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Just curious -- Why do we need body marking?
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 2007-07-08 7:19 PM |
Pro  4353    Wallingford, PA |  Subject: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking?So, after I got home from a sprint tri today and tried (unsuccessfully...) to remove my race number from my arms & legs, the thought occured to me - "Why do we need these, anyway?" We have bike numbers on the bike, bib numbers on the run, and (in many races) electronic timing chips.... In the swim, we're in wetsuits or our arms and legs are mostly underwater - so what exactly IS the purpose of the body marking, or is it just one of those things that has always been done, so we just continue to do it? There's probably a valid reason - I'm just curious what it is! Can anyone enlighten me? |
| 2007-07-08 7:23 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Expert 783 Spokane, Washington | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? So they know who to return the limbs to if they become detached? |
| 2007-07-08 7:26 PM in reply to: #876588 |
Champion 6539  South Jersey | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? |
| 2007-07-08 7:30 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Expert 1002 Wind Lake WI | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? To look good at work on Monday  |
| 2007-07-08 7:30 PM in reply to: #876582 |
| Expert 638 | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? So you can feel all cool afterward when people at the store see the number on your leg... Or, probably a real reason, so the "backup" timers at the transitions can more easily get your number as your running past them, away from them, etc. I've done 3 Tri's, and in 1 of them, my timing chip didn't work for the entire race. They had to rely on the backup manual method. |
| 2007-07-08 7:33 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Extreme Veteran 555 Land of living sighs | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? Badges of honour...yeah yeah, I know you don't need no stinkin' badges! |
| 2007-07-08 7:35 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Expert 935 South eastern Ohio | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? You need the numbers so you can see if the person in front of you is in your AG group and you can hunt them down...Just kiddin',,,kindof Chris |
| 2007-07-08 7:36 PM in reply to: #876582 |
| Veteran 290 | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? jsnowash - 2007-07-08 8:19 PM So, after I got home from a sprint tri today and tried (unsuccessfully...) to remove my race number from my arms & legs, the thought occured to me - "Why do we need these, anyway?" We have bike numbers on the bike, bib numbers on the run, and (in many races) electronic timing chips.... In the swim, we're in wetsuits or our arms and legs are mostly underwater - so what exactly IS the purpose of the body marking, or is it just one of those things that has always been done, so we just continue to do it? There's probably a valid reason - I'm just curious what it is! Can anyone enlighten me? 1) if 100 people go into the water, they need to know if 100 people came out 2) if someone finishes the race without a number there was some kind of funny business (cheating etc.) |
| 2007-07-08 7:37 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Veteran 202 Arlington, VA | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? Because they are weirdly cool.....Seriously, I think as an earlier poster mentioned, it helps the race officials keep track, which was more important before timing chips. It also lets you see if the person passing you or the one you are about to pass is in your age group. This is particularly important since most tris start in waves. As for removing the numbers, a baby wipe usually does the trick. |
| 2007-07-08 8:14 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Master 1670 Harvard, Illinois | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? At some races that have security they like to make sure the body and the bike match as they are leaving the transition area after a race. Plus to keep non-athletes out of the transition area. |
| 2007-07-08 8:28 PM in reply to: #876606 |
| Veteran 451 | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? mbologna - 2007-07-08 7:37 PM Because they are weirdly cool.....Seriously, I think as an earlier poster mentioned, it helps the race officials keep track, which was more important before timing chips. It also lets you see if the person passing you or the one you are about to pass is in your age group. This is particularly important since most tris start in waves. As for removing the numbers, a baby wipe usually does the trick. Has anyone else ever noticed that babywipes will take anything off of anything, including sap off a windshield and yet we have no problems using them on what is supposed to be the softest skin in humandom. Interesting. |
| 2007-07-08 8:36 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Master 1938 La Crosse | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? |
| 2007-07-08 11:44 PM in reply to: #876582 |
Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? that marker smell is a great subsitute for smellign salts to wake you up in the morning. |
| 2007-07-09 12:23 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Master 1790 Tyler, TX | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? I did one race where they marked your number on your hand. If they had to pull you out of the water unconscious they'd know who you are...  |
