I would like to “carry” my kids across the finish line. I swear I have seen others do it and be ok. I have done it at a half-ironman and been ok. But the full?
Finish Line Policy Friends and/or family members are not permitted to cross the finish line or enter the finish chute with participating athletes. This
policy will allow each competitor adequate time
to celebrate their accomplishment without
interfering with other finishers and ensure the
safety of all participants, volunteers and fans. Athletes who choose not to respect the policy will receive an automatic disqualification (DQ).
Tired and wobbly racers carrying their infants/kids and stumbling with them is one of the reasons this WTC policy became necessary. If you cross with them at a WTC full you will be DQ’d. T
Ironman and HITS races do not allow for this but Rev3 does.
Good reasons for both.
Rev3 is a more family oriented race and is set up for friends and family to cross the finish line with you. Key, they encourage this and are prepared for families to cross the finish line.
Although Ironman and HITS are family friendly they are both USTA sanctioned and not set up for this for again good reasons.
Ironman races have up to triple the number of participants and the finish chute can be dangerous if this was allowed. First and most importantly when finishing a full distance you will most likely be on an adrenaline rush and can crash at anytime. We saw a guy grab his baby from his wife down the chute and cross the finishers ramp and fall down with the baby in his arms. The baby was fine and a volunteer took the now crying baby back up the chute to find the mother. The guy was carried off by medics. Second, IM race finishers chutes can be competitive areas with racers fighting for that Kona slot, stay out of the way. Finish the race then celebrate with your family.
If you want to do a full and cross the finish line with your family, do a Rev3, they have great locations for families!
I had a friend who ran across the line with her two kids for IM WI 2011. As she was doing it, they told her she was about to be DQ’ed and were screaming at her not to do it. She did it and it was as if she never finished the event. DQed.
I carried my little girl across the line last weekend at Lanzarote 70.3 - it was fun.
They said at the briefing that it was allowed but just to be careful i.e there could be people sprinting for spots etc - but at 5:30 that wasn’t an issue for me, as I came into the finish track you could see the people around you (there were 2 near me) and neither had 3 bands on their arms so I knew they would be doing another lap of the run and not peeling off down the finish chute.
I got a photo taken of myself, daughter and the organiser as we crossed the line.
It is a rule as per WTC, but individual race organisers look upon it differently, you’ll just need to ask around and find the right event.
If that’s the race you want to do, not sure what is confusing about that language? you do it, you’re dq’d.
Unless you and your friends accuse some dude of running you over and punching you in the face. Then its perfectly okay to run down the finish chute and across the line with as many kids as you deem necessary, but I think eight is enough. You need to nearly trample a fellow competitor in the process though.
Friends and/or family members are not permitted to cross the finish line or enter the finish chute with participating athletes. ……** Athletes who choose not to respect the policy will receive an automatic disqualification (DQ). **
It seems hard to figure out if you can carry kids across the finish line.
I would like to “carry” my kids across the finish line. I swear I have seen others do it and be ok. I have done it at a half-ironman and been ok. But the full?
Finish Line Policy Friends and/or family members are not permitted to cross the finish line or enter the finish chute with participating athletes. This
policy will allow each competitor adequate time
to celebrate their accomplishment without
interfering with other finishers and ensure the
safety of all participants, volunteers and fans. Athletes who choose not to respect the policy will receive an automatic disqualification (DQ).
My race allows it, in fact, encourages it, as THEY may carry YOU. Good luck, and be smart. A lot of money for a DNF even if you believe its the best thing to do. I’d love to do it, but honestly, at the finish of m last 2 IM’s, I wasnt even thinking it as I couldn’t wait to cross the line. they had no problem finding me at the fence next to the line and I had no problem holding them or meeting them after the fact. Please be safe. But… maybe if you do it quick enough and get to the volunteers handing out medals and shirts you can still PROVE you did it while being DQ’d!!! Might be worth it!!
+27
The finish line is not a place for children unless your coming home in the last hour or few minutes where no other athleteis “likely” to have their finish impeded.
Rules in Brazil WTF!!! Pretty sure that they will let you have sex with your wife (or anyone else’s for that matter) in the finish chute of Ironman Brazil, hell it might even be encouraged…
I would like to “carry” my kids across the finish line. I swear I have seen others do it and be ok. I have done it at a half-ironman and been ok. But the full?
Finish Line Policy Friends and/or family members are not permitted to cross the finish line or enter the finish chute with participating athletes. This
policy will allow each competitor adequate time
to celebrate their accomplishment without
interfering with other finishers and ensure the
safety of all participants, volunteers and fans. Athletes who choose not to respect the policy will receive an automatic disqualification (DQ).
So you don’t think this rule applies to you? What other rules might not apply to you also?
