Basic Race Etiquette!

In my last post, I mentioned a few things that bothers a lot of runners:  Lack of knowledge of basic etiquette.  I consider this a public service to let rookie runners the lay of the land.  We've all been there, but some end up with a helping hand to know what's what before their first race.  (I had my big sister there to tell me where to start and what to do if I wanted to walk during my first race!)  

• Plan on walking?  That's fine, just don't start up front!
• In big races, elite athletes (those with corporate sponsors or professional runners) start up front usually as close to the starting line as possible.  Why?  Because they don't want slow runners (like myself) getting in the way.  Their entire job is winning races.  They don't care about seeing the scenery like more casual racers.  They want to win so they can keep the paychecks coming.
• Are there corrals or signs showing paces?  Great!  Before the race starts, stay in your corral!
• This goes along with staying out of the way of elites or at the very least those faster than you.  It's very common to corral hop when there are physical barriers between each corral.  Most people do this because they believe they're placed in the wrong corral.  Sometimes this happens, most of the time its a judgement call on the part of the runner.  Think you can run a 10 minute mile when you only ran 12 minute miles while training?  Not very likely.  If anything I would go towards the back of the 11 minute mile group, closer to the 12's.  It's likely you'll run faster in a race than in training, but not a whole 2 minutes faster than your normal pace.  If anything, you'll be able to move ahead after the starting gun.
• Do you run intervals?  Great!  Walk along the side of the course.
• Cannot stress this enough.  If you plan on walking at any point in the race PLEASE go to the side of the course.  As far left or right as you can get so people can get around you easily.  Can't get over?  That's fine.  A semi-universal sign is to put your hand up over your head so people can see you.  It's enough to get the attention of the runners around you to let them know something's up.
• DO NOT stop running in the middle of the course without warning.  This is how accidents happen.  People will knock into you or worse, get hurt trying to avoid you.  It's also about being aware of your surroundings.  You wouldn't pull out into traffic onto a highway going 20mph.  Don't do it in a race either.
• Throw your trash away or hold onto it until you find a trash can.
• This is another big one.  Cups and gel packets can be dangerous.  Cups after water stations can be dangerous because that area is very slippery.  A waxy, paper cup gets slippery in these situations and plastic cups get kicked around.  Gel packets are slippery like a little ketchup packet on the ground...only bigger!  
• This tip also makes the lives of volunteers easier.  One of their jobs is picking up trash around the water stations.  They're spending their free time making sure the race runs smoothly, so why not make their lives a little easier?
• Say "Thank You!" to everybody you see helping with the race.
• The policemen and women, the people handing out water and fuel, the medics, and the people standing alongside the course making sure everyone goes the right way.  They are ALL volunteering their time.  They don't have to be there, but they choose to for various reasons.  It's just polite to be gracious of their time and effort to make the race run smoothly.
• Arrive early!
• I like to arrive to a race at least 45 minutes early if it's a large race.  (I can deal with arriving closer to gun time if I know it's small.)  It'll give you time to get your bearings, and go to the portajohns once or twice before you have to line up.
• Pin your bib to your front.
• This helps race organizers identify you more quickly AND can help you find yourself in pictures faster.  A lot of photographers these days index photos based on race numbers.
• Headphones.  
• I can't run without music.  Most races ban headphones, but this is really just enforced for elites.  I keep one earphone in, the other is wrapped around the back of my headband to help keep it from being tugged on too badly.
• It's important to hear pre-race instructions and any announcements during the race.  You want to hear these as best as possible.  Don't turn the volume up all the way.  I keep mine high enough to hear the music, but low enough to have a conversation with my Dad before the race.
• Don't cut the course.  Don't mess with the timing chips.
• This has gotten more publicity lately, with the cheater "winning" the St. Louis Marathon.  Don't cut the course.  Don't rip the timing chips from your bib or forget to put them on your shoe.  The cheater was stripped of her title, and all but banned from running the race.  (Why do people do this?  No idea.  It could be to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which has a sliding scale for qualifying times to run the race.)
• Yay you finished!  Keep walking until you can get off the course.  Don't stop just after the finish line.  Keep moving because there are people behind you finishing and the momentum of the sprint to finish makes it harder to stop on a dime!  Get your water and your medal (if applicable) and get off the course to meet up with people.

This is seriously just the beginning of basic etiquette.  Use your common sense and you'll be fine on race day!  You'll learn more as you race.  If you want to learn more, this is a great read as well.