We sign up for races all the time, but did you know that there are actual rules of racing? It’s not something everyone really pays much attention to, but pretty much every race has a set of protocols and regulations. Runners are expected to follow these guidelines, and consequences for breaking the rules can be severe. Just a few weeks ago, the winner of the Orange County Marathon found himself disqualified for breaking a race rule. Let’s delve into some of the more common rules you might find on the race course.
Many road races fall under the umbrella of United States Track & Field (USTAF). This organization provides standards for all events with the goal of ensuring equal, equitable, and safe competitions and events for its athletes. You can find the official rulebooks here.
With that said, here are some of the rules you may see pop up on race day.
Doping
Doping is a big no-no in races. Just say “no.” While you might not see anyone tested at your local 5K, bigger races with larger stakes (prize money) will absolutely test their winners. If you are caught doping, you can be disqualified, stripped of your title, and even banned. Don’t do it.
Running Without A Bib Or Under Someone Else’s Bib
We shared a little about banditing a few weeks ago, but let’s touch base on it again. It is against the rules to run a race without registering. It is also against the rules to run with someone else’s bib. Races make it very clear if they allow transfers or deferrals, and runners would do well to adhere to those guidelines. The runner who gives their bib to someone else AND the athlete who runs with that bib can both be subject to consequences if caught.
Cutting The Course
Sometimes, things don’t go the way we want on race day, especially during longer runs. It’s not unheard of to drop out of a race or shorten it to get off the course. That’s all fine, as long as you don’t cross the finish line. Doing so skews the results, and can lead to dramatic shifts in the finishers. Course cutters are usually caught and can be disqualified or banned.
Outside Assistance
During USTAF events, runners cannot accept outside assistance from anyone. They can take fuel and hydration from official aid stations, or they can carry those items with them, but that’s it. In fact, this is the reason Mohamed Fadil was disqualified as the winner of the 2024 OC Marathon: he took aid from a cyclist on the course.
Athlete Pacing
While the rules of racing don’t typically encourage pacers, there’s really no way to prevent a group of registered runners from working together on the course. That being said, an UNregistered runner, or a cyclist/skateboarder/scooter driver is not permitted to pace a registered runner on the course. That will get your results stricken from the results.
Crossing The Finish Line
We often see photos and videos of runners helping injured or ill runners cross the finish line. These are heartwarming moments, reminding us of the goodness of the human spirit. And yes, I love these moments, too, and I hope if I was ever in a situation to help someone get to the finish, I would stop and do so. That being said, the rules of racing might say your assistance could be considered interference and could lead to a disqualification. My advice is to go with your heart on this one, and ask the injured party if they are open to your help.
What do you think about the rules of racing? Have you ever been in one of the above situations? Ever been disqualified for breaking the rules?
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Its so important to be aware of the rules so you don’t mess up your race. I think exchanging bibs is such a common one. Its nice when races give runners the option to transfer them.
Absolutely! I don’t think I see problems as much in the races I run, but it’s always smart to be aware.
These are great reminders, Jenn!
Here in South Africa, there are many more rules, like wearing club T-shirt, your age tag both (front and back) and a racing licence.
Also, headphones are strictly forbidden and you are not allowed to wear heavily branded clothing.
I forgot about headphones!
That’s super interesting about the race tags and license, as well as about the branded clothes.
Most of these come down to one thing: Cheating. And they should be self-evident. Though I hope that if I saw a runner collapse in front of me near the finish line I would indeed stop and help him or her to the finish.