Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Ongoing Headphone Debate

Read THIS Runner's World article for a point of view on headphones and running.

And take note that the use of headphones is not allowed in the Tely 10 or any NLAA road race.

21 comments:

  1. And yet, if you look at photos from past years, you will see headphones all over the place.

    One person running at night and getting hit by an intoxicated driver doesn't make a good case against for the Tely10 or other road races. If someone stoned makes it onto the course in a car, we're all in big trouble regardless.

    Many folks use them carefully, picking where and when to wear them and what volume to use. The cautious among us turn off the music and remove the earpieces when crossing roads.

    Frankly, in a race, I'm probably not going to listen to much around me anyway. There's enough going on in my head to keep me mesmerised that an official would likely have to whack me to get my attention. Especially in a crowd....
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  2. No IPod in the Tely....don't make me laugh. Good luck inforcing that rule. I'll throw a number out there...10-20% of runners will have headphones on...all under age 30.
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  3. I am pretty confident I will be ok on the day of the Tely listening to the music which motivates me to run.

    As our previous commenter made note of...if you are smart when using your MP3 player, then you can be safe as well.

    My question is...if I wear my headphones and someone tells me I cannot run with them, then will they give me back my registration money?
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  4. Unless you're going to win, I doubt anyone will say anything to you.

    And not everyone using headphones is under 30. That presumption is as postentially erroneous as my saying that all those opposing them are over 50.
    :-)
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  5. LOL! Give you back your registration money?! Too funny...let's be real, that will never happen. Remember, this is the race where they put the finisher medals in the race kits...before the actual race because they didn't have enough volunteers to give out the medals at the end of the race. I highly doubt they will have enough people to "police" the headphone rule.
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  6. Thanks for posting this. I'm running in the Tely10 for the first time this year and I've looked all over the race website for a policy on headphones and couldn't find one. It could be added to the "Important Notes" section.

    I'm over 30 and run with headphones, but I'll leave them at home on Sunday.
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  7. If they haven't posted the rules regarding such things well in advance and you've been training for months using music as a part of your training program, I would bring them along. It's too late in the game to change your race strategy now.
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  8. in a crowded race like the Tely, it can be very easy for a music-listening runner to bump into other runners that they don't hear coming.. likewise, it can be easy for a music-listener to get startled by people approaching them when they don't see or hear them coming..

    bottom line, the NLAA has a rule, and if you are 'caught' using them, i suspect you will be disqualified from the race, as you should be.. a rule is a rule.

    i'm all for listening to music in the right time and the right place, but during a race is not appropriate in my opinion...
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  9. "I'm all for listening to music in the right time and the right place..."

    Dude was anyone suggesting that listening to music period was wrong?
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  10. Show me the rule on the Tely website McCreath.
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  11. Can someone actually find this rule?

    I've searched through both the Tely 10 website and the NLAA and cant find it anywhere.

    I use a Nike+ thing on my ipod and heavily rely on it to keep pace. I want to make sure I can have this race day.
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  12. pardon? somebody say something?

    once the crowd thins out, i'll be wearing headphones.
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  13. I've seen the rule on handouts during some of the race registrations but I've never seen it enforced or even warnings issued to anyone. The Tely is a big money earner for the NLAA, it would be unlikely to happen.
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  14. This rule is nothing but hearsay. There is no mention of it on the Tely10 or NLAA websites. If the rule does indeed exist, it's poorly documented - certainly not documented well enough to repremand someone for breaking it.

    This will be my 5th running of the Tely wearing headphones. I keep my volume at a level that permits me to hear what is going on around me. Yes there are inattentive runners (of all ages) who are completely oblivious, however that has nothing to do with headphones. There are many who are too busy daydreaming, conversing or playing with their Garmins to watch where they are going.

    While I was waiting for the Tely to begin last year, I witnessed two men conversing about runners who wear headphones. They were commenting with disgust while looking at people around them with iPods. One of them said to the other, "if I see a runner on the trail with headphones on I ignore them - f$%@ 'em I say". Wow, what an attitude. I wear headphones while running and either wave or say "hi" to any runner that passes by. But I guess as one of the younger crowd (sadly not under 30 anymore), I've gotta wait a few more years for some of these elitist types with negative attitudes to fade out of the picture!
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  15. you're right. there is no mention of this apparently rule anywhere on the nlaa site or the tely site this year. could be the rule was canceled??
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  16. From the article; "As its name implies,this event is held at night.". If the Tely was held at night, or had an extremely high number of participants, then banning headphones might make some sense. I think the NLAA would be making a huge mistake if they try to implement this as a regulation. They'll just alienate a major segment of runners at a time when running is set rise to a new level of popularity in the St.John's and surrounding areas.
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  17. i find it ironic that this thread has gotten more attention that pretty much any other news item on this site over the past year. but i think it's great that people are chiming in with their thoughts.. bottom line, everyone wants this sport to grow and it's great to hear what people want and expect.. hope everyone has a great run on Sunday!
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  18. I have no problem with people wearing headphones. It's their choice. I don't personally wear them. I just like going for runs to clear my head and take in the sights and sounds around me. If race organizers have a problem they should include it on a waiver form form.
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  19. My advice is never run with Head Phones - it is not safe!

    I have passed many runners (wearing head phones) on the trails who did not hear me until I passed - scared the @#$% out of many of the them!

    Helping out with the Not So hilly Half - we would give instructions to runners and thoses with Head phones could not hear us... they could not hear the traffice coming up behind them.

    Enjoy the sounds of the trails, engage in some conversations and be safe.

    NO WEAR HEAD PHONES!
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  20. "NO WEAR HEAD PHONES!"

    Hulk smashes your headphones.

    Whatever.
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  21. DO NOT WEAR HEAD PHONES...

    Sorry for the typo HULK!
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Comments in good taste are welcome.

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