Cheats

[southernsoftie]

Never considered this as an issue before, I just assumed that everyone would take the right kit, and have never observed any of the obvious deceptions some of you seem to have.

Agree though that if I'm weighed down by the minimum kit, then so should every bugger else. And if you disagree with that and seek to take advantage by deliberate avoidance or bending of these rules then you are cheating.

I wonder how these same people view the rule dodging/bending/breaking of the MPs?

I bet that's why I've never won!

[SteveT]

A bit of rant here.

An old topic but it really does p!ss me off. The Race Organisor of today's race KT (which was run really well) stipulated the the kit required to do this race, saying there would be a kit check at the end. Maybe the kit list was a little harsh but thats up to the RO and he has put the time an effort in to organise the event so I happy to respect it and take it.

I know of three runners who took no kit (well one had an Ipod) and saw many runners with just a windproof, no map, no compass, no waterproofs, No w/pants , No scruples, no respect. In otherwords they cheated. They cheated themselves and all the runners who came in behind them who followed the rules. It show HUGE disrespect to the RO to blatantly cheat. Yes cheat I'll say it again because that what you are....

this could be helped by RO actually doing a kit check and DISQ any runners who don't carry kit because they will keep doing it until they caught.

Sorry for that

I hope you all enjoy your sunny weekend

While I agree with what you say Ian, part of the responsibility must also lie with the RO to actually enforce the rules. I was there today, lugging my waterproofs around, surrounded by people wearing shorts, socks, shoes and nothing else. The RO said there would be kit inspection at the finish so surely some of these guys should have been targetted and disqualified. Did you see any DQs in the results? I didn't. It cuts both ways - if the RO isn't going to DQ anyone, why would anyone bother to race to the rules?

[Grouse]

I agree with Ian but, (off the point a little bit), one thing I have pondered is the emergency food that some RO's stipulate be carried - if you were to use it could it DQ you in the event of a kit check at the end of a race? In some cases it seems it would, but I think this is unfair - I have given the last of my food away to other runners in the past and I think if anyone used their emergency rations it would be unfair to disqualify for them for it (unless of course they did not carry enough and starved to death in which they would deserve all they got).

[stevefoster]

We saw people at last year's fellsman go through the kit check, then go out and dump half of it in their car! That is a deliberate attempt to deceive and deserves an instant disqualification, I think.

B@st@rds, i had everything and the kitchen sink in mine, this year, it weighed twice as much at the end with all the sweat, hail, and attractive ewes i picked up on the way
Cheats, dq em!!!

[IanDarkpeak]

While I agree with what you say Ian, part of the responsibility must also lie with the RO to actually enforce the rules. I was there today, lugging my waterproofs around, surrounded by people wearing shorts, socks, shoes and nothing else. The RO said there would be kit inspection at the finish so surely some of these guys should have been targetted and disqualified. Did you see any DQs in the results? I didn't. It cuts both ways - if the RO isn't going to DQ anyone, why would anyone bother to race to the rules?

Hi Steve

Although my comments started off mentioning this race I wasn't aiming them specifically at this race as it happens at many races.

I did speak to the RO after the race and he said he did do some kit checks. Before I finished I imagine. He laso said that he was a bit short handed as he had to get the results sorted. Fair comment, so do Kit check at the start.

But as to RO's not doing Kit checks at all I totally agree. they have to be done and seen to be done with the offenders punished.

Dave always does a kitcheck at the start of the Downfall race for eg and everyone knows this is going to happen.

Perhaps the way forward is to state the desired kit and tell every one that a kitcheck will be done on the start line. Then send a few marshals casually through the crowd before the start taking 'suspect numbers' and call them out. also perhaps there could be a marshal midpoint taking numbers for runners to be checked at the end?? May be a bit picky but it will soon have the desired effect

[IanDarkpeak]

I agree with Ian but, (off the point a little bit), one thing I have pondered is the emergency food that some RO's stipulate be carried - if you were to use it could it DQ you in the event of a kit check at the end of a race? In some cases it seems it would, but I think this is unfair - I have given the last of my food away to other runners in the past and I think if anyone used their emergency rations it would be unfair to disqualify for them for it (unless of course they did not carry enough and starved to death in which they would deserve all they got).

tricky one this Grouse, I don't feel I should be the arbitor on this but as far as I'm aware (although there must be others) only the fellsman states you must have your emergency food at the end of the race.

Not cheating but maybe bending the rules alittle was a guy at the mentioned Skyline 07 race who claimed his 2 (TWO!) jelly baby's were enough food We 'encouraged' him to take a little more to his credit he came and found me at the end and thanked us for asking him to carry more.

[Stanners]

Having the correct kit is one thing but running Kinder topless and with tight lycra shorts on shouldn't be allowed.
I'm still suffering from shock Ian

[TurboTom]

I think full kit should be a certainty for any unmarked race no matter what the distance.

[Penguin]

A bit of rant here.

An old topic but it really does p!ss me off. The Race Organisor of today's race KT (which was run really well) stipulated the the kit required to do this race, saying there would be a kit check at the end. Maybe the kit list was a little harsh but thats up to the RO and he has put the time an effort in to organise the event so I happy to respect it and take it.

I know of three runners who took no kit (well one had an Ipod) and saw many runners with just a windproof, no map, no compass, no waterproofs, No w/pants , No scruples, no respect. In otherwords they cheated. They cheated themselves and all the runners who came in behind them who followed the rules. It show HUGE disrespect to the RO to blatantly cheat. Yes cheat I'll say it again because that what you are....

this could be helped by RO actually doing a kit check and DISQ any runners who don't carry kit because they will keep doing it until they caught.

Sorry for that

I hope you all enjoy your sunny weekend

i agree with your point Ian, the fact is though many a runner these days choose to carry less and less to try and get an advantage i think if i can recall A.G. had a BIG accident at his last fell race and realised he didn't have enough kit with him! runners passing by were helpfull by lending him some stuff so he didn't freeze to death!

end of the day, if you enter it you should therefore be able to carry the kit as it should have been part of your training.. e.g. carrying bum bag or rucksack with a little weight in.. it's just a little common sense even though most humans these days fail to be born with it.

[janeho]

I had the same rant to some friends after the Warfedale off road last week. The organisers made it very clear at the start that there would be a kit check at the end and anyone not carrying full waterproofs, map, compass whistle would be DQ. It was very clear, as always, that a small minority of people had completely ignored this and were not carrying anything despite some very poor weather conditions. There were, of course, no dq's on the race results.
Even when there is a kit check people go out of their way to avoid it. It was very noticeable at the Anni Waltz that those of us with bum bags that looked like they were packed for a weekend away queued for kit check, those whose could have had barely one jelly baby in went round the outside of the queue straight into the field - we shouldn't need bouncers on the gates to the start there should be some personal responsibility here.
Realistically carrying a bum bag or not makes no difference whatsoever at my standard to my time or race placing, but I do feel strongly that if the RO say this is what you must carry then that is a race rule.