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Green Bay Marathon reinstates runner disqualified for iPod

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on May 17, 2011

running, marathons

Cellcom Green Bay Marathon officials reinstated Kelly McClure as the 5th place finisher in the race on Sunday, and awarded her the $500 cash prize.

McClure, from Iron Mountain, Mich., had been disqualified for turning to her iPod during a tough stretch of the race into the wind.

After a formal appeal to the official on Monday morning, the decision was reversed.

According to the race officials,the rule that formerly prohibited the use of mp3 players and similar electronic devices for anyone accepting prize money was repealed in 2009. It is now up to the individual race organizers to decide on the policy regarding use of these devices in their particular event.

The 2011 Cellcom Green Bay Marathon event guide explicitly permits use the electronic devices.

The disqualification controversy and news that runners were misdirected and added an extra 800 feet to their journey on Sunday has detracted a bit from the 12th annual marathon.

The marathon and the spectators, however, received kudos in this piece by Adam Mertz, sports editor of the Capital Times and a runner who finished the half-marathon on Sunday.

He rated the support for the marathon in Green Bay far superior to the turnout for the Madison Marathon.

Mertz wrote: "...Green Bay embraces its race almost as if it were a Packers game, and not just because of the climactic jaunt through Lambeau Field or the post-race festivities in the stadium's parking lot.

"Yes, the Madison Marathon occurs on a weekend when many people head out of town, and the Mini on one of the last weekends before school starts, when people are squeezing in the last few items on their summer bucket lists.

"And yes, we're a pretty independent bunch, favoring personal and countercultural expression as examples of civic pride over mass gatherings that don't include politics, music, fireworks or the Badgers.

"But just once, it'd be exciting to see a show of support for marathoners in Madison like the one that Green Bay stages each May. Know that in doing so, you'll leave an indelible impression. And if Sunday is any indication, you'll get a kick out of it, too."

13 Comments for "Green Bay Marathon reinstates runner disqualified for iPod"

  1. LOL! Back to totally not getting it.

    LP Hillclimber May 17, 2011 11:38 AM

  2. Ugh, the Madison guy can't even criticize his home city without being pretentious.

    JOill May 17, 2011 11:50 AM

  3. Somebody "splain" to me - how do you know you are going to end up in the cash bracket when you start a race? Maybe they should just ban Ipads for everyone, then when you come in second instead of last, you can legally claim your prize. I know everyone hopes to be in the top 5, but you never know until you cross the finish line. People in front of you can fall, become ill, or just drop out and lo and behold, there you are in the #5 position listening to your Ipad and, boom, disqualified. Dumb rule.

    BettyV May 17, 2011 12:18 PM

  4. I am in favor of a complete and total iPod/mp3 player ban at all running events. I feel that if you need music to 'help' you through an exciting, competitive race, you probably shouldn't be entering a running/racing event.

    SicknTyred May 17, 2011 12:55 PM

  5. The top runners in an event such as this know they are in the mix to win the whole thing, so this handful of elite runners should know the rules regarding MP3/iPod usage and plan accordingly. As for the the other 4,500+ who ran it, myself included, an iPod is an essential part of the experience. I'm guessing SicknTyred has never run a half or full marathon so if that's the case, should not speak to things for which he/she has no direct experience. For most of us, the half and full marathon is not so much an 'exciting, competitive race' as SicknTyred states, but rather finishing the race gives the satisfaction of accomplishing a long-standing personal goal and a testament to perseverance, training and endurance. I was in it to finish it and had a goal time in mind. The music I was listening to helped keep me going, especially in the strong winds we all faced. It was a great event overall and the Green Bay community and the event's planning committee and volunteers should be commended for their efforts.

    SouthShoreSkamp May 17, 2011 1:09 PM

  6. I don't mind people using headphones in races, but someone saying that it is an "essential part of the experience" is limited to their own experience. I've run a marathon and several half-marathons without headphones, and rarely use them when running outdoors. I can't stand running on a treadmill without them though, so I understand why people like them. The problems with headphones during a race are the people that have them so loud that I can hear them from a few feet away which means that runner can't hear me coming up behind them. I think in a competitive situation you have to believe the headphones could be used by a coach to give course information to a runner and maybe how well a competitor is doing (like they use radios in professional cycling.)

    likebikes May 17, 2011 1:19 PM

  7. Agree SicknTyred. People seriously can't seperate themselves from not having music in their ears for 3 hours? I've never ran GB but marathons I have run have had an awesome atmosphere and it would be a shame to be zoned out to everything going on around you because you've got "My Humps" cranked on your iPod!

    hotpocket May 17, 2011 1:26 PM

  8. True, likebikes, I was reflecting on my own experience. But I certainly saw more people with headphones on than off during the race. Sure, there are safety issues and you should have the volume at a level where you can hear sirens, directions from race personnel and approaching runners. My point was for the vast majority of us who were not in a position to win prize money during the race the headphones and music were important.

    SouthShoreSkamp May 17, 2011 1:27 PM

  9. First, most of us endurance athletes do not have the volume cranked on
    our music due to the fact of pure safety, passing, etc. for ourselves and
    other competitors. I ran the Cellcom marathon on Sunday and as with
    all other distance and endurance events I've participated in I have never
    had a problem with a runner I'm passing not hearing me, etc.

    Second, to those that criticize us for listening to music while we
    compete I'd recommend you suggest banning music then at baseball,
    football, basketball games too and tell me how the 'experience' feels to
    you - and the athletes as well.

    jmfrease May 17, 2011 3:34 PM

  10. @ jmfrease - I would be in favor of banning music at basketball (especially Bucks games), way too disruptive to the game experience. Besides, that is a different example. It is one thing to have organ music playing in the background at Miller Park, but I would be interested to see the crowds reaction in a batter strolled to the plate with his iPod on. If it helps him hit. . .

    @SouthShoreSkamp - congratulations on what sounds like a successful race in Green Bay. Sounds like since you had a goal time in mind, were you making a point of 'racing the clock'? It sounds like with your brief description of the training you went through, you worked hard and achieved your goal - which is the same thing as many of the elites at the front of the field go through.

    Recently, I was discussing with a fellow runner that it might be a good idea to not use their iPod. So, one morning they decided to forgo the iPod, and without greater mental effort, suddenly took a few minutes off their usual "easy morning loop." It was really a "eureka" moment for them, and I am pretty sure the iPod is staying home from now on.

    My other main reason against using iPod/mp3 players as you run, (or bike or . . . ) is simply a safety reason. There are too many inattentive motorists out there, and even though I try to avoid busy streets as much as possible, even on quiet side streets there might be that one bad driver who isn't paying attention and that because music wasn't taking some of your attention, you were able to sidestep some type of misfortune. Be safe everyone!

    SicknTyred May 17, 2011 5:48 PM

  11. I am curious if they took back the $500 from the 5th place finisher or just gave out another $500? That is a question I would have asked if I was a Reporter.

    stickdude May 18, 2011 12:10 PM

  12. stickdude - good question. The $500 went to McClure.

    T. Held May 19, 2011 3:58 PM

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