MP3 Player on races: Tune in or ou? (Read 1259 times)

Leave the MP3 at home. Half the fun of racing is talking with your fellow runners. I sometimes train with a Shuffle & think they can relieve the monotony of a long run but, I don't think they should be used at races. Drink in the experience without the soundtrack. Some races do prohibit the use of MP3's & the like. Although in the half marathon I ran in September there were plenty of people wearing them even though it was verboten.

There is a very long thread on this very topic around here somewhere. If the customer service around here was decent, we'd have a search function by now. (Oops. Forgot I'm not in the 2000 club, so a disclaimer is necessary. The above is sarcasm. Under "s" in your dictionary.) Anyway, that long thread that I can't find can be summed up like this: 1. Yeah - most races (or at least most long races) prohibit iPods. 2. That rule is rarely, if ever, enforced; in most races it seems like half the people are wearing headphones, no matter what the rules say. 3. Do whatever you want, but at least give NO music a try on race day. You might be pleasantly surprised. You might have more fun. You might make a friend. 4. And if you wear the 'pod ... keep the volume low enough so you don't cause trouble. That's a good rule. Not following it is a good way NOT to make friends As for me (repeating what it's in that long lost thread), I always, always wear the iPod ... and almost never actually USE the iPod. Nice to have the option at mile 23 of a hard marathon, but it doesn't get much use. Like most things ... experiment for yourself. Your musical mileage may vary.

One day a week I like to just strip down to nothing (welll, except my clothes :-D). That is, don't wear HR monitor, MP3 player, watch, pedometer, nadda. If the race allows it, do whichever you like. I like to use mine and then turn it off for a while to talk/chat, or just listen to the environment, and then put it back in for the last few miles to bring me home.

I think it's funny when you look at a race's web site and it clearly says that headphones are prohibitted, but most of the promo pictures on the site show runners wearing them. Sometimes I wear them, sometimes I don't. If that's what you want to do, then don't listen to anyone that tells you otherwise. What I really hate is when people break the no baby joggers rule. As you can tell, I am comfortable with arbitrary enforcement of the rules based on my own preferences. I'm an American dammit!

I always have mine and its usually on. I can pull out an ear if I want to talk, but usually I don't. I like to be in my own head and not listening to the 'pound, pound, pound' of all the feet. Maybe it's because I am the slowest person on the Earth and therefore out on the run longer that anyone else. Although, the way I figure it, I always win....as it takes me longer. Good luck! J My iPod (now shuffle) is usually way, way down or off at the beginning when everyone is all squished together and feeling excited. The chatter is fun to be apart of...

Oh, dear! If you come up on me, Gregin ND, then give me elbow and I'll know that it's you and we can chat. Although, I'd imagine that you'd be long gone and way past me. I must clarify that I always have my music down so that I can hear what's happening. It isn't safe to only hear the music. Happy Running, J

Very interesting article. Thanks.