Yesterday I was at a high school cross country meet that was being held at a nearby forest preserve. During the meet, there was spectator (most likely a parent) that lit up a cigarette. I didn't feel like it was my place to say anything, but I couldn't help but think how inappropriate it was of him to start smoking. This got me thinking...
Given the nature of our sport (where it's not necessarily always on "school grounds"), should smoking be allowed at cross country meets?
Um, have you ever been to a cross race in Europe? Everyone smokes. I know, the US isn't Europe, just saying.
Chill out loser.
Of course it should be allowed. Drinking should be too, it would make meets more exciting.
You should be happy. You probably look for stupid shit to be bothered by, this was right up your alley.
Maybe the poor guy was chased from a park to the forest preserves by anti-smoking zealots and had the good luck of running into a CC meet.
Lets be fair, it is a decent question.
I do not think it should be outlawed at XC meets in general, unless the meet is on school grounds, where there is already a law prohibiting smoking...
Was the guy as ass about it? I mean, if he is in a huge crowd and just lights up, I could see it being a dick move. But if he was off on his own and lit up, I think you are being a bit dramatic.
Smoking isn't illegal.
I tried smoking at a meet I was racing once, I thought it would make me look cool. About 2/3rds the way through Smokie the Bear flies out of trees and climbs on my back. Couldn't get that son of a bitch off till I crossed the line.
Recently, I was in an outdoor beer garden after a 5 mile race. A couple of guys, who did not run, lit up. I politely asked them to take it somewhere else, and they did.
Wisco Fan wrote:
Recently, I was in an outdoor beer garden after a 5 mile race. A couple of guys, who did not run, lit up. I politely asked them to take it somewhere else, and they did.
Wow, you're cool.
Saw a runner light up after finishing the Boston Marathon. Don't be such a PC health prude.
Once in high school, we were warming up for a dual meet and cam across the top-seven from the other team standing around having a smoke together.
Lighten Up Francis!
I admit I was surprised to see a volunteer at the finish line of the Columbus Marathon one year smoking, but come on, a spectator at a cross country race? What's next, laws against smoking outside your home on your frontporch so as not to pollute your neighbor's air?
Big deal
Wisco Fan wrote:
Recently, I was in an outdoor beer garden after a 5 mile race. A couple of guys, who did not run, lit up. I politely asked them to take it somewhere else, and they did.
Did they ask you to take your ugly girlfriend somewhere else?
Honestly, I hate cigs and smoke, but you people need to chill out. An outdoor beer garden?
smoking and running is a great combination. don't nock it til you try it. I am not trolling.
he shoulda been snusing! also I agree with the drinking comment!
We have way too many spectators as it is, and I agree with the OP that we should whittle them down further by eliminating those that smoke. Who needs them!
it's a high school athletic event, smoking prohibited by NFHS rules.
Several guys on my high school team would smoke in the woods on the easy day before a race. Coach would say run 3 slow miles, they would run a quarter mile to the woodline, go about 20 meters in so as not to be seen, and then sit on logs for 20 minutes blazing away. Then they would run the quarter mile back.
Yes , as long as they don't start any forest fires.
I burned one while sitting in the stands watching the relay at a track meet and I had just won my 800 heat and run a pb.
There is no correlation between spectators and athletes or players.
Do you think they are going to ban beer at the ball game just because the players aren't quaffing a few pints in the dugout?