I am not a free man I am a phone number!
I am not a free man I am a phone number!
Last edited by Guick Dotto; 03-01-2008 at 12:02 AM.
Yep, as it happens, I agree, the word "compulsory" should have been omitted and replaced with "advised" or something along those lines. Like many people, I recoil at being told what to do when common sense and personal choice should suffice. The debate will no doubt continue but frankly, I can't see that carrying a mobile phone will ever be a compulsory requirement for running fell races (especially judging by the nature of the comments on this forum alone) in the same way that full body cover is for winter races so perhaps we should think of this as a pilot and treat it as the one-off that it most likely is.
I suspect that last years race really put the wind up the organisers and led to the slightly later run date as well as this 'not entirely thought through' mobile phone requirement.
Like I said earlier in the thread, I'll bring my (employer's) phone as I have to but will have a zero expectation that I'll be able to get a signal using O2, wouldn't want to stop running to use it if I felt I was suffering from hypothermia (stopping will surely make me colder), have no real idea who I'd ring if I was in trouble (presumably the organiser will give out the MR number before hand?) and wouldn't want me having a mobile get in the way of getting real help from nearby runners or marshalls.
Its easy to say that a mobile is an extra safety net but where ever the line is drawn there will always be an extra safety net that can be added in. The line should be drawn 'this' side of compulsory mobiles being carried
As for carrying a map and compass. Shouldn't race organisers bear in mind that some runners can't actually navigate with a map and compass and therefore should be required to provide proof of competence in this area eg a certificate of participation on an FRA navigation course or Light Green colour standard at an orienteering event. Otherwise how will runners in need of assistance report their position using their mobile phones? Don't tell me that a satellite can actually lock on to a mobile. That's a bit like being tagged. Hey why not tag runners then they could be tracked like on route gadget?
Wow, good waste of half an hour reading this. My thoughts as a slow competitor, an organiser, and an observer.
Competitor: I understand the thoughts of not taking a phone, I don't when running and will never take one (although I did when the SO was expecting a child!) But if an organisers says stand on one leg and wear an eye patch, then so be it. The following year if it is the wrong decision, there will be less entries from eye patch wearing individuals. So if a phone is compulsory, then I will get a cheap one in the event of trashing it.
Organiser: There is nothing more heart stopping to hear there has been an acident in the race you are part of organising, despite all the warning notices, verbal and written, you give out. The sports we enjoy competing in/organising (yes, some of us do enjoy organising them!) are by design risky and dangerous. We cannot dictate which way a competitor can run/ride (only by penalising them if they cheat from the route intended) or what syle they use. So we try to cut out the risk to us of having heart stopping moments. If you have marshals on a route with communication, then individual phones are surplus to requirements, as the area can be searched between. If the route is a long one, and marshals are sporadic, think of your phone, if carried as a potential life saver for someone else, as you then have a decision to do the moral thing and help a fellow runner by using it (or trying to) Personally, maybe it should be they are strongly advisable. We try different formats, timings, categories. Sometimes they work for the best.
Observer: As a time keeper at a recent cycle sportif it was handy that the last competitors had a mobile phone, as they were about an hour behind everyone else and it was getting dark (in the Lakes) A simple phone call found they were nearly there, we held on waiting for them, plus relatives knew they hadn't fallen in a ditch somewhere.
Love the Fruit Flan, Stringman
If an organisers wants the rule of carrying a mobile, then let them be, be it right or wrong. A lot of people complain of the 70 MPH limit on Motorways as it is outdated, but we pay the fine for speeding or keep within it. Your Choice.
Hey Chris, I hear Dark Peak are installing solar / wind powered recharging stations at the checkpoints for us mobiles
making a clunking noise in the washing machine.
then the tumble dryer.
then working again
Can't help thinking that the whole paranoia that is beginning to infest organisers is a very bad omen for this once adventurous sport.
I knew this would happen. On my ML assessment a couple of years ago the carrying of mobile phones was still a discussion point now it seems you are criminally liable if you lead a group onto the hills without some form of electronic communication device. In my regular job as a teacher people regard you as irresponsible if you don't carry a mobile phone.
I've been going on the hills for a long time and I've always felt free there. Not any more.
By the way I think that marshals out on the fell should definitely use whatever they need to be in touch with base and if something even better than a mobile phone gets invented they should have it. marshalling/organising and racing are two very different things. The organiser is responsible for the marshals. Runners are responsible for themselves.
In the Merrick hill race the race organisers have the services of a local radio ham club who provide a radio network. I suspect more radio ham clubs would be willing to help out if asked.Originally Posted by Guick Dotto
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote