Race Day Etiquette
Before we begin our race etiquette tips, here's a special note on the whole headphone issue:
While the Credit Union QCM does not currently ban the use of portable headphone devices (iPods, MP3 players, Walkmans, CD players, etc.), the use of such items is discouraged - for your safety and the safety of others.
You MUST be aware of your surroundings at all times and this includes being able to hear any verbal warnings/instructions from police/course officials...or to the sound of any oncoming vehicles and other participants on the course.
If you choose to wear a portable headphone device during the race, you do so at your own risk and on your own responsibility.
The abuse of portable headphone devices can result in disqualification.
In general guideline terms, "abuse" refers to being so distracted by what you're listening to that you become oblivious to your fellow participants, spectators, course marshals, finish line officials, medical personnel, police personnel or vehicle traffic.
The wearing of headphones in our event has not become a problem - yet. And we don't want to be forced to be the bad guy and ban headphones outright, as many races are starting to do across North America. However, we must constantly consider the safety of all our participants, volunteers and spectators.
Only you can help us prevent an outright ban on headphones...by being aware of your surroundings at all times and - if you do choose to wear headphones - by wearing your headphones in a responsible, courteous and safety-conscious manner (eg. wearing just one earphone or having the volume really low).
If the wearing of headphones at our event becomes a problem, they will be banned. And we won't enjoy that any more than you will. So please: be responsible, be aware and be safe.
TO READ OUR COURSE RULES, CLICK HERE.
Etiquette before the start of the race.
Etiquette before the start of the race.
In the hour leading up to the start, always pay close attention to announcements from the race announcer. Things may change at the last minute and the pre-race announcements are the only way we can communicate that important information to you. Your attention is appreciated and may save you from unnecessary stress and and confusion.
Prior to the start of the race, the area around the actual starting line will be OFF-LIMITS to all participants. Please DO NOT hang around the actual starting line and DO NOT cross back and forth across the timing mats. This can cause false times on the timing computers and ruin your official time. Plus the beeping of the chips gets annoying. Don’t worry…we will announce when it’s time to start lining up and direct you where you should go.
If you brought along a gym bag of clothing and personal items for your post-race use, please check your bag at the BAG DROP tent, where you can reclaim your bag after the race. Check your bag at the Bag Drop tent early - don't wait until the last minute, as you don't want to be standing in the Bag Drop line-up when it's time to line up for the start of the race.
Try and plan your visits to the toilets carefully and well in advance, if you can. As the starting time approaches, there are likely to be big line-ups, so the sooner you act the better! You don’t want to be caught “going” when we say: “Go!”
When you're warming up always consider others nearby. Hundreds of people stretching their arms and legs and running in all directions beforehand can be potentially hazardous so choose your area carefully and watch out for others.
Please remember to check that your race number is pinned to the front of your outfit, so that it will be clearly visible to race officials and photographers.
Please check that your ChampionChip timing chip is securely fastened to your shoelaces (with the main "tube" of the chip pointing to your toes) by actually threading your shoelaces through the chip. If you are running the first leg of the Relay event, please make sure the timing chip's velcro strap is securely fastened around your ankle.
About 10 minutes before the race begins, our race announcer will call the following participants to the starting line:
- Wheelchair Marathoners (who will have a separate, wheelchair-only start at 7:55 AM, 5 minutes before the main start.)
- Full Marathoners who reasonably expect to finish in under 3 hours
- Half Marathoners who reasonably expect to finish in under 1 hr 30 mins
- All Full Marathoners who are making Boston-qualifying attempts (of any qualifying age group)
If you don't fit into one of these categories (and we trust you to know if you do or don't), please DO NOT crowd up to the front of the starting line.
Look for the large starting group signs and line up behind the sign that matches your event and expected finishing time.
- Note: The colours on these signs DO NOT match up with any race bib colours. The colours are just there to look pretty, so please don't line up next to a sign because it matches your race bib colour.
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Once the previous participant categories have been lined up close to the starting line, we will ask the Running Room Pace Rabbits to line up behind these participants.
Each Running Room Pace Rabbit should be holding a sign that indicates their finishing time for both the full marathon and half marathon (run or walk) events. Those hand-held pace rabbit signs will look something like these examples:
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Please assemble near the sign that is closest to your projected finishing time. It will make everyone's life less stressful if you stick to this. There's nothing more frustrating for the quicker-paced runners than to be dodging slower-paced people at the start…and nothing more annoying for the slower-paced runners (including your humble race director) than to be overtaken by hundreds of quicker-paced runners! When in doubt, go towards the back of the pack. It's much more fun overtaking than being overtaken!
