17 Rules for Borrowing Race
Numbers
by
A N Other
from
a Club Newsletter
1. Don't
use anyone else's number in any circumstances (except rule 5).
2. If
entries haven't closed, then pay the money and enter in your own name. If the race is for a good cause, then
definitely pay up!
3. Don’t
borrow numbers for local cross country leagues.
They are cheap to enter their profits are donated to other junior and
school leagues. Your running could affect the overall individual series
positions.
4. Don't
make up a number (in any circumstances). There was a guy in a race
who made up a number and pinned it on. Then he ran the route
and through the finishing funnel. Came in the top 20. At the
prize-giving, the woman bearing the official version of ‘his’ number was
awarded first place but was still on the course. Later, the race
organisers had to sort out exchanging trophies and vouchers because all the
women had to receive higher denomination vouchers than they were
awarded in the presentation.
5. If
entries have closed before the official cut-off, then make a surreptitious
enquiry (e.g. do it using someone else's e-mail at
work!) to the race organiser to ask whether they will officially accept swapped
numbers (maybe for an additional donation of £1 or £2).
6. If
you ignore rules 1 to 5, then at least follow rules 7 to 17.
7. If
you are a leading runner (i.e. could win an individual prize), don't borrow
from anyone.
8. If
the person you are borrowing from is a leading runner, don't borrow from
him/her.
9. Don't
use the number of someone of the opposite sex (men, you wouldn't want to win a
ladies prize you weren't entitled to, and vice versa).
10. Don't
use the number of someone older than you (you wouldn't want to win a vet's
prize you weren't entitled to).
11. If
you use the number of an unattached runner, don't run in your club vest.
12. Don't
use the number of someone in a different club from you (unless you know that
that club has no chance of winning a team prize) (and don't run in your club
vest).
13. If
the race numbers have been allocated in age-group bands, try not to use one
that is for someone 30 years younger than you. If you do, then apply plenty of
Grecian 2000 before you start and hope it's not a rainy day and the dye runs.
Or instead run really easily and then explain your aging by the fact that
you've had a hard run
14. If
the race numbers have been marked with sweatshirt size, be ready with a good reason
why you're 8 stone and you want an XL (you like plenty of layers in the winter)
or you're 16 stone and you want an S (it's for one of the kids).
15. If
you use the number of a fellow club member then don't stop for the prize
ceremony if you've won a team prize.
16. If
you use someone else's number, make sure they or their family (who will be on the
phone number that they wrote on the entry form) know of your various illnesses,
allergies etc should you have an accident or be taken ill during the race.
a. Many
years ago there was a tragic occurrence in the
b. You
may be fit and healthy but what about accidents? In road races where the
roads are open to traffic you may have had or you will probably know someone
who has had a "close shave" with traffic. Several years ago, one
of our club members was knocked down in a race (he suffered a broken
arm). Last year in a local race there was a dispute between runners,
marshals, car drivers and a park official. The organisers had great difficulty
persuading a car driver to wait 2 minutes and not drive straight at and through
the runners standing on the start line. Anything might have happened.
c. Fell
and trail races may be free of traffic but can you guarantee not to get injured
or lost? How are you going to explain to the fell rescue team that you
are not who they are looking for? Perhaps they'd leave you up there!
17. If,
despite the warnings of rule 16, you do borrow a number and you are caught,
don't tell them about the 17 rules.
And when you
do run, have a read here http://www.ukresults.net/misc/annoy.html
how you can annoy the race organiser.