Start Without A Shot: A Small Change That Makes Your Race More Inclusive
Why the sound that starts your race might be driving some people away
What if the most stressful part of race day is not the training, the logistics, or even the hills? What if it is the very first sound your event makes?
For many runners, a starter pistol is just tradition. For others, it’s a source of fear, panic, or traumatic memories. Veterans. Survivors of gun violence. Neurodivergent runners with sound sensitivities. Community members who hear gunfire in their neighborhoods.
Start Without A Shot exists for all of them.
A Sound Leader With a Public Health Lens
Kirkland Lynch, Global Chairman of Start Without A Shot and CEO of Barking Owl, blends a background in public health, law, and global music production. We spoke with him about his work in sound design for major brands gives him a unique perspective: audio shapes experiences.
The Moment Everything Shifted
In 2024, Nova Post, a major Ukrainian logistics company, asked Barking Owl to help redesign the start of the Kyiv City Marathon. With wounded veterans on the start line, a gunshot was not an option.
The question: What safe, intentional sound can launch thousands of runners?
Kirkland quickly realized this wasn’t just a Kyiv problem. It was a global one.
Designing an Inclusive Start
Barking Owl created dozens of alternatives and tested them:
• EEG readings to measure calming vs. triggering responses.
• On-course testing to understand timing and flow.
The final sound includes a gentle 10-second buildup and a 60-second musical launch, crafted with Ukrainian instrumentation. Events can use the full countdown or simply hit play after their own mic countdown.
The core principle:
From an inclusion and public-health standpoint, any intentional sound is better than a gunshot.
Why Distance Races Are the Best Place to Begin
Kirkland’s long-term vision is simple: remove the starter pistol from all sporting events.
Distance races, where reaction time doesn’t matter, are the natural first step. Trail races and ultras have already shown strong interest. Larger road races face rule constraints; World Athletics currently requires a pistol, cannon, or air horn.
Start Without A Shot is pursuing a dual strategy:
1. Build momentum among race directors, athletes, and communities.
2. Advocate for rule updates so races can adopt safer, more inclusive sounds.
What This Looks Like for Your Race
Adopting the start sound is intentionally frictionless. RDs can:
• Download and use the free Start Without A Shot sound file (WAV or MP3).
• Play it using any existing equipment, from a phone + mic to a full AV setup.
• Or choose a different intentional sound while aligning with the movement.
A press kit includes templates for announcing the change—whether your race is moving away from gunfire or simply committing to a more inclusive practice.
A Small Operational Shift With Big Impact
Race directors already think about safety, accessibility, and participant experience. The start signal deserves the same intentionality.
Swapping a gunshot for a sound file requires no new software, no added budget, and no operational overhaul. But it can transform how runners, volunteers, spectators, and neighbors experience your event.
Changing how you start may be one of the smallest operational shifts you can make. It might also be one of the most meaningful.
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