Does it bug you....

No, I don't need the reminder that the 60 year old that is passing me is really 65

Seriously, how does a leg marking affect your race? 

Seriously? If someone passes me 100 yards from the finish line...I'd really like to know their age group...that would completely determine how I respond.

ETA: it also lets you know where you stand in the race by how many people pass you. If I'm first out of the water, I know exactly where I stand...unless some guy comes by with no marking.

Edited by Fastyellow 2010-09-02 5:29 PM

I don't personally care about any of it.  I'll abide by the rules but if someone accidentally forgets their bib number - doesn't bother me.  They still have a chip, they get their time.

In IM branded races I think the numbers are more of a photography issue than anything else.  They want to market photos to all the racers and they lose that opportunity when people aren't identifiable.

Body marking rubs off half the time, esp in wetsuit legal races - kind of useless.

If someone tries to pass me in the last 100 yards, I respond with everything I've got left.  Regardless of their age or gender. 

But I'm not racing against anyone but myself (he tells himself).

If someone passes me 100 yards from the finish line it doesn't matter what AG they are in because I've already turned myself inside out to stay in front of them and can't go any faster.

Shane

I guess I should make it clear that all I care about at this point is winning my age group...or how I place in that.

When I'm going for overalls in the future...then I guess it won't matter.

I do still think "forgetting" your bib is BS....If I have to take the time to put it on...so should everyone else...or risk a penalty.

I'm with you on this. In my last race I felt like I was at a disadvantage passing people on the run whose age I had no clue. I am planning to scrub off my age before the start next time.

Just get a good helping of sunscreen on before you go for body marking. 

IMO a triathlon is a RACE.  The sport in general should accomodate those who just like to challenge themselves as well as those who race against others.  Since most local races have WAVE starts (by age group etc.) you don't know that the person in front of you is even in your wave.

Since the RACE needs to accomodate those who are competitive AND not so competitive, I think everyone should wear the markings (numbers, bibs etc.).

If everyone had the same start time then it's easier, just try to pass folks in front of you, give that little extra at the finish etc.  But with WAVE starts, the person in front of you may have started BEFORE you etc.

A lot of this is subject to discussion etc. but if I see a guy in my AG 10 yds or so in front of me near the finish, I'm more likely to reach down and find that extra energy than if he wasn't there.

I don't get too bothered by unmarked athletes, just one of those "Nice to have" things.

This only bothers me if she has a nice pace booty and I'm left guessing if she's close to my age or not.

I have to admit, this is BY FAR the best use for AG markings. Hands down.

hmmmmm.....25, eh......nnniiiiccceeeee......

The two races that I have done the body markings on my legs wore off.  So maybe that is what happened.  Second the people marked my wife wrong.  They marked her on the front of her thigh.  She got it corrected, but some people may not know it is suppose to go on the calf.  

I am pretty slow so it sucks when I get passed by the 65 year old.  My wave starts close to the ends anyways, so not to many people passing me.   

Just don't get passed by this guy.  Yeah he really runs the Honolulu Marathon in that.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3217578858_d6f2646349_o.jpg

(hey at least he's wearing his number...)
 

I have never marked myself, but a race volunteer marked me... wrong!  So would I be DQ'd for a mistake I didn't make?

I still don't "get" the whole marking thing, anyways.  What's the purpose?

The only thing I can think of is.....identifying a body.

Body marking has never lasted on me past about 1/2 way through the bike. If that makes for someone else have a bad day because they don't know what AG I'm in, tough noogies.

However I can guarantee I'm not passing you, especially anywhere on the run.

Hey Dave, better be getting those thoughts out of your head pretty soon here...

OP: in my last race, I saw an official make someone go back to their rack to get their number belt as they were running out of T2.  Seemed silly to me, I mean how does having your number on affect anyone?  I can understand why it's nice to know if the dude passing me is in my AG or not, but why do I care at all about his number?  It takes exactly zero extra time to grab a number belt on the way out, it's not like it's some unfair advantage to not put on your number.  I can't find any reasonable logic for making someone turn around and go back who forgot theirs in their spot (or even worse, DQ them for it).

Seems to me, in my limited experience, about 1/2 the calf numbers are worn off enough by the end of the run to be unreadable.  Not their fault, just the way it goes in tri's.

From a rules perspective, if the race instructions say you need to wear your number, they should penalize you if you don't have your number. There really isn't much too that.

From what I understand, the race numbers and body marking are mostly for pictures, but ALSO for safety. If you are in a wreck or collapse or whatever, how else are the RD and others supposed to know who you are? If you wreck, you could easily lose your number. Race numbers can get pulled off of race belts.

As for age groups markings, I think it is all about knowing if you are near a competitor or not. Again, like the first comment, if the rules have it, you need to get marked. If the rule is too stupid for you, and they bust you, it is your own fault, you knew the ruls.
If they rub off, so be it, but they should have been marked at the begining.

I could see a couple of reasons they would want you to have your number on.  Let's assume the numbers wear off like you mention on your body.  That means they have no way to identify you unless your carrying id (most people don't it would seem based on some discussions on the forum).  So something happens to you they have to try and figure out who you are instead of looking up a number.  Also, many use it as their timing system or back up timing system if it is chip timed.

Couple points of clarification.

1. I don't care about the race number body markings those don't affect me.

2. I do care about a race belt or a bib being on the participant. Yes it does take time to grab a race belt and you do have to slow down to some extent to put it on. You also have to be thinking about it in transition as you are trying to go as fast as you possibly can. If someone doesn't have to "deal" with that, imo, they are breaking a rule to gain an advantage. I don't care if that advantage is 1 second...it's the principle of that matter. I have also lost a spot by 1 second before.

3. It is very obvious when an age group marking rubs off and when one has never been put on. BTW, my age group mark last for days after the race...I have no clue why one would come off during a race. The age group markings are for the other COMPETITORS so you know who you are racing against. As another poster noted, Tri's are done in waves, you need to be aware who you are racing. Now, if you want to go out there and soak up the rays and cruise around the course in a race with yourself, that's awesome. I want to race and I only want to race hard enough to win. If I can walk to the finish and win, that's what I'll do. Everyone does tri's for different reasons, but we all should have to play by the same rules because at the end of the day, it is a race and should be as fair as possible.

Fastyellow I am completely with you.