According to Running USA, a nonprofit group that tracks data and trends on running, 61 percent of runners regularly run with a cellphone, most commonly to play music, track mileage and workouts, map routes and use GPS features. The group found that millennials and Gen Xers are most likely to run with their cellphones, and also most likely to use social media channels to share running-related activities.
In 2014, after a series of much publicized incidents, including one woman who ran the New York City Half Marathon snapping selfies at every mile with a different man in the background of each picture, the New York Road Runners added a section to their code of conduct under the label “Mobile Devices” that says using smartphones for pictures and social media updates during any of their races is “strongly discouraged, as it decreases your awareness of other participants around you.” They have also banned selfie sticks entirely from races.
A few years ago at the Hong Kong marathon a woman stopped to take a selfie just after the starting line and caused a “pile-up that resulted in battered and bruised participants,” according to a Time magazine story. Race officials launched a sort of “awareness” campaign to encourage runners against taking selfies during subsequent Hong Kong races.
There are even race 'bandits' who jump into road races without registering just to take selfies along the course.
A road race, whether it’s a 5K, 10K, a half marathon or a full marathon, is a good accomplishment and the urge to share that accomplishment with friends on social media is understandable. However, try to wait to make your social media 'selfie' post until AFTER you've left the finish line chute. If you must take a mid-race selfie, be aware of the other runners around you and don't obstruct another runner's performance. In a road race, walkers are typically on the right. If you're wanting to take a selfie during a race, move over to where the walkers are so as to not be a hazard to runners on the course.
You must keep in mind that many road races in America consist of tens of thousands of people. For instance, the largest road race in the U.S.A. last year was the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia -- with 54,752 finishers. The largest road race I have ever run in was back in 1991 (age the age of 26) when I placed in the top 5 percent at the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane Washington. That year there were 60,104 participants and at the time it was the largest timed road race in the world. Races of that size are shoulder to shoulder and there is a much greater chance of someone getting hurt if a 'selfie' enthusiast stops in his or her tracks to try and capture that "perfect" mid-race selfie.
If you are a huge road race selfie enthusiast, you may want to consider running a race where the emphasis is on taking selfies. Yep... those races exist! In fact, Chicago has an event called the Selfie Run. Here's how it's described at its registration site:
Selfie Run is a unique Social event focused less on speed and more on the social experience with friends and family. Whether you are an avid runner or just like taking selfies, the 3.1 miles of the Selfie Run course will have your selfies going viral on the Selfiefun App and waiting for the next one! Along the running path you will find Selfie Zones, which are associated with a designated concept, element or featured display. As the runners/walkers reach the Selfie Zones, they are encouraged to take Selfies and post pictures to the Selfiz App. At the end of the race there will be a Selfie Run After Party. Each participant will receive: A Selfie Stick; a Selfie Run T-Shirt; and, a Selfie Run Race Bib.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
