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She did what she thought was right and did not hurt anyone along the way. After months of training for the race, it must have been a difficult decision for a high school kid. I totally commend her!

Eta: I am not religious.

@looch: Must be a slow news day lol.

@Danizaur: They probably had her in a database already and everything, too hard to change at the last minute?

I'm glad she felt able to stand up for her beliefs, but to me it is just a number. I am not religious. I do wish they could have been more flexible with her, as I'm sure that number would have happily been accepted by someone else who didn't mind - or even would have wanted it.
Honestly, I would be kind of excited to get the number 666 and be the most metal runner in the race \m/. It means different things to different people - some take it very seriously, some do not take it seriously at all (like myself).

It's hard for me to understand her POV because I've broken away from my Catholic upbringing, but I don't get it. She trained and worked really hard for this race, and she's willing to throw it all away over a number. I do see it as just a number, and I don't think that's like saying the N word is just a word, as @pui said, because I know the history of that word and it is an ugly one. I don't believe that people who have truly done their research can say the same about the number 666, I see it as a superstition more than anything else.

Would she have pulled out if the number was 616? I doubt it, but that's the number early versions of the Bible used. Does she know what part of the bible it's even from, and that it's specifically the number of 'the beast' rather than the devil? (Book of revelations, the part that describes what some people would interpret/call the apocalypse.) However, it also says that it is the number of man, which makes the whole thing even more unclear. Not that any of that matters if the number is truly 616 and not 666.

Obviously I'm making some assumptions here, maybe she does know all this and still isn't comfortable with it based on her understanding of the Bible. But I kind of doubt it.

ETA: I do agree though that it's stupid they couldn't just give her a new number. And I don't buy their claim that they didn't know it was because of her religious beliefs, why else would she not want that number?

From my perspective, I think it is silly superstition. But I think all religion is silly superstition.
It didn't affect anyone but her, so it doesn't bother me that she chose to sit out. I think giving her a new number would have been appropriate, but it might not have been feasible.
There also might have been a work around, like drawing a zero after the number on her bib. Some hotels "skip" the 13th floor (so silly) because of superstition.

Talk about slow news day! I may think it's silly to not run a race because of the number but I respect her rights to believe what she believes and not run the race based on her principles.

P.S. I don't see how saying 666 is just a number is like saying the "N" word is just a word. At all.

Something only has power if you let it. I would have sucked it up and ran the race. I tend to think its a silly superstition vs being an actual religious belief though, like @Mrs. Jacks:

On a funny note, my friends address is 666. She thinks it's funny.

@mrsjazz: Absolutely agree. 666 and the N word are not even comparable.

@mrs. bird: Word. it!

I agree that it was pretty stubborn of the officials to not let her change her number. They should have let her change.

I also support her decision. It's good to stand up for what you believe in and not waiver when things like this come up. Stand true for what you stand for.

I would never take the number 666 for anything. I completely understand the girl's position.

What I don't understand are the comments that indicate a belief that anyone's hestitation regarding the number 666 is based upon susperstition. I base my hestitation upon my Christian beliefs and do not regard my religion as suspersition.

this girl needs a dose of reality, if she refuses to take a number based on religious beliefs. really to give up a race you've been training for months for over A NUMBER is ridiculous. I get that its a superstitious and relates to the bible but come on, it was a random generated number you were given, move on. and sorry, she should stand up for something important not something trivial and attention seeking. this story is really really ridiculous.
so if she has 666 in her bank account or on address does she boycott those tooo. come onnnn.

I think it's kind of sad people are criticizing this girl for a decision she made... It's her choice. She's the one who trained so obviously this meant a lot to her to give that up. To each is own.

it doesn't bother me that she decided to not run, because like a pp said, it doesn't affect anyone else, but it's just not the choice i would have made (not that i run, because i most definitely do not )

to me, it's just a number. but when i worked in a grocery store if someone's total, with tax, was $6.66 they would almost always add a pack of gum or candy to change it, so it's not new to me.

@pui: Sorry, i'm going to have to agree with @mrsjazz: @mrs. bird: N is not "just a word". It doesn't even matter the context or how it's used. It shouldn't even be used, period.

I can understand where the girl is coming from if she feels as if the 666 is the marking of the Devil. In that sense, it's not really a superstitious issue. I do think they should have been able to give her a different number, and it's a shame she couldn't have been accommodated. I just can't believe this even made it to the news. Sheesh.

@stargal: Really? You actually think this girl dropped out of a race she's been training for since June just for attention? Sure, this wouldn't be worth it to you, but it clearly was for her.

We make lots of acceptions to accommodate people's beliefs. Maybe next time she can make sure her concern is noted ahead of time and then it shouldn't be any inconvenience for anyone.

@pui: I think that this being a news story could be a cry for attention and is ridiculous. I mena seriously the stories that make the news these days are ridiculous and people are aware of what draws publicity. And a lot of teenagers do things for attention. Maybe hse was doing it for attention, maybe not. I don't know, its just how it came of to me, when reading the article.
I think we need to look at the bigger picture when it comes to this situation..... the world cannot accommodate for everyone (Esp things like this, that *most* people would find absurd) and this girl needs to learn this and how she responds to it, is her own choice in the matter.