THE BREAK TAPE
Holding a break tape at the finish of a major (or any) race and what the tape actually looks like is a perfect example of how something seemingly so simple can have such huge implications.
A few things to consider:
You need a proper tape. It should be double-sided, not too long, not too short, not too narrow, not too wide. Some are hook-and-loop (ie, Velcro) break-a-ways, many are not. If hook and loop, make sure it’s not too lose (it can break before runners hit it) or too tight (runner wouldn’t be able to break it). Any company that makes banners can most likely also make break tapes if you give them the proper instructions and dimensions.
What is printed on the tape is of extreme value to the race and a race sponsor. Make it simple, clear, repetitive.
It is wise to appoint a finish line coordinator who is experienced with holding break tapes and who can instruct those who have been chosen to hold the tape exactly how to do it, even practicing it a few times before the leaders approach the finish line.
Who holds the tape is a key choice of the race committee. Most races use this aspect of the race as a give back by having a sponsor representative or someone from the race beneficiary or even a high ranking city official or celebrity hold the tape. If this intricate aspect of the race is done properly, the tape will be one of the most photographed items of the race and thus one of the most significant benefits and value to a sponsor. If the tape is one sided, make sure the side with the printing is facing the photographers.
The best way to hold the tape is for the holder not to pull on it toward themselves but to hold one hand on the bottom of the tape and the other on the top of the tape so that it is perpendicular to the ground.
If the tape is a two-piece tape (ie, hook and loop), both holders must hold onto their end and let the runner break the tape. If it is a one-piece tape, one holder should hold onto their end and the other holder must let go just as the runner hits the tape.
Runners need to be informed the tape is actually not the “finish line” of the race. Even if someone breaks the tape first, that doesn’t mean they are automatically the winner as the tape may have not been held exactly over the real finish line itself.
How high you hold the tape off the ground is critical, too, as you want to have it held a little above hip level of the oncoming winner. Given you do not know how tall the eventual winner is, you have to adjust the height of tape as the winner approaches. Additionally, if you are holding the tape for the wheelchair winners, that, too, requires special instructions so it doesn’t end up in their face or tangled in their wheels. A two-piece tape works well here where the holders can actually pull the tape in both directions as soon as the wheelchair finisher is about to hit it, thus avoiding any mishaps. In some cases, although a bit awkward, the wheelchair winner is still in a "tuck" position and thus will actually want to go under the tape vs. breaking it.
If you want to hold the tape for the first female and she is surrounded by a lot of male runners, you need to separate her from everyone else well prior to the finish line itself.
If it is a close finish with multiple runners sprinting for the finish line, it may be best to not to put the tape up at all and get the holders out of the way.
Before the gun fires, do an inventory check as to where the tape is and who will have it in their hands 5-10 minutes before the first finisher so you are not looking or scrambling for it as the winner is kicking down toward the finish line.