New safety rules

All seems a bit anally retentive. If you're stupid enough to not take stuff in case of bad weather or an emergency, then be it on your own back. Survival of the fittest. Personally I prefer to take more than required, but I'm not going to start buying new waterproofs or anything like that, just because they don't have taped seams. I live of barely any money as it is so couldn't afford. As for wearing race numbers on your chest, I just think as long as it's clearly visible then what's the bloody problem. I wear my race number on my leggings/shorts sometimes so I've not got to mess about lifting my extra top/ coat at each checkpoint, potentially letting in the cold. If someone is going to get arsey with me about my kit, then I'll just not bother with their race.

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Originally Posted by Stagger

Strikes me the committee are backing each other the the rest are kicked into touch.

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It's always cheering to have your motives called into question on the Forum.

Two committee members volunteer to help an old friend who has agreed to stage a British Championship race and we're up to no good.

Other than having a good day out, I thought I was doing my job.

FRA rules are made by fell runners for fell runners. That's why the committee is packed full of active fell runners who race, organise races and volunteer to help at races right through the year.

So using yesterday's race as a further piece of information/evidence to help inform the discussion about, and the context of, some suggested rule changes seems like a pretty sensible way for a committee member to behave.

Like everyone else on the committee, over my 4 years of office I have tried to discharge my duties as an officer of the FRA and the new FRA Limited as best I can. To me that duty is best discharged by thinking about the interests of the sport as a whole; not coming at things solely from a runner's/racer's point of view but looking across the sport, thinking about the duties and responsibilities of ROs and volunteers also and trying to find that often difficult balance between the competing interests.

The shame for me is that in trying to do your best for a sport that you love and that has given you so much pleasure over the years, you have to have your motives questioned.

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Originally Posted by Stagger

The FRA needs to look at the bigger picture.

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If you removed your own blinkers, you might realise that the FRA committee are looking at the widest possible picture; for your future benefit.

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Originally Posted by Lefty

At the Clougha Pike race a couple of years ago I witnessed a great method by the host club ( Bowland Fell Runners ?) where before the start everyone had to pass through a start box , be counted and check that their numbers were easily readable, in my nearly 50 years of fell racing this is the first time I have seen this system used, it is possibly something which the Fra and other RO should consider as a great safety measure.

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Bofra have been doing this for as long as i've been attending. Though earlier in the thread head counting was suggested to be dangerous, why i don't know.

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Originally Posted by Alan

Yes I'm aware of those, and all those involved in this work are grateful for feedback, including comments on this forum.
But I'm still surprised that nothing whatsoever was discussed at the AGM.

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The problem with public speaking is that most people will feel too much under scruitiny and uncomfortable, so won't step up. The forum is far less of a public situation and will produce more of a response. There's also the effect that peer pressure has on you in a public setting; by staying silent those around you are creating a situation of peer pressure without intentionally doing anything. There have been experiments carried out on individuals to see to what extent the effect of peer pressure will keep an individual silent. In one experiment with 8 people in a room (7 who knew what was going on, and 1 guinea pig who was a complete stranger to the rest) the guinea pig sat silent even when a fire alarm was sounding and fake smoke pouring in underneath the door.

I'm thankful that you accept the forum as a suitable place for opinions to be put forward, Graham has said in the past that he doesn't which is a shame.

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Originally Posted by mr brightside

The problem with public speaking is that most people will feel too much under scruitiny and uncomfortable, so won't step up. The forum is far less of a public situation and will produce more of a response. .

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I'm not sure.. if like me you use a publicaly tractable name.. then it is like talking in public.. or you could be like the Grump..

Whilst I see the concerns re no vests... it is understandable.. but really?

But what about number belts? common in europe and the US.. hold the number truer.. beauty of a number belt is easily stuck over another layer.. I'd rather pin to my shorts.. but they are handy and save messing with pins so I use mine in most small races now..

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Originally Posted by MorganW

The shame for me is that in trying to do your best for a sport that you love and that has given you so much pleasure over the years, you have to have your motives questioned.

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No motives have been questioned.

Just ballot the members on the rule changes and go with a majority.

There is nothing wrong with constructive discussion and its good we all have different opinions.

I appreciate the reason for some of the changes but others are just too picky.

I always help with club races EVERY year so I do my bit back for the sport.

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Originally Posted by IainR

But what about number belts? common in europe and the US.. hold the number truer.. beauty of a number belt is easily stuck over another layer.

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You mean like THIS - Nice one! Certainly looks like a good idea.
(Probably more practical for the hairy guys than tit tape too!)

exactly..I was given one by a local sports shop in Germany as I run in their vest.. and its just so easy to use.. no faffing with pins.. lining up a number.. you also can't fold easily the number as you need to use the holes in the number.. I'm not sure I'd race a long race in it.. but will try it in next weeks half marathon I think.. see how it goes..

It's easier to have strong rules and allow ROs some exceptions in particular weather conditions than have looser rules and expect ROs to augment them.

If you know for race X that full body cover is required but conditions on the day mean that the RO exempts overtrousers for instance then it's a lot simpler to turn up with all the kit required and leave the overtrousers in the car than have to scrimp or buy extra kit at the race.

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Originally Posted by IainR

I'm not sure.. if like me you use a publicaly tractable name.. then it is like talking in public.. or you could be like the Grump..

Whilst I see the concerns re no vests... it is understandable.. but really?

But what about number belts? common in europe and the US.. hold the number truer.. beauty of a number belt is easily stuck over another layer.. I'd rather pin to my shorts.. but they are handy and save messing with pins so I use mine in most small races now..

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Would it be too much to allow numbers to be attatched like this...

Attachment 7126

I can't see a problem, you won't have waterproof bottoms on and your top off simultaneously surely?