I have not done a stand alone marathon in several years. I signed up for one and my buddy runs with music. I listen to music on some training runs outside and always when on the treadmill. Obviously, listening to music in a 140.6 is a rules infraction…but since you can listen during a stand alone marathon…do you? Just curious to see if people stick to no music because they are used to racing that way, or if they break out music when they can.
I listen to music on a majority of training runs but I will never do so during a race. I like being ‘present’ in the race and I feel like headphones take away from this.
That and I’m an old school curmudgeon and wish headphones were banned during all races, so I’m too stubborn to even consider it.
No, I don’t. But I never listen to to music anytime when I’m cycling or running, training or racing.
If listening to music is against the rules, that’s the end of discussion. I can’t imaging a bike race with people listening to music. While I’d prefer that other runners weren’t listening to music during a running race, it’s not a huge deal for me if they are.
My marathon peeves:
Music-listening runners don’t bother me unless they cross my path without looking, but I do think its anti-social.
Banks of slow runners taking up the centre of the road.
Banks of walkers blocking majority of the road.
Selfie-takers - stopping every 50 metres if they see something vaguely interesting.
I’m talking big races with many different start times so if you’re unlucky enough to be in the last wave, you have many obstacles to get through.
I HATE people running races with earphones in. It’s against the rules in most races I’ve done, but a handful regularly do it anyway. It’s mostly a problem on crowded runs or runs on narrow/technical routes where it’s occasionally necessary to let someone know you’re coming up behind them and want to get past.
Regardless of the problems it can cause, it seems odd to me to take part in a mass participation run and then put on headphones to isolate yourself from the atmosphere of the thing. But then I almost never train with music and the couple of times I have it’s been for an easy trainer session. So maybe I just don’t get the attraction. I’d never run or ride with headphones on. It would drive me nuts. I feel the need to hear what’s happening around me. It’s not just a training thing, even if I was just going for a walk, if I wore headphones I’d be taking one out every so often to see if I was missing anything going on in the real world.
I’ve never worn headphones in a race, and probably never will. Having said that, I can see why it might appeal to people.
I can imagine in a long race - maybe ultra-marathon or long trail race - which lacks support along the route, some good music might help people mentally tough it out. Different strokes for different folks I guess!
All that being said, if someone wearing headphones didn’t hear me and got in my way, I wouldn’t think twice about knocking them out of the way!!
I have run with music on road marathons and one road ultra, all were races where it was going to be a bit of a mouse on a wheel type of course-multiple laps, very familiar scenery and I was racing alone-no friends or club mates. I generally train with music on easy runs-sidewalk stuff. For anything speedy I run without. I also have never used them on any trail races. I can’t bike with headphones, my local environment is pretty hostile and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. Plus i just like riding my bikes outdoors enough that I don’t have the desire. Indoors on the rollers it is another story though.
I use music on all training runs/rides.
But never in races.
1st: I have seen soooo many people fiddle with headphones falling out, port comming unplugged, having to find the right song etc. Yes you could probably prepare to avoid all of this, but it is just another element i dont want to deal with. Maybe the pouch you keep it in gives in and you have to run with it in the hand - no thanks
2nd: For big city races (my last half was 22k people), i really like being part of the show/atmosphere. There is music playing along the road, people yelling/cheering etc. i want to take it all in, maybe even talk to someone during it.
i run with headphones during training and running races during which it is legal. i never wear headphones on the bike or in the water (although that may change soon). i pick out playlists and get a perceived boost from songs i like, much in the way zwift will convince me to push a little harder or ride a little longer to meet a goal, so in that respect i believe it benefits me. like all technology, there are drawbacks and it has certainly backfired on me during races or long training runs leading to a frustration that threatens to wipe out all traces of prior earned goodwill, but the short answer to your question is: yes, i use music in running races.
Never in races, and almost never in training. I’ve used an iPod in the past, but I don’t miss it at all. I don’t even use one on the treadmill, probably the only person in the gym who doesn’t.