All participants in the Sask Egg Producers Half Marathon Walk are asked to please assemble at the very rear of the starting pack, to avoid any runner-versus-walker collisions at the start.
Trust us, you'll catch up to a lot of the runners later when they're out of steam and gasping for breath at the side of the road.
Special Note to Participants in the Sask Egg Producers Half Marathon Walk:
- Because it is virtually impossible to police it and ensure that 100% of the walkers are walking 100% of the time throughout 100% of the course, the Sask Egg Producers Half Marathon Walk is a non-competitive event.
- You will receive separate timing results. However, no prizes will be awarded.
- There are no course officials looking to see if you are walking all the way or “cheating” by running for parts of it, so we're leaving it to your honour as to how "true" your official walking finish time will be. Always remember - runners won't mind if you walk, but other walkers will sure mind if you run.
Participants in the Mini Marathon event DO NOT line up at the starting line with the main pack.
The Mini Marathon participants will be called to the starting line shortly before their race begins at 8:45 a.m.
Etiquette during the race.
Please DO NOT allow friends who aren't registered in the event to run/walk/cycle/skateboard/roller-blade/drive alongside you. Not only could it get you disqualified, it is unfair on those who have paid to enter and could also can cause dangerous over-crowding on the course.
Away from the official Credit Union QCM aid stations, please use your own best judgement when accepting food and drink from strangers along the course.
While it's great when spectators want to support our participants, the Credit Union QCM does not assume any responsibility for anyone handing out food or liquids on the course other than at our official aid stations. If you do decide to take a big swig of whatever the crazy guy in the bathrobe and bunny slippers is serving from that unlabeled mason jar at the side of the road, you do so at your own risk.
Always be aware of your surroundings, including any unexpected traffic, announcements or warnings made by Credit Union QCM officials or instructions issued by the Regina City Police members assisting with traffic control.
Always be aware of those behind you who might be trying to get past. Don't run or walk lined up across the width of the course. Try to be in single file as much as possible. If you hear someone trying to get past, move aside as soon as you can and let him or her go.
If you are attempting to pass a slower runner or walker, please call out “passing on your left” or “passing on your right”, so that the person ahead of you is aware you are going to pass, and also knows on what side you will be overtaking them.
When you overtake someone, don't cut straight in front of them. Give it a few meters before you try and take your original line. Similarly, do your best to let faster runners get past you. This is especially true for walkers being overtaken by runners. Please be courteous, move over if you have to and let them have the quickest way past. We're all out for a fun time and a good experience, and courtesy and patience make everything go a little smoother for all.
There will be some spots on the course where the slower-paced, outward-bound runners and walkers will meet the faster-paced, inward-bound runners – including the lead runners and their pace cyclists. When you see the lead cyclists and lead runners heading towards you, please be courteous and give them room to move past you. Please give them a cheer and some applause, too, because someday you will be leading the marathon and you’ll want the other runners to cheer you on, right?
Please don't stop suddenly in the middle of the race course!
That’s a sure way to get into a big pile of scraped and bruised runners. If you feel you need to tighten your shoelaces, or you've got a stone in your shoe, or you dropped your water bottle or whatever, move across to the side of the road first and take whatever action is needed. Chaos will result if you suddenly stop without warning! (Trust me, I learned this the hard way while trying to pick up a dropped water bottle. People said words to me that would make a sailor blush.)
Aid station etiquette.
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Aid stations are often the place where most damage can be done. Don't suddenly veer in front of another runner or walker to grab a cup of water or Gatorade. Take your turn and remember that often the far end of the station will be less crowded. Don't take more than you need and remember there will probably be plenty of people behind you whose requirements may be greater than yours.
As you approach an aid station, the aid station volunteers will be calling out “Water!” and “Gatorade!” and, at some stations, “Gels!”
It’s very helpful to both you and the aid station volunteers if you catch the eye of one particular aid station volunteer. Point to them. If you can get enough breath to talk, say: “I’m coming to you.” Let them know by your body language that you are coming directly to them to get your water or Gatorade or PowerGel. That way, the volunteers will be prepared to pass you your drink, and therefore reduce the chances of giving you an accidental Gatorade shower.
