has to live with that trauma or in a smaller way, you may enjoy blissfully barging or blocking other runners in your oblivious audio bubble, but you are adversely affecting other runners. Along similar lines Bradley Wiggins got aggro for this road.cc Part of me thinks that Natural Selection should do its job here but sadly many people will already have reproduced.
Hills of Death (HOD) May 2016 10:41am, 20 May 2016 32,238 posts	Quote Pin Hills of Death (HOD) So when was this fun run explosion
Gobi May 2016 11:05am, 20 May 2016 58,353 posts	Quote Pin Gobi Hod- where did Spurs finish in the end ?
Steampunk seratonin May 2016 11:20am, 20 May 2016 5,695 posts	Quote Pin Steampunk seratonin Some of the points made by Larkim are spot on. What constitutes a "fun-runner" anyway? I suspect that there is definitive answer as even on fetch we would have diverse opinions on the subject. To my mind, fun runners are those who do races in costumes or are motivated to do a "one-off" event. Whereas, to the competitive runners at the front of the race, a 55 year old plodder like me is a fun runner.
TZ May 2016 11:27am, 20 May 2016 1,687 posts	Quote Pin TZ As a Race Director of a BARR gold-standard "road race" which carries a UKA race licence, I speak from some position of authority regarding this apparent confusion over "lapped closed roads" courses. UKA's position is that they recommend a headphone ban on such courses, but it is the RD and UKA adjudicator's joint decision as to whether each event wishes to implement that ban. Obviously factors such as congestion, width of course, other risks (like running off the "closed" course onto a busy road after getting lost, etc) will be considered. The is (now) no discretion if a race is held with any part of if on roads which are not closed to traffic - then it is always an outright ban. Failure to comply will almost certainly render the affected runner and perhaps the event in breach of the UKA-provided public liability insurance.
CharlieP May 2016 11:28am, 20 May 2016 135 posts	Quote Pin CharlieP If running wasn't fun, I don't think I'd be doing it.
Hills of Death (HOD) May 2016 11:28am, 20 May 2016 32,239 posts	Quote Pin Hills of Death (HOD) Gobi in talking about football shocker
Gobi May 2016 11:34am, 20 May 2016 58,354 posts	Quote Pin Gobi I live with a Spurs fan HoD
tonyp2604 May 2016 11:44am, 20 May 2016 366 posts	Quote Pin tonyp2604 I totally agree with what The Saint said yesterday. I just don't get these types who lock themselves away in that "bubble". Running actually heightens awareness of my environment and we should all be able to make do with less "aural clutter". There is way too much unnecessary noise in life (intrusive music in TV/radio shows, traffic, etc. etc.) . I would rather just hear bird-song or silence when I am out on a run. There is also the safety aspect. As Saint points out, they are just like the idiots who go out on a winter evening totally clothed in black making themselves invisible.
Steampunk seratonin May 2016 11:52am, 20 May 2016 5,700 posts	Quote Pin Steampunk seratonin Well said Tony. For me, running is the part of my life that gets me away from everything else. No phone, no music - just me out running. Free. No intrusion from everyday life. It's how I de-stress.