New safety rules

[fellgazelle]

While I understand why the FRA are insisting that numbers be pinned to the front of the torso and not folded, clearly visible etc., this presents me with a problem.
It appears that I sweat battery acid or something similar through my torso as when racing in warm weather my number usually disintigrates, drops off the top two safety pins and flaps about on the bottom two until it falls off without me noticing or I rip it off and carry it in my hand. In order to prevent this I have to fold the corners of the number at least to double thickness and this includes so called waterproof numbers. These are only small folds at the corners but could be interpreted as a folded number. So how do I comply?
Will common sense prevail or will some RO's see this as folding and DQ me?
Attachment 7133

I've never yet seen a number pinned to my shorts fall off, but I admit that I don't do this very often.
I don't run bare chested as the fell running fraternity and onlooking walkers really don't need my Johnny Vegas styled moobs jiggling about like a pair of excited puppies inflicted on them. I've no problem with those that choose not to wear a vest though, and think it's a shame that we've reached an age where fell runners are subjected to dress codes that realistically will only provide a marginal effect on safety. If runners choose to run bare chested why not insist on body marking along with a number pinned to the shorts? It works for triathlon.

Oh and I totally agree with disallowing walking poles, they are an absolute menace

[Khamsin]

While I understand why the FRA are insisting that numbers be pinned to the front of the torso and not folded, clearly visible etc., this presents me with a problem.
It appears that I sweat battery acid or something similar through my torso as when racing in warm weather my number usually disintigrates, drops off the top two safety pins and flaps about on the bottom two until it falls off without me noticing or I rip it off and carry it in my hand. In order to prevent this I have to fold the corners of the number at least to double thickness and this includes so called waterproof numbers. These are only small folds at the corners but could be interpreted as a folded number. So how do I comply?

Bring a Doctor's note?

[fellgazelle]

Bring a Doctor's note?

Hadn't thought of that

[Mike T]

While I understand why the FRA are insisting that numbers be pinned to the front of the torso and not folded, clearly visible etc., this presents me with a problem.
It appears that I sweat battery acid or something similar through my torso as when racing in warm weather my number usually disintigrates, drops off the top two safety pins and flaps about on the bottom two until it falls off without me noticing or I rip it off and carry it in my hand. In order to prevent this I have to fold the corners of the number at least to double thickness and this includes so called waterproof numbers. These are only small folds at the corners but could be interpreted as a folded number. So how do I comply?
Will common sense prevail or will some RO's see this as folding and DQ me?
Attachment 7133

I've never yet seen a number pinned to my shorts fall off, but I admit that I don't do this very often.
I don't run bare chested as the fell running fraternity and onlooking walkers really don't need my Johnny Vegas styled moobs jiggling about like a pair of excited puppies inflicted on them. I've no problem with those that choose not to wear a vest though, and think it's a shame that we've reached an age where fell runners are subjected to dress codes that realistically will only provide a marginal effect on safety. If runners choose to run bare chested why not insist on body marking along with a number pinned to the shorts? It works for triathlon.

Oh and I totally agree with disallowing walking poles, they are an absolute menace

Put tape over the corners of the number, and then "pin" through the taped area. And you are 100% correct about walking poles.

[that_fjell_guy]

I'd never realised how complicated (...or simple I guess!?) putting my number on was going to become. I've worn mine on my shorts at events where I use a sac or I think it will require my waterproof i.e. when rain is forecast etc. And I always fold the corners to improve strength at to allow a bit of movement to prevent ripping!? And poles...I'm with Mike T and fellgazelle! I know its not an FRA/UKA event but one or two at L100/L50 had long solid poles which they were just holding, horizontally in their hands, bit of a hazard at the start and narrow parts of the course.

[IainR]

Thing is they are banned in the WHW.... well were...

But European ultra's they are the norm now..

[Lefty]

The FRA has come a long way in reinventing itself from the original intentions where a group of like minded folk came together to share information and knowledge. I was there at the the meeting in April 1970 after the Pendle fell race in the Scout hut where the idea of forming the Fra came to fruition, the overriding concensus from those present was to keep it simple, no rules or regulations, everyone responsible for themselves and their own actions.
I was on the Fra committee in the 1980 as as far as I can remember those values still applied. Gradually though in the past couple of decades things have drastically changed for reasons best known to those who felt that the Fra should be more than its original incarnation, to the point where we now have a 14 page document to mull over. Admittedly its certainly not the sport it was and things have happened along the way for fresh thought, my hope is that everyone is listened to carefully before implementing any of the new rules, and especially in my opinion the Race Organisers some of whom like Alan Greenwood for example have organised literally hundreds of fell races and have a wealth of knowledge to pass on.
Take me back to the old days please, where life, and Fell racing were so much simpler !

[IanDarkpeak]

The FRA has come a long way in reinventing itself from the original intentions where a group of like minded folk came together to share information and knowledge. I was there at the the meeting in April 1970 after the Pendle fell race in the Scout hut where the idea of forming the Fra came to fruition, the overriding concensus from those present was to keep it simple, no rules or regulations, everyone responsible for themselves and their own actions.
I was on the Fra committee in the 1980 as as far as I can remember those values still applied. Gradually though in the past couple of decades things have drastically changed for reasons best known to those who felt that the Fra should be more than its original incarnation, to the point where we now have a 14 page document to mull over. Admittedly its certainly not the sport it was and things have happened along the way for fresh thought, my hope is that everyone is listened to carefully before implementing any of the new rules, and especially in my opinion the Race Organisers some of whom like Alan Greenwood for example have organised literally hundreds of fell races and have a wealth of knowledge to pass on.
Take me back to the old days please, where life, and Fell racing were so much simpler !

I'd agree with that Lefty if we were in those times but we are not, society has moved on H&S has moved on(may be not for the better), the law has moved on....The Fra isn't a small group of friends looking out for a wider circle of friends but a national body representing and with responsibilities to it's members with in a wider circle of sport. More spare time brings more and less experienced people in to our sport, publicity also brings in people looking for adventure and challenges.
We are in much more complicated times unfortunately

[DrPatrickBarry]

"We were trying to keep it simple" Would that defence stand up in court following a death?
The world has changed!

[Wheeze]

1. It is a honour to hear from someone at ground zero for our sport! 2. Our institution is a thought construct. It will be what we want it to be. So the world has moved on....so what? Official organised racing could just be handed over to the UKA. FRA could continue to represent 'wild' running. Simple, no rules sport adhering to the original precept of individual responsibility. It does not need to be dragged to a more complex posture if it does not want to. It just needs to recognise that it may have to give some things away. Of course, this is left field blue sky thinking and I recognise that FRA will want to keep its racing programme as is. Therefore the rules will have adapt.