Running with Headphones
Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2009
You can now run races wearing headphones:
For two years, Grandma’s and other road races around the country banned headphone use by runners, complying with the rules of USA Track and Field (USATF), the nation’s sanctioning body.
Last month, USATF lifted the ban, clearing the way for Grandma’s on June 20 and other races to decide on their own whether to allow headphones.
I haven’t ran competitively since high school. I’ve also been running with headphones ever since I got my first iPod a few years back. On many occasions since, as an upbeat tune propels me along my route, I’ve thought, “I wish we’d had iPods during high school races. I know I would’ve ran faster.”
Despite allowing headphones, the race’s organizers are discouraging them:
While voting Tuesday to go along with USATF’s reversal, Grandma’s board of directors issued a statement saying it “strongly encourages” marathoners to leave their headphones at home so they can “enjoy all that our race courses have to offer and for the safety of all participants.”
“The atmosphere along the Grandma’s Marathon courses is second to none,” the statement continued.
“We believe your race experience will be greatly enhanced by having complete use of all of your senses. Running headphone-free allows opportunities to develop camaraderie with your fellow runners and to enjoy the various entertainment acts lining the course. Plus, thousands of enthusiastic volunteers and spectators will be cheering you on, helping to get you to the finish line.”
This part made me laugh. The “experience” of the race is always what threw me off. I always felt sick the morning of a race, the “enthusiastic spectators” and hundreds of other runners just distracted me and made me nervous. What I needed was something to take my mind out of the race atmosphere.
So, now that I’ve said that, is it any surprise that I haven’t ran competitively since and have no plans to ever do so again? I’m happy with my casual, music-filled 2-4 mile runs these days.