I am not one to intentionally stir up trouble. In fact, you may often find me trying to keep the peace. To see an argument from both sides. As I sit here writing this post I am still trying my best to do just that. But I can't sit quietly and not voice my opinion to the world because for this, I feel strongly.
Let's start at the beginning. I started my day not only with my daily run but with reading some of the articles in my most recent copy of Runner's World. I stake claim on this magazine and must read it from cover to cover before handing it over to dear hubby and yes, I read front to back. No skipping ahead.
Today I stumbled on multiple stories centered on the New York Marathon and that makes perfect sense with race day being just around the corner. And it is big with what happened last year post-Sandy and post-Boston. I get that. I understand any and all concerns. Truly, I do. But one sentence stuck in my mind and came back to me at work.
Hydration vests are prohibited. Really? Prohibited? I must have read that wrong. I checked the New York Marathon's website and no, I didn't read it wrong. Prohibited.
With a marathon just around the corner myself it got me wondering if this will be a new trend. I checked the Honolulu Marathon website and there was no talk on prohibited hydration vests or anything along those lines. But I couldn't release a sigh of relief just yet. There was still doubt. I emailed them but haven't heard back yet and no, I don't expect an instant reply.
When a co-worker came in the prohibited vest came back to my mind. I told her about it and she firmly told me I would just need to find another way to run. My response "No!". She said I had to and I adamantly stated "No I don't! I'm not running New York!". She tried to get me to see things from a safety perspective from a post-Boston standpoint and I firmly stated my case. I didn't see it as a necessity. I still don't. Why not just have runners with hydration vests go through a security check prior to entering the corrals? Why should a runner have to race without their fuel? A runner has done no wrong, why should they pay a price? She saw my points and I should add, she is not a runner but supports me immensely in my crazy racing endeavors.
I wasn't always a hydration vest runner but even before my vest days I would hope I would see things the same way. But now that I have run in a vest I can't imagine not doing a long run in my vest. I recently raced the Maui Marathon in my CamelBak and it was awesome. I had my fuel every step of the way. I had room to carry my applesauce to go and my VegaSport Endurance Gels. I had my phone with tunes stowed safely in a pocket. My hands were free. The weight of my fuel was balanced well on my body. I didn't have to adjust to taking in fuel I don't want to ingest in my quest to be more natural in my fueling strategies. And I had my drink when I wanted my drink. Does it make me uncaring or selfish to not want to run any other way?I know some may argue I could carry a handheld water bottle and wear a fuel belt. True but I have tried fuel belts and they chafe me like crazy. They bounce continuously on my hips and annoy me. My vest holds two handheld bottles full of my preferred sports drink prepared just the way I like it. That lasts me about 20 miles. One bottle makes things tougher and no, I don't have family or friends stationed along the course to hand me new bottles of my drink. I am running/racing solo. What I don't carry I don't have. Period.
I get wanting to keep things safe but are runners and spectators safer with runners not wearing hydration vests? Isn't there a better way to promote safety? Is this really a necessity and an item that should be banned? I argue not. Personally, I would be willing to go through a security check point to ensure I am carrying safe fuel and water. I would even be willing to fill my vest's bladder with water and add my VegaSport Hydrator right there and then with someone watching over me if that is what it took.
And regardless if this prohibition will personally impact me on race day or not, I felt so passionately about this matter that I couldn't stand by and not say a word.
So tell me, what do you think?
Daily Gratitude: I am thankful for friends that will listen to me rant and rave even if they will never see my point.
Daily Affirmation: I have the power to speak my mind.
