Nor is it listed as illegal equipment in the bike or run conduct section. Headphones are, but a phone isn’t.
I didn’t check to see where using a phone is illegal, but just having one for emergencies doesn’t seem proscribed.
If it plays music it is illegal for that reason alone. I don’t know much about your smart phones but I think most of them do.
As Kevin mentioned, I also didn’t see anywhere about phones being prohibited:
i. Unauthorized Accessories. No participant shall, at any time during the event, use or wear a hard cast, headset, radio, personal audio device, or any other item deemed dangerous by the Head Referee. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty.
I ran with my phone using it as a stopwatch during the run portion of a race last year since my watch had just broken. It wasn’t used for any audio, and I hardly think it could have been considered dangerous. I think this may be like the USMS rule about wearing wristwatches. You CAN wear a watch but cannot use it for pacing. It is up to the official to determine if it was used for pacing, and the athlete is to be given the benefit of the doubt if the official is unsure.
-leh
WTC receives rules waivers from USAT to modify or extend some of the rules, for ex. you’ll never see a wetsuit at Kona even if the water temperature falls within USAT wetsuit legal temperatures.
Look in the Athlete Guide for Ironman and you’ll see no phones are allowed. If everyone just kept them put away in a pocket and never seen i doubt there would be rule, however, we all know it takes that small handful of narcissistic, selfie-taking, texting, athletes to necessitate the rule and those folks are out there already.
Same thing happened with family allowed at the finish - seems totally reasonable but the minority that abused the opportunity ultimately necessitated a rule against it.
Disney just outlawed selfie sticks because of a the folks that used them inappropriately and affected/injured others. I wouldn’t appreciate a selfie stick to the face on one of those rides because the guy 3 cars up couldn’t hold onto it. I certainly wouldn’t appreciate having my Ironman race interrupted or ended because someone else on the course needed to take a selfie or text their support crew while riding.
It isn’t obvious from the way the rule is written, but it has been interpreted by the head referee that phones are mostly illegal. But re-reading the interpretation, it does say that it is okay to carry one as long as you don’t use it.
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/01/garmin-edge-810-in-depth-review.html
We have made exceptions to the “carry” rule only to allow someone to make an emergency call while off the bike or not making forward progress on the run. Modern smart-phones are also personal audio devices and are forbidden by Articles 3.4i, 5.8, and 6.3.
Just before that he states that using a phone for any sort of live tracking is also illegal.
WTC at least clarifies the USAT rules and their interpretation.
UNAUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT Sorry, absolutely NO communication devices, MP3 players or other audio devices. (Yes, that means NO cell phones).
Nothing said about exceptions allowing you to carry it for emergency purposes.
Kinda off topic, but it would seem gopro’s etc are USAT legal, correct?
As far as I can tell, video cameras are USAT legal but not WTC legal. As mentioned earlier in this thread, there was a time WTC allowed them, but an excessive number of people with selfie sticks and other stopping mid-bike to change their GoPro mounts led to the rule.
YES, all iPods and sound emitting devices need to be banned for running and cycling. Penalties need to be the same as Distracted Driving.
Having said that, a phone in your saddle bag or rear pocket which is enabled for “Live Tracking” is a great thing. The events don’t offer live tracking (although they could) so people should be able to carry their own.
So what about using them as a bike computer?
What started me down the path to posting this was the discussions I saw on the limits of the ANT+ system and how a lot of power meter companies are looking into using Bluetooth and phone apps. PowerTap has said they will put out their app soon and others are sure to follow. But no one will be able to use those apps in races under the current rules.
I also think that “Live Tracking” would also be something that would be great to allow, but that was specifically called out by USAT as a no-no.
Rules are for safety and fairness. This rule is no different. An athlete is allowed to have a phone during the race. However, it must be put away, out of sight, making no sounds, and not being used. Like headphones, they do not have be “in use” to get a penalty. they are not allowed to be in your possession. If you need to use it in case of an emergency, pull off the course and use it. Safety----A cyclist or runner listening to music, taking pictures, or playing on their phone is a distracted athlete and a danger to themselves and those around him/her. Fairness—an athlete can use the phone for pacing during the race. This would constitute an unfair advantage. USAT Rules: 3.4i–Unauthorized Accessories (personal audio device) 3.4k–Unauthorized Equipment 5.8–Illegal Equipment (cycling) 6.3–Illegal Equipment (Run)
All are a variable time penalty.
I know that some running races allow them. But my feeling is that is more about appeasing paying customers.