One of the things that training does for for me, is that it helps to clear my brain of all the extraneous stuff. I started off as a swimmer, so I’m used to no music when I train. On the treadmill, I typically take off my glasses so I can’t see anything but a blur, and just run. (put them back on when I want to change pace so I can see what I’m setting)
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If listening to music is against the rules, that’s the end of discussion.
I’ve seen a couple races where the say in their FAQs “No Headphones” but on their website or FB page … *LOOK!!! *people running with headphones all over
Should be banned in races
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Anything outside (training runs, bikes, or races) I don’t wear headphones of any kind. No matter the distance.
Inside on the trainer I use headphones and a tablet to watch a show that I don’t have to pay full attention to (aka have to carefully listen to dialog or notice finer details to get what’s going on). Same with a treadmill I’ll just hook up my headphones to my TV (bluetooth transmitter/receiver).
Got a little one in the house so don’t want to be blasting the TV very loud to hear over the treadmill/fans (or trainer/fans).
I prefer if people outside didn’t wear headphones too. A guy on roller blades was wearing headphones and I was screaming to announce my approach so he wouldn’t put some of his blades in my spokes (on MUP). Ended up slowing down and waiting for a intersection to hit the road and go around instead. I also worry about runners doing a sudden turn left or around without looking (with headphones on and can’t hear somebody/something approaching) too. About 1/3-1/2 of my rides take me to MUP’s (there are extensive networks in my metro area to help avoid some of the crazy or inattentive drivers out there).
Never in races, and almost never in training. I’ve used an iPod in the past, but I don’t miss it at all. I don’t even use one on the treadmill, probably the only person in the gym who doesn’t.
Me neither, I just watch the TV … with Closed Caption off, too
When I’m done, however, I will listen to music; to cool down, and then to move to the strength training area if applicable
Always in training, always in races. For races I always keep one earphone out to at least keep some awareness of surroundings, and if it’s a race with really good atmosphere I’ll try to minimize wearing them altogether (i.e. NYC Marathon).
Should be banned in races
USATF banned earphones in run races in 2006 and rescinded the ban on 1 Jan 2009 (except for championship races) after receiving the collective middle finger from millions of runners who didn’t give a rat’s ass about USATF and their rules. A race might still say they are banned due to insurance requirements but they are likely to get the same middle finger. RD’s cannot take a hard line on this and expect their race to succeed.
If USAT would relax this restriction during the run portion of a triathlon they might be able to attract more participants.
I’m a no in races… I have in the past but dropped it when I decided to actually have race goals and not just run to say I did it. Previously, I wouldn’t wear earphones on any outside training either since I didn’t want to lose situational awareness. Lately, I picked up an AfterShockz Trekz bone conduction headset. I still don’t wear while riding or doing a hard running session, but for long runs or recovery runs I’ll bring them along for entertainment. It’s surprisingly easy to hear normal ambient sounds and stay aware since your ear canal isn’t obstructed. That being said, I still believe there is a big mental benefit to be had from training with no distractions and just enjoying the pure horror of my own thoughts…
It depends on the race. If I’m running a race I’m hoping to compete in I won’t wear them. I’ve also not wore them for most of the major marathons I’ve done just so I can pay attention to the crowd. A few months ago I did a marathon that had less than 100 people doing it and I wore headphones for that due to the small size.
Nope, never with my own music device in a race… In training occasionally indoors or solo long runs… My biggest pet peeves are people who show up for a group run wearing headphones… what’s the point of attending a group run if you don’t want to interact with the group…
In terms of racing, it should be illegal. but the recreational masses won’t fall for that, because they “need” their tunes… For running, it’s a bit less of an issue, but is an annoyance when you’re trying to pass in narrow sections and they don’t yield because they can’t hear you.
In Tri, it’s a hard no. Despite repeated reminders by race directors on their websites and over the PA on race day (I guess the offenders miