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

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larkim May 2018 1:57pm, 15 May 2018 4,766 posts	Quote Pin larkim Why perplexed? At the small number DQ'd I presume? They are at least clear (ish) on their website, though they go further and extend the ban to bone conductors too. But fewer than 6 to be using them seems unlikely!
Autumnleaves May 2018 2:00pm, 15 May 2018 12,336 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves I couldn't see anything about phones in the road race section? I have headphones that I wore on occasion for my long solo runs to alleviate a bit of boredom & distract me from the pain The ones I have do not cut out ambient noise altogether. I took them to London in case I ended up in such a dark place that I needed to shut out my surroundings - but that didn't happen. I would not normally consider wearing them on any run I had company in, including races - you would miss a lot of atmosphere - but there is no doubt I find maintaining a steady pace easier with music if the right tempo!
larkim May 2018 2:45pm, 15 May 2018 4,767 posts	Quote Pin larkim AL, the phones in the competition area rules in the UKA / IAAF handbook I read as applying to all events, track, road, XC etc under the "Assistance" rules.
The_Saint May 2018 6:50pm, 15 May 2018 6,225 posts	Quote Pin The_Saint In the race briefings I do for my club's races I say "As a club we don't hold races for the purpose of DQing anyone but I will if it is reported either by a marshal or a competitor" and we have done.
larkim May 2018 8:29pm, 15 May 2018 4,773 posts	Quote Pin larkim Sounds very sensible TS. If there's one thing that really riles me it's rules that aren't taken seriously if breached.
Surrey Phil May 2018 8:38pm, 15 May 2018 2,428 posts	Quote Pin Surrey Phil At the annual 10k I organise, runners are warned on the entry form, in the final instructions e-mail and at my pre-race safety briefing. I tell my marshals to politely tell runners to remove any earpieces/headphones if they see someone. Any verbal abuse back or if the same runner is reported to me several times for ignoring the rule will be DQ'd. Thankfully, it hasn't happened yet. One of my Race Adjudicators had a chat with me one year. Although what I said was correct, it would have to be a last resort as a lot of events like mine are fun, charity events and for the local community.
Autumnleaves May 2018 11:11am, 16 May 2018 12,337 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves I see larkim - although some off-road events now have phones listed in the kit list! I don't see how you could possibly enforce that for mass events as you say.
larkim May 2018 11:33am, 16 May 2018 4,775 posts	Quote Pin larkim LOL, hadn't twigged that. Are the offroad races that require phones run under the UKA umbrella? If they are LDWA events or FRA events they would no doubt have alternative rules (especially as "support crews" etc would be well outside of the rules for UKA purposes).
Autumnleaves May 2018 12:17pm, 16 May 2018 12,338 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves Fair point - I don't know, I might check some time
FergusG May 2018 10:27am, 21 May 2018 2,522 posts	Quote Pin FergusG Turns out you can get cars on a route, even if it is closed to traffic :=o bbc.co.uk