Race Etiquette

It is officially race season. A few weeks ago, Fitzprado and O'Miedema ran the Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K and next week is Harry's Spring Run-off. The Go Girls will have a number of runners participating in Harry's SRO: Nana, Mariana, JaJa, and yours truly (T). By now, some of us are old-hands at this race business, but some of us are relatively new to the game. In fact, Harry's SRO will be JaJa's first race and Mariana's second! So, as we begin the race season, it is perhaps a good idea to review race etiquette.

There is no real "official" rule book governing race etiquette. But there are a lot of social norms. It's a wise idea to respect these norms. It shows that you are part of our community, our secret society, so to speak. Plus, you will avoid newbie mistakes. Oh yeah, we will judge you if you don't follow race etiquette. So govern yourself accordingly. :)

The Race Shirt Norm
In most races, you will receive a race shirt in your registration kit. Do not wear the race shirt before you have finished the race. That's right: do not wear the race shirt IN the race. You have to earn the right to wear the shirt, and you earn that right by finishing the race. Plus, it's bad mojo to wear the shirt before you finish. You're tempting fate, and we don't want to run near people who do that sort of thing.

You will see lots of people who do wear the race shirt in the race. These people are dabblers, not runners. True runners know the rules.

The Starting Position/Corral Norm
Most races use corrals. That is, the starting area is divided off into sections (or "pens", as the farmer in me likes to think of them) that are labeled according to your expected finish time. Go to the corral that best reflects what you realistically believe your finishing time will be. Do not place yourself in a corral closer to the start line than you should be.

In order to understand this norm, it is important to explain the idea of "chip time". In each race, runners will receive a "gun time" and a "chip time". "Gun time" refers to the time it takes a runner to complete the race, from the moment the gun (or horn) sounds to the moment the runner crosses the finish line. Gun time is used to establish your ranking and determines the winners of the race. "Chip time" refers to the time it actually takes a runner to run the race. Each runner receives an electronic chip that is affixed to the runner's shoe or ankle. When the runner crosses the start line, the chip is activated and begins timing. The chip subsequently records the time when the runner crosses the finish line. Chip time is what most of us are interested in. Most of us know that we are not contenders for a prize. We are racing against ourselves. Chip time is all that matters. Since chip time does not depend on how far back you begin the race, there is no need to crowd up near the front of the pack at the start line.

There is important etiquette at work in the corral norm. Slower runners who begin too far up in the start corrals get in the way. They create bottlenecks. Faster runners have to move around them, expending precious energy. Plus, who wants to spend an entire race being passed by people? It's more fun to start a bit further back and reel other runners in. It's energizing to blow by other runners as you move through the race.

There is one exception: if you are an age-group contender, then you should place yourself in good position in the start corrals. However, let your competitiveness be tempered with a realistic sense of what you believe you can accomplish in the race and what your fellow competitors can accomplish.

Where do I wear my bib?
You will receive a race bib in your registration kit. The race bib has your race number on it. Pin your bib to the front of your person, not to your back.

Nothing says "rookie" like wearing your bib on your back!

Slowing down in the race
Suppose you are midway through your race and you want to slow down or even take a walk break. What do you do? Move off to the side of the road or trail, raise one of your hands in the air, and then slow down to walk. This alerts other runners coming up behind you that you are about to slow down. The signaling thus reduces the chances that someone will bump into you from behind if you suddenly slow down or stop. It is also courteous since you move yourself out of the way of other, faster runners.

Tying your shoe laces in a race
It happens. Your shoe lace comes undone midway through a race. Rats! Well, it is better to stop for a moment to tie your errant lace than to risk taking a nosedive as your come into the home stretch. Just remember to follow the etiquette norms about slowing down in a race: move off to the side, race your arm, and then stop. Your fellow racers will thank you.

Norms for water stations
Most races have water stations. The water stations often distribute both water and Gatorade (or a similar product). There are a few things to remember as you approach the water station. First, be careful. The road is often slippery (or even icy) around water stations because of the water falling out of cups, etc.

Second, do not stop once moving once you receive your water. Move through the water station and stop at the side of the road or trail to drink if necessary once you are past the water station. Remember that there are many other runners coming up behind you. Coming to a dead stop in the middle of a water station creates a bottleneck and obstructs other runners.

Third, there are usually several tables with water and Gatorade, but most runners congregate at the first few tables. Run past the first tables and get your beverage of choice in the middle of the water station to save time.

Fourth, if you do not need water, run through the centre of the road or path in order to avoid the crowds around the water station.

Fifth, be careful about throwing out the water you don't drink! Don't just empty your cup unthinkingly...because you will likely give some poor, unsuspecting runner coming up beside you an unwelcome shower. If possible, try to water the grass, not your fellow runners.

Sixth, try to put your used cup in the garbage bins set up in the water station. It can be difficult and most of us toss our cups to the ground. But if you can hit the garbage, you make the job of the volunteers who clean up a bit easier.

Nearing the finish line
Give it all you have left at the finish line! Finish strong!

Etiquette for crossing the finish line
Look good and smile just in case someone is taking your photo. But more importantly, do not stop moving as soon as you are across the finish line. There are other runners coming in behind you and these runners are running hard. They could collide with you if you suddenly stop moving as soon as you cross the finish line. So slow it down to a walk, but do not stop moving.

Remember to have your chip removed
There are usually lots of volunteers at the finish line who will remove your chip for you. Make sure you remember to have your chip removed. No chip = No time.

Say "Thanks"
Races could not happen without an army of volunteers who do everything from pour water to direct runners along the course to removing chips from the feet of stinky runners. Take a moment to say "thank you" to these gracious individuals who make it possible for races to occur.

Cheer on your fellow runners
Once you are done your race, bask in the glory of the moment. Enjoy the feeling of crossing the finish line. But before you rush off to shower, if you have a few extra minutes, cheer on runners who are still running. Everyone hurts during a race: from the elites down to the back-of-the-packers. But elites hurt for a lot less time than those bringing up the rear. Take a moment to honour the people who do not win prizes and who do not finish with stellar times, but finish nonetheless. Take a moment to cheer them on and to encourage them as they near the finish line. Remember: the crowds were there for you. Be part of the crowd for someone else. It's part of what the community of runners is about: we support each other.

And yes, once you cross that finish line, you can immediately put on your race shirt. Wear it all day, if you like. You've earned it.