Shorts?

[greywolf]

(Beat you to it Eddie )
Many of the runners at the WOC sprint were wearing shorts...some of them e.g. Minna Kauppi, finished looking like they'd attempted an ill-advised short-cut through the Wolverine enclosure...If running in shorts is allowed in those conditions how come it isn't permitted everywhere?

[Gross]

Shorts are permitted anywhere subject to local / national Federation Rules... most Federation rules apply the full leg cover except where specifically mentioned.... hence in many open moorland competitions in GB it should be possible to wear shorts if the organisers / controllers approve........

[Scott]

Because the IOF has realised that young ladies showing a bit of leg is essential if they want to increase media interest in the sport? (Cf. all those girls running around some track in Berlin in their pants, while the men wear mid-thigh length lycra.)

[Gross]

(Cf. all those girls running around some track in Berlin in their pants, while the men wear mid-thigh length lycra.)

not in the women's 800m ..... winner was wearing mid thigh lycra

[Scott]

Well, at least that confirms that the women aren't wearing revealing briefs and crop-tops for reasons of athletic performance .

[EddieH]

Greywolf I told you I was going to bring this up. As I understand it the IOF brought in the body cover rule for health reasons. I have never been convinced and in eastern Europe have often worn shorts in forests.

If the reasons are valid it seems extraordinary that people were alowed to run in shorts in this particular sprint which I had already read in advance was brambly. With 1 minute starts and similar routes taken surely a higher risk of hitting the same brambles than on longer races.

If as I suspect the risk is tiny, then this event proves that the rule is a nonsense.

[Roger]

I understood that the health risk came from blood in the water (from Scandinavian post-race dips in the lake) rather than blood on the undergrowth.

[The Loofa]

I just love that picture of Sarah on the BOF site that has the caption
"after the control in the crocodile pool "

Refreshing to know that the risk-minimising culture has not reached some parts of the world

[Scott]

Chris Forne is running in shorts at the Long Final today .