Why would the Austin Marathon prohibit ipods?

Headphones are prohibitted from pretty much every race sanctioned by the USATF. The reasons are primarily due to the danger that headphones represent since runners using them may not be able to hear instructions from course marshals, officials, police support personnel, etc.

I'm not a runner but have worked as a course director for a significant road race in Austin for a number of years. Every application clearly states that iPods, headphones, etc. are prohibitted. Compliance, on the other hand....
 
I've never seen a marathon enforce it, but it is a safety issue.

It's rude to other runners who might need to verbally communicate their presence to you.

Do you use your ipod while driving a car, too?
 
Interesting. My first race was the Rock N Roll 1/2 marathon in Phoenix last year. Fully sanctioned as far as I know. We had 37,000 runners. Nothing anywhere that I saw mentioned not to bring headphones. I bet there were 36,000 ipods out there. Didn't seem to be a problem at all.

So, is it enforced? Will there be people with ipods?
 
this is a result of the Chicago Marathon (last year?) where they had to stop the race because of heat. the race organizers were trying to tell people that the race was being stopped, but a lot of runners couldn't hear because they had iPods. one dude died from heat exhaustion. i don't think it was because he had an iPod on and didn't hear the instructions, but that is the fear.

total knee jerk reaction if you ask me.
 
Yeah, I was kind of pissed when I found out that I couldn't wear my MP3 during my tri (swimming aside). I did run a 5k this past weekend and it was allowed.

Makes a big difference to me as well...
 
I don't know if Austin made their change because of Chicago, but this has been very standard for a while now.
 
The prohibition against headphones started before ipods became popular. But I've never seen someone yanked off the course because they were wearing them. I was astonished at the last marathon I ran (Austin 07) because there almost seemed to be a preponderance of people wearing ipods vs those that weren't. I'm sure it was just a perception but there were a lot out there. I had one as well.
 
The rule may be enforced more now, but it's not a rule "because of" the Chicago Marathon.

There is a list of "running courtesies" that have been around for years -- stay to your right, look behind you before you stop, don't jog in lanes 1 & 2 at the track, and don't race with headphones on.

Sometimes I wish these were printed on the insole of every running shoe sold in this country.
 
I decided to train for a marathon (running the Maui Marathon on Sunday) without headphones but do not have a problem with those who decide to wear headphones on their runs. Why the hate for runners who wear headphones? Have you guys had bad experiences of headphone-wearing dude running into you or not staying to the right?

Or is the displeasure due to aesthetic reasons? This guy sums up this argument well.
"I run for the pleasure of running. To feel my muscles working; hear and feel my breathing; and, yes, savor the effort of the run. To me, people who wear headphones miss out on the purity of the run. If you do not run for the joy of running, just go to the club and hop on the elliptical or treadmill where you can wear headphones with all the other "athletes". As far as wearing them in races, c'mon, that is one of the best things about running in races for those of us who are not elite runners - chatting it up with our fellow runners. If you need to listen to music, or whatever it is you listen to, to get through a run, find another gig!"
 
Interesting sidenote to this discussion is that the White Rock Marathon banned iPods last year but are allowing them this year. Very strange.
 
Common rule that has been in place since the Walkman days. Rarely enforced though. However, at the Twin Cities Marathon last year they DQ'd over a 100 runners with headphones.
 
Yeah, both 1/2 marathons I did prohibited them last year. Long bike rides prohibit them too.

As a runner, I have often had the problem of people w/ ipods being oblivious to me trying to pass them, or them running into me, because they can't hear other people's footsteps. It's ok in training, on the trail, etc, if you pay attention to what you're doing. I wear ipod when training, but I don't have it very loud. I can tell others have theirs turned way up because I can hear their music when i pass or am passed by them.

But this is exacerbated in an event with maybe thousands of runners.
 
I think you should be allowed to wear an Ipod but ONLY in one ear. This is what I do when I ride my bike. It's ******* stupid to ride a bike with bot your ears plugged, as your ears can save your life.

I would strictly enforce the single ear bud rule, but allow folks to use their music as a "crutch." In other words a very reasonable compromise.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top