Interesting email tidbit from finishline catcher captain for IMWI 09

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2009-07-17 8:33 PM

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Subject: Interesting email tidbit from finishline catcher captain for IMWI 09
I received my email from Rita, finish line catcher captain extraordinaire, and thought these two little tidbits may be interesting to participants (though I'm sure it will be covered in all the athlete material).

There are 2 changes for the finish line this year:
 
1) the finish line tape will only be used for the first few finishers.  No more people tripping over it, carrying it off with them, etc.
 
2) only finishers are allowed in the chute.  They cannot have their spouse, kids, friends or dogs accompany them the last few yards.  Anyone not following this rule will be disqualified.  While it's nice for them to share their glory with those supporting them, it's not safe to have all those people in the small finish line area, especially when they are coming in 3 at a time.
 
Looks like they are really going to enforce stuff this time around.  I can understand the want to share those last moments, but having been a finish line catcher for the past two years, I can say I'm quite thankful for the rule.  It gets REALLY crowded at the finish-line, to the point where it can almost be considered unsafe.  We do our best, but we can only do so much. 


2009-07-18 6:24 AM
in reply to: #2292836

Iron Donkey
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Subject: RE: Interesting email tidbit from finishline catcher captain for IMWI 09

Rita IS an amazing person, and fun to work with.  I'm glad for these rules.  Unless they had a way to extend the finish line to accommodate the extra persons, I'm saying that this is for the better.  The finish line tape is okay, neither here nor there with me, unless I was one of the top finishers (never will happen).

PJ - please post this in the official IM WI thread.  Thanks.

2009-07-18 2:39 PM
in reply to: #2292836

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Subject: RE: Interesting email tidbit from finishline catcher captain for IMWI 09

I got the email as well and will be a first time Catcher this year - so looking forward to it.  I did a shift two years ago where I had to keep an eye out for finishers so they could cross with one loved one - child, spouse, whatever.  We did our best to limit it to just one person, but so many people would sneak past and run in with the athlete that it caused some chaos.  I can't imagine if an athlete were to fall while carrying a child over the finish line or if family members would get in the way of anothers accomplishment.  I think this is a good rule.

 

 

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