tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post4110558589192564170..comments2023-06-19T09:36:03.359-05:00Comments on Life in the Twin Lane: Safety Expectations in RacesMotherRunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480934807525511994noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-31240828173441532872011-11-15T19:07:01.377-06:002011-11-15T19:07:01.377-06:00Good for you for letting the race director know yo...Good for you for letting the race director know your thoughts. I've only done one small race that was open to traffic, and it was awful. I felt so unsafe. When you are racing you should NOT have to worry about traffic and cars!Rachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13133393278571822391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-64723710971844188682011-11-09T13:44:01.923-06:002011-11-09T13:44:01.923-06:00Oh, and I run in plenty of races on "open roa...Oh, and I run in plenty of races on "open roads" where the course director announces it's an open road course, to obey the road rules, and even then, there are PLENTY of police and signs and intersection 'guards' to ensure a safe race.Cheerleaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16509813871660699783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-64526589255372788522011-11-09T13:43:19.868-06:002011-11-09T13:43:19.868-06:00What are your expectations when you enter a race o...What are your expectations when you enter a race on public roads? ****safety, signs posted <br /><br />Do you watch for traffic during a race? ***YES. I am never so "in the zone" that I block out what's around me. Keeping ME safe is being alert and proactive, otherwise I wouldn't taken out the chick in the race on saturday who decided to come right up on my right side and stay there for the 100 years before and up to the turn around for the 5k, she was running the 10K that went straight. <br /><br />Do you yield to cars? **depends on how the driver is acting. Most will realize the number on the chest means something, otherwise, yes, I have stopped and then the driver waves me on. <br /><br />Have you had any close calls during races? **during races, no, during training, yes, which is why I have an interactive Road IDCheerleaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16509813871660699783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-14997164671177502242011-11-09T10:29:31.521-06:002011-11-09T10:29:31.521-06:00Hey girlie! I absolutely love your blog! I used to...Hey girlie! I absolutely love your blog! I used to run all the time. I use my twins as an excuse not to now, lol, but you inspire me. I just picked you to be a recipient of the Liebster Blog Award! I know, I know, it was the least I could do. lol.... Stop by We Got Kidz to see it.wegotkidzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08582972483065211778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-37192194415932257972011-11-08T20:52:16.176-06:002011-11-08T20:52:16.176-06:00Interestig about the Zooma Great Lakes 1/2 maratho...Interestig about the Zooma Great Lakes 1/2 marathon. I had thought about running that race - but it didn't work out. I think I am glad that I didn't!! I guess I would have thought that at a minimum there would have been signs posted and notices for the roads. Since the route was pretty much around the lake - I would have thought that the traffic was limited - but it doesn't sound like it. <br />I guess I have really never thought about it - and most off of the races I run are closed courses. I don't think I would have even thought about it - UNTIL NOW. I was involved in one run that was along a road and it wasn't closed but it was well marked and is pretty much a straight shot - so there are no blind corners - or hills for that matter.RunningFromCancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16002223179120563077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-18021896145867092822011-11-08T14:57:11.367-06:002011-11-08T14:57:11.367-06:00I have never been in a race where the roads weren&...I have never been in a race where the roads weren't closed off. Even the small one here in town closes the roads for a race to go on. I think that is crazy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15744134824892341845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-28371138002815839992011-11-08T12:56:15.466-06:002011-11-08T12:56:15.466-06:00Wow. I was sorry I missed the Zooma half in LG but...Wow. I was sorry I missed the Zooma half in LG but now not so much.<br />I've run many races where roads are at least partially open but I've never felt endangered (except at the Soldier Field 10 mile when we were on LSD with only a couple of cones separating us from whizzing traffic).<br />The blind hills part really scares me.<br />I ran a turkey trot last fall where a car simply drove out among the racers, even though the road was closed. He was going really slow but still.<br />Great topic!Teamarciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02234702339055377426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-80292027274786777482011-11-08T12:32:16.559-06:002011-11-08T12:32:16.559-06:00When I pay for a race I expect roads to be closed ...When I pay for a race I expect roads to be closed or at least have police or volunteers out. I would be upset if I had to stop for a car..but I would be more upset if I got hit by one I guess. I would much rather have a closed course than a cool shirt or medal.Katie @ Will Race for Carbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01076136779333122809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-81774206109145468142011-11-08T11:40:16.628-06:002011-11-08T11:40:16.628-06:00I definitely expect the police presence. Howeve...I definitely expect the police presence. However, I've participated and spectated in plenty of races that are open to traffic. But then again, the race web site in each case has warned of this, so I'm never surprised. <br /><br />In NH, they recently cancelled the annual White Mountain 1/2 Marathon because the local police deemed it unsafe (the Nor'easter weekend). So without the police presence, the race was cancelled. <br /><br />Ideally, closed roads are safest, but I believe, if done well, vehicles and runners can co-exist.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956724450988998624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-89166639823667367942011-11-08T09:27:54.352-06:002011-11-08T09:27:54.352-06:00this is a really interesting and important topic. ...this is a really interesting and important topic. it honestly has never occurred to me because I, like you, am usually in the middle of the pack and just assume that regardless people will notice me. however, i also assume that the race has done their part in assuring our safety. i think its terrible that this would even be an issue. if anything...it should be the first thing addressed when planning a race.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17378429616486417815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532504507416917239.post-64660806866359266282011-11-08T09:08:33.918-06:002011-11-08T09:08:33.918-06:00I expect police presence, and clear information fr...I expect police presence, and clear information from the race people about course closure. Some races are open, and that's fine and understandable if the race is small, but I expect to be told about it. If the course is open, I expect some kind of course marking (orange cones on the road) to indicate to drivers that something is going on. I also expect the course to be very, very well marked. Mile signs, painted arrows on the road and/or arrows marking turns, volunteers at places where the turn/not turn isn't abundantly clear. <br /><br />Most races I participate in are closed courses, but the few that I have done that are "open" didn't really seem very open if you know what I mean. I think some of it depends on the race organizers and their relationship with the community. In GB, for example, the marathon is a huge deal and people are informed about closures for WEEKS beforehand. In small towns, people tend to embrace local events (especially when they are for local charities/organizations) and will steer clear of courses or tread carefully on them. <br /><br />Wow. This got wordy :)Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394230888972892635noreply@blogger.com