| 2007-07-09 5:17 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Elite 4235 Spring, TX | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? Thanks for the tips on removing the darn things. I scrubbed myself raw trying to get the numbers off last time... |
| 2007-07-09 6:14 AM in reply to: #876839 |
 Extreme Veteran 1491 northeast Ohio | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? You're suppose to take them off afterwards????? |
| 2007-07-09 6:33 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Master 1704 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? After I got back from my race yesterday, my wife dragged me to her friend's daughter's Christening BBQ. I thought if I have to go, I'm not removing my body marking. She came up to me during the BBQ and said, "If one more person asks me why there are #'s all over you, I'm going to scream!" hehe My thought is that if you become unresponsive they can quickly ID you and your age for paramedics? (Not everyone has race# on during run or they fall off). |
| 2007-07-09 7:15 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Extreme Veteran 321 Guelph | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? Well it was touch and go .. That diet coke went to my head I almost turned the wrong way and went home..I wish..LOL. I think everyone else has prety much covered the "real" reasons but the tri-geek reasons still hold more allure.... ever noticed how the first race of the season leaves your # tanned into your bicep... how cool is that!! Oh and I love the Christening BBQ story what a seguey to get to talk more about Triathlon at a party!!!!! Edited by Tri-ing at 45 2007-07-09 7:15 AM |
| 2007-07-09 7:38 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Champion 9600 Fountain Hills, AZ | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? Why do they do bodymarking? So that you can send $100 to ASI Photos for pics of you suffering!!! It helps the course official quickly be able to identify to no matter from whci angle but ultimately it's for th race photographers at this point to be able to get your cash! |
| 2007-07-09 8:03 AM in reply to: #876815 |
| Champion 6539 South Jersey | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? famelec - 2007-07-09 1:23 AM I did one race where they marked your number on your hand. If they had to pull you out of the water unconscious they'd know who you are... If it was a wetsuit-legal race, they like to put the #s on your hand so the photographer can identify the people in long-sleeve wetsuits (whose arm markings would be covered by the wetsuit). I've been to races where they only put the number on your hand if you're wearing a long-sleeve wetsuit. |
| 2007-07-09 8:21 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Champion 5575 Butler | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? I also agree that they look cool and I really don' t like to scrub hard to remove them however.... If they are designed for 1.) identification in the water, why do they need to mark you 3 or 4 times, I would think 1 woul surfice. 2.) If it is for photo purposes why when I look at the pictures after the race I only see a few pictures when I search by bib number and 3 or 4 more that are "unidentified". Again, I am all for it as I wear mine as a badge of honor but I really don' t see a reason behind it. |
| 2007-07-09 10:15 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Expert 1006 Kansas City, MO | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? ummmm bragging rights...... i try not to shower for a week afterwards but my wife usually complains.... jk  it is a little overkill, but so is subjecting your body to all the training.... |
| 2007-07-09 10:29 AM in reply to: #876582 |
Expert 1035 lake forest, California | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? How 'bout this reason. So the race officials can properly identify you when drafting, crossing over the centerline, littering ect. and assess you penalties. Backup to timing chips as well |
| 2007-07-09 10:33 AM in reply to: #876604 |
Elite 2796 Texas | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? chrisrunzs26 - 2007-07-08 7:35 PM You need the numbers so you can see if the person in front of you is in your AG group and you can hunt them down...Just kiddin',,,kindof Chris That's exactly what I do. Especially when they pass on the bike and I'm trying to stick to my pacing plan. I note the AG, and what they're wearing. If I see them on the run, I pick it up and try to run them down. |
| 2007-07-09 10:41 AM in reply to: #877224 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Just curious -- Why do we need body marking? jbjboc - 2007-07-09 10:29 AM How 'bout this reason. So the race officials can properly identify you when drafting, crossing over the centerline, littering ect. and assess you penalties. Backup to timing chips as well Macabre imagery ahead - not for the timid: When they drag the carcass out of the water, scrape the body off the pavement from a bike fatality, or find the body lying in a heap on the run course, they need to cross-reference the number on the body to the race list. When I was a run course Marshal, is was helpful having the number so as to provide the number of the runner, that was having problems and couldn't talk very well, to the help personnel (cop/EMT), when I had to run for assistance out of Camp Randall in IMWI because we didn't have walkie-talkies, and I was the only run Marshal in there. |
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