Comments on: Are Headphones During a Race Okay?

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:13:49 +0000

Having only done two 1/2's now I have worn them in both, First race, Dallas White Rock, I had them on and off throughout the race just depending on where I was. Some of the time I just wanted them off to take in my surroundings. But when I had them on they where not up so loud I still couldn't hear what was going on around me.

Race 2, Cowtown, I had them turned on almost the entire race and loved it. Again, not turned up so high I couldn't hear people passing me on the side.

I think headphones are fine just as long as the racer is responsible and listening at a volume where they can still hear their surroundings.

By: tyangus

tyangus — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:38:20 +0000

iPhones should be limited to runs alone and when you aren't dodging cars in suburbia. in a race, you should be in a zone and that zone should be your run…soak everything in…the scenery, the fans (hopefully) and your fellow runners.

By: brianbrode

brianbrode — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:54:48 +0000

One of the best parts of a race is the sound of the competitors on the course. If you wear headphones you'll lose an important part of the race experience.

By: dominiqueia

dominiqueia — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:55:07 +0000

Headphones during race: Okay, as long as they are at a medium to low volume, so you don't drown out every bit of outside sound. I also ran Cowtown 1/2 and that's what I did. At the end of the race I wanted to absorb the sounds of the race — so the last mile I took my earbuds out and listened to the crowd. AMAZING!

Headphones during a normal run outside: Big NO-NO. You can still enjoy music without headphones. I strap my iphone to my arm and listen without a head set. I can still enjoy the music and I can still hear what's going on around me.

By: Spamboy

Spamboy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:22:40 +0000

Personally, I never wear headphones, although I had to be weaned off of them like a junkie. The group I coach win bans them on our long Saturday runs, and out of habit I stopped wearing them during the week. This fits in fine with my running philosophy, which is to become closer to nature and the world around me.

And come race time, they are just one more distraction on a day already filled with them — so I leave them at home.

So, yes, they impair the experience for me — but not just on race day.

By: Oblivion Ratula

Oblivion Ratula — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:58:34 +0000

I believe every one has a right to run his or her own race and if people want to cut out half of the race experience, power to 'em. As long, of course, as they do so without keeping others from running THEIR own races. I took headphones on my first marathon and never listened to them. I ditched them off to my wife around Mile 9 (though wished I had them back after 18). After that, I pretty much stopped training with them except on the treadmill (and today I walked instead of running, and took music). But when I do listen, I listen low and can still hear all cars coming and going.

By: Krys

Krys — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:58:18 +0000

I used to run with my dog and my headphones blasting, in a park that had a HUGE designated pedestrian lane. I felt safe there with the headphone as loud as I needed to forget the burn in my legs and just run as fast as I could. Until I got hit. By a car I didn't see, or more importantly HEAR coming.

The park was hilly and curvy and the car was speeding. Now, thankfully, it was more of a bump than anything major. I had a massive {AND I DO MEAN MASSIVE} bruise on my right hip but otherwise no other injuries to myself or my dog.

But, I had no idea the car was coming. I didn't hear it at all. And it turned out later, once she saw me and realized what was happening; she honked to try to warn me as she slammed on her brakes, and I didn't hear that either. I learned my lesson. I no longer run with headphones at all if I'm anywhere near a road. And now, if I'm off on a footpath, I only put music in one ear and I leave it turned down pretty low.

So, for safety reasons, I vote a VERY LOUD NO to wearing headphones during races or running on streets!! Be smarter than I was!

By: Mark Lindsley

Mark Lindsley — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:22:47 +0000

It all comes down to safety. If it can be done safely, then cool. I wore headphones for the first time on Saturday for a 10K since I knew that I wasn't going to running with anyone that I knew. I really I enjoyed it, but probably won't do it for every race. I did pull an ear bud out if I knew something was coming up ahead, busy intersections, and the infamous finish line.

For the majority of my runs, solo and group, I usually go without headphones. I like to think a lot while I run solo and I like to talk a bunch when I run with a group.

For this weekend's Dallas Rock n Roll, I'll definitely be going without headphones. Looking forward to the bands and the experience of a larger event.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:20:33 +0000

I don't think that headphones are appropriate during a race for pretty much the example you cite. Sure, they help you get into your pace and into the zone, but they block out everything that it going on around you. I've almost been run over by more than one oblivious, headphone-wearing runner who suddenly veered right into me. That's almost impossible when you aren't wearing headphones because you can hear and “feel” the other runners around you. I also don't wear headphones on training runs because when I'm training on roads I want to be able to hear the traffic and when I'm training on trails I want to be able to hear the trees and the animals. But, to sum things up, runners wearing headphones don't generally share the road well.

By: The Running Couple

The Running Couple — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:44:00 +0000

Approved