So in the wake of my citation at the Timberman Ironman-branded half ironman Triathlon August 17 for running barefoot, I have been corresponding with the Ironman corporation (aka World Triathlon Corporation, which owns the trademarked brand name "Ironman"). Other barefooters who have written to the company complaining about the policy against running barefoot reported getting no response, and some barefooters even sent them a petition asking for the policy to be changed. However, I did get a response last week with an explanation of their no-barefoot rule. The bottom line: the rule is “for safety reasons" (actually that was not really the bottom line, it was pretty much the entire explanation).
This was from the head referee at Ironman, Jimmy Riccitello. That is who their communications person referred my question to, which surprised me since I think of a referee as someone who enforces rules, not someone who makes them. But I figured, who knows how things work within WTC? In the end, though, after I sketched out a few reasons why the rule should be reversed, the referee confirmed that he is “simply the messenger” on this. Like everyone else, he seemed somewhat unsure about this rule, and said he would get back to me with more details.
From what I heard, I’m getting the idea that this is a rule that was, as some barefooters have speculated, thrown onto the books with little thought. Certainly it is not anything that anybody I have corresponded with seems to have thought about any. Perhaps that’s not surprising given the rarity of barefoot running. But hopefully with a little persuasive education the company will respond and it can be yanked out of their books as casually as it appears to have been tossed in.
The barefooting rule is misguided, but perhaps it sheds light on a bigger problem here, which is that Ironman is a de facto governing body of the sport, and yet as a corporation, it has few of the institutions and processes in place for governance. I haven’t looked closely at USAT, but I presume they have some kind of mechanisms in place for triathlon community input, petition, appeal, etc. The free market may provide some of that, but is a very imperfect and corruptible substitute for governance.
However, the Ironman employees with whom I corresponded have been responsive enough so far, though I have not really gotten a chance to have my points heard by any decisionmaker so far as I know, and have not received anything resembling a satisfying response to those points.
Below is the essence of my e-mail exchange:
From: Jay Stanley
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 11:51 PM
To: Blair LaHaye [Ironman public relations director]
Cc: Keith Jordan [Timberman race director]
Subject: rule explanation
Dear Ms. LaHaye,
I am a blogger and triathlete. I received a citation on Sunday in the Timberman 70.3 for running barefoot.
Could you please explain to me the reasons for your company's rule against running without shoes, or forward my query to somebody who can do so, or let me know who I should contact directly?
Thank you,
Jay Stanley
Arlington, VA
<at this point, several followups by me over course of a week seeking a response>
From: Jimmy Riccitello
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:10 PM
To: Jay Stanley
Cc: 'Blair LaHaye'; Keith Jordan
Subject: bare feet at Timberman
Jay,
Ironman requires “covered feet” on the bike and run for safety reasons.
What were the circumstances regarding your penalty?
Sincerely,
Jimmy Riccitello
Head Referee, Ironman
From: Jay Stanley
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:27 AM
To: Jimmy Riccitello
Cc: 'Blair LaHaye'; Keith Jordan
Subject: RE: bare feet at Timberman
Thanks for getting back to me. The circumstance was I was running along, and was stopped and given the yellow card. When I talked to the head referee at the race about the rule, he suggested that I write to you.
If you mean to ask how I came to be barefoot, then the answer is, I've done all my running barefoot for the past 3 years or so. Not sure if you are aware of this, but there is a small but growing movement within the running world of people who have found that running barefoot (up to ultramarathon distances) is not only *not* a safety risk, but actually quite the opposite in that it reduces and prevents injuries. In fact, there is a substantial body of scientific evidence to support the contention that it is actually shoes that are the cause of most running injuries (I would be happy to supply links if you are interested but a peer-reviewed article reviewing the research is at http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm). There are some podiatrists and trainers who disagree and urge everyone to wear shoes, but also many others who are supportive of this technique -- which is after all an ancient tradition that has been used by some of the world's best runners.
In any case, Ironman does not need to take sides on this issue. With your policy, Ironman is in effect saying "as experts who know a lot about triathlons, we do not believe it is safe to run without shoes and recommend that you wear them." If liability is the issue, I would expect that as the science develops this would actually open you up to more liability than it protects you from. (I know that if I were to try running any distance with shoes at this point, I would likely injure myself.) I would submit that you are better off remaining neutral and letting runners experiment for themselves, and scientists debate, the best way to avoid injury. From a P.R. perspective, this policy I believe will also increasingly risk leaving you looking behind the times and distinctly non-cutting edge as more people adopt this technique. (I would note that USAT does not have such a policy.)
How is policy made at Ironman? I would welcome an opportunity to make a fuller pitch to Ironman's policy-setting individual(s) to consider changing this policy, whether by e-mail, phone, or in-person presentation the next time I am in Florida. In any case, I hope Ironman will seriously consider the points I've made here.
Thanks for your work in triathon!
Sincerely,
Jay Stanley
Arlington, VA
From: Jimmy Riccitello
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:57 PM
To: Jay Stanley
Cc: Blair LaHaye; Keith Jordan
Subject: RE: bare feet at Timberman
Jay,
I believe this rule provision was meant to be Kona specific, as I've seen it
on the Kona requests for amendment.
I know that safety is a primary concern in Kona, possibly due to the
surface, heat, etc. I have no idea if liability was a factor in this rule.
As I'm simply the "messenger," I will make sure your email is heard by those
who determine policy.
I'll get back to you when I hear something.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Riccitello
Head Referee, Ironman
From: Jay Stanley
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:27 PM
To: Jimmy Riccitello
Cc: Blair LaHaye; Keith Jordan
Subject: RE: bare feet at Timberman
Jimmy,
Much appreciated. That would be great if you could share with me what you find out.
Best,
- Jay
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