Race rules - No headphones

[jdbyogi]

It is very common. You need to pay attention while running in a big crowd on public streets, and people pay significantly less attention when they have headphones on. Try running in a group and trying to pass people who can't hear you, or if they are giving verbal direction that the route has changed, etc. It really is for a safety and ease of running for everyone.

It is a huge pain to already have so many people around you and trying to navigate when people around you can't hear you.

[aeroluv327]

Agreed, it's a safety precaution. I enjoy racing without music, I really get caught up in the excitement!

That being said, it's is not enforced at the races I do.

[Brie]

I'm pretty sure it's a USATF rule. People have been disqualified from winning marathons for having headphones in their ears.

That said, at most races, people wear headphones--just use common sense precautions. Keep the volume low, make sure you can hear what's going on around you, etc.

I agree with PPs though. Training without music would suck, but racing is interesting enough without it. There's a lot going on to keep your mind occupied.

[gumi]

I think it depends on the crowd of the race and where you are in that crowd. It is so annoying in a crowded race when people cannot hear me. If I say "on your left" i need you to move to your left. And I dont slow down, last weekend I jumped over a bush, lol.

But once the crowd thins out, then its not so much an issue, imo.

[2doxies]

Give running without them a try before the race. I didn't think I would enjoy training without headphones but I found that its better than I thought it would be. I find that I can get a good handle on my breathing and settle into a running groove more easily.

[grk2012]

It's not uncommon, and yes, you can. It's a 5K. Enjoy your surroundings.

[erincassidy06]

This is common to not be able to listen to music. I would suggest incorporating some music-less runs into your training schedule. I didn't start running with music until I began track work and got bored running in circles. Whenever I feel like I'm beginning to need my music I put it away for a few runs. Once you get use to the quite it is nice to be alone with your thoughts.

You'll be so jazzed at your first race I don't think you'll miss your tunes

[foundmylazybum]

Jun 1, 2012 21:14:02 GMT -5 grk2012 said:

It is also not a usatf rule that you can't race with headphones. This ban was lifted in...2008.

In the ELITE sections of huge races like Boston they aren't allowed. Op are you racing in that section in this locally put on 5k?


Having been an overall winner in local races with my headphones on I can tell you I've never been disqualified at the local level.

Be aware race with care.

Also, as an FYI: In studies done with runners and attention a few interesting things have come out:
1) Experienced runners over all have a better ability to cue their attentional focus on internal body sensations and have developed effective coping mechanisms when intensity and duration of exercise increase. So for example they feel the pain, or fatigue and they know how to tune into that, have a coping strategy for it and move forward. This can be self-talk strategies, energy management, knowing how to adapt pacing etc.

Inexperienced runners are more likely to dissociate from discomfort--IE they will look at the scenery, engage in the race surroundings, and the crowd listen to music etc.

To say that a person is (um..or "should) putting away their music, but yet still engaging in the crowd, race atmosphere etc--you are still dissociating from the task, and being distraction dependent in some way rather than cuing into the task and focusing on that.

2) Music--with both experienced and inexperienced runners has a dissociative effect. It is up the individual to decide where and how this may be beneficial to them in terms of performance.

[kams]

I ALWAYS ran with loud music blasting in my headphones. I signed up for my first tri, so I needed to figure out of how run without music. I did one training run without music, & haven't gone back.

Honestly, in the race you won't miss it. If you're like me, you might even find that it's really nice without music. I would have never guessed I would say that.

[trigal]

This is common. Despite what others may think, you should follow the rule. No one should be allowed to decide which rules to follow and which rules to ignore.

And, in all my years of racing, I have never come across someone wearing headphones that could hear me coming. They all think the volume is low enough, but it never is.