Rules are for safety and fairness. This rule is no different. An athlete is allowed to have a phone during the race. However, it must be put away, out of sight, making no sounds, and not being used. Like headphones, they do not have be “in use” to get a penalty. they are not allowed to be in your possession. If you need to use it in case of an emergency, pull off the course and use it. Safety----A cyclist or runner listening to music, taking pictures, or playing on their phone is a distracted athlete and a danger to themselves and those around him/her. ** Fairness—an athlete can use the phone for pacing during the race. This would constitute an unfair advantage. ** USAT Rules: 3.4i–Unauthorized Accessories (personal audio device) 3.4k–Unauthorized Equipment 5.8–Illegal Equipment (cycling) 6.3–Illegal Equipment (Run)
All are a variable time penalty.
I know that some running races allow them. But my feeling is that is more about appeasing paying customers.
Not that I want to allow phones or anything like that (I hate dealing with distracted racers), but how is using a phone for pacing any different than using a Garmin for pacing?
I usually carry my phone, although I’d never use it for anything but the Live Tracking (with my Garmin).
I think it’s great that my friends and family, who are so burdened by my training schedule and are forced to sit outside in hot/cold/rainy/snowy weather, and yet still show up on race days, are able to follow my progress and be ready to cheer me on or take some photos as I lumber by.
It never occurred to me that it might be banned, or unfair somehow. I just considered it a courtesy to the spectators.
I can also see where someone might have a race scheduled and a pending “emergency.” Friend/relative who’s expecting, sick relative, etc. I think taking a call would be grounds for a penalty or DQ, especially as it’s potentially disruptive to other racers, but if someone’s willing to eat the consequences, it’s on them.
Rules are for safety and fairness. This rule is no different. An athlete is allowed to have a phone during the race. However, it must be put away, out of sight, making no sounds, and not being used. Like headphones, they do not have be “in use” to get a penalty. they are not allowed to be in your possession. If you need to use it in case of an emergency, pull off the course and use it. Safety----A cyclist or runner listening to music, taking pictures, or playing on their phone is a distracted athlete and a danger to themselves and those around him/her. ** Fairness—an athlete can use the phone for pacing during the race. This would constitute an unfair advantage. ** USAT Rules: 3.4i–Unauthorized Accessories (personal audio device) 3.4k–Unauthorized Equipment 5.8–Illegal Equipment (cycling) 6.3–Illegal Equipment (Run)
All are a variable time penalty.
I know that some running races allow them. But my feeling is that is more about appeasing paying customers.
Not that I want to allow phones or anything like that (I hate dealing with distracted racers), but how is using a phone for pacing any different than using a Garmin for pacing?
I think that a phone would be unfair for that fact that a friend could call or text you and tell you how the competition is looking 1mile up the road. Then you know to hammer or stay steady if the person ahead is dying.
There was some discussions in cycling to remove the athletes radios to give the break aways more of a fair chance to succeed.
Does anyone know the history or justification of this rule?
Is it to prevent people from being distracted by talking on the phone while racing? Is it to prevent outside advice or information coming from a coach or other assistant?
Given the changes in which phones are used in the past few years and potential for more change in the future, it seems that this rule could stand to be revised. Perhaps a rule against talking or texting on the phone while making forward progress.
The same reason they are illegal to use while driving in many states: because using them while riding a bike (or driving) is distracting the user from what he is supposed to do: riding a bike (or driving). Anyone can argue that phones don’t have to be used and can simply be tucked into the jersey pocket or some container but by allowing the user to even bring the phone in his person - effectively runs the risk that he or she uses them and gets distracted.
Some marathons don’t even allow headphones during races and that is far safer than using phones while riding bikes.
Why would anyone want or need a phone during a race.
See above. The possibly legitimate reasons for a phone in a race are
1 - emergency outgoing call- You see a rider go down in a race and you call 911.
2 - emergency incoming call - You signed up for an IM 12 months prior to the race and now your wife is 8.5 months pregnant. She might actually let you race if you can bring your phone with you
3 - bike computer - Why buy a Garmin if your phone does everything and more?
4 - athlete tracking - Let your family know where you are.
Again, I would still think that rules against using headphones should stay in place. What I would propose is the no phone rule could be changed to no phone calls or texting while mounted on bike or making forward progress on run.
The rule saves lives. If I got stuck behind someone riding the same pace as me for three hours while they chatted on the phone the whole time I’d have to kill them. So you see the rule saves lives.
YES, all iPods and sound emitting devices need to be banned for running and cycling. Penalties need to be the same as Distracted Driving.
Having said that, a phone in your saddle bag or rear pocket which is enabled for “Live Tracking” is a great thing. The events don’t offer live tracking (although they could) so people should be able to carry their own.
In races, yes.
But no way you’ll see me doing 5-6 hour trainingrides without music.