Oh, and if you’re going to dump some liquid over your head to cool yourself off, please make sure you use water, not Gatorade. Sticky is not fun. Besides, studies show that your body gets much more cooling and hydration benefit if you pour the fluids IN you, not ON you.
As you're leaving an aid station, don't just drop your cup on the ground where it could be tripped over by another runner. Toss it to the side of the road or path – or, if garbage containers are available, toss it in the bin.
If you're in need of a toilet while at an aid station or relay exchange point, please remember not to line up in the way of other runners.
Speaking of having to go to the bathroom, please remember that you are running through public parks and streets. Please treat those parks and neighbourhoods as if they were your own. Please use the portable toilets. This note is not meant to insult your intelligence or hygiene, but trust us when we say that we wouldn’t need to put this information in here if not for some previous experiences that reflected poorly on our event and our participants.
Please obey instructions given to you by police officers, medical personnel and course marshals throughout the race.
Although you might not always agree with them, they are there to look after your safety. Always be polite and say thanks to them whenever you can. All the course marshals and aid station workers are volunteers who have generously given their time for your benefit. They keep the Credit Union Queen City Marathon – and you – running and walking.
Finish line etiquette.
As you approach the finish line, you may hear a race volunteer or the race announcer reminding the runners to keep to the left side of the course and reminding the walkers to keep to the right side of the course.
Please understand that these reminders are not done out of disrespect for the worthy efforts of our Sask Egg Producers Half Marathon Walk participants. The reason behind it is simply one of safety.
We have several thousand people crossing the finish line during the race - sometimes in large bunches - and those bunches consist of participants travelling at quite different velocities.
These announcements are made for YOUR safety - to prevent a runner from accidentally running into the back of a walker, and prevent a walker from accidentally moving in front of a runner coming up quickly from behind.
The announcer is in no way minimizing the efforts or achievements of our Sask Egg Producers Half Marathon Walk participants. We're just trying to avoid any finish-line crashes. We want everyone crossing the finish line with their arms raised in triumph, not tangled in some bruised pile. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding.
As you approach the finish line, and immediately afterwards, please follow the instructions of the race announcer and the finish line volunteers. If you feel faint or ill, tell a finish line volunteer immediately so that our medical personnel can attend to you.
When you cross the finish line, don’t come to a sudden stop, because you’ll probably get run over by the person coming up behind you. Keep walking and head towards the volunteers who will give you your medal and polymer blanket and - if you are on a relay team - will remove your ChampionChip timing chip from your ankle.
Remember, if you were taking part in the Full, Half Run, Half Walk or Mini event, you don't need to have your timing chip removed. It's a one-time souvenir chip you can take with you. Only the Velcro-strap chips for the Relay teams have to be returned at the finish line.
Throughout your day with us, please remember to thank those who have given their time to make the day a successful one. A few well-chosen words of well-deserved praise can make all the difference to volunteers who may have been doing the same job for eight hours or more, helping you reach your race-day goal.
For EMS safety reasons, you MUST exit the finish line area as quickly as possible, and wait for any friends or family in the main infield area.
Friends, family and previously-finished participants are NOT allowed to loiter in the finish-line area.
As is the case from the start of your day at the Credit Union Queen City Marathon to the end, please don't leave any rubbish lying around the Start/Finish area. It's always a huge job to get the venue back to its pre-race state and you can help us by either putting your trash in the bins provided or take everything home with you.
And most importantly, as you approach the finish line you may be feeling and looking like something the cat coughed up, but paste on a GREAT BIG SMILE, because there’s a photographer there to catch your Big Finish!
Remember, in the wise words of Running Room founder, John Stanton:
"It's not how fast you finish...it's how good you look in your photo!"
Special Note to Relay Teams:
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Some teams like to regroup near the finish line and run across the finish line together. We currently allow this practice, BUT your team must not block or interfere with any other participants as they approach or cross the finish line. You must allow individual runners to go past and then, once your team has crossed the timing mats, please clear the finish line area quickly because runners may be coming up right behind you.
There is a spot on the course about 300 meters from the finish line, on Memorial Way just north of the T.C. Douglas Building and before "Heartbreak Hump." There is a wide, flat grass area next to a large metal sculpture. This is a pretty good spot for teammates to wait for the final member of their team. Any closer to the finish line than that and things become far too congested between teams and spectators and other runners.
Please be aware of the other participants as they make their way to the finish line.
Your relay team must not block or interfere with any other participants or, regretfully, we may be forced to prohibit teams from crossing the finish line together at future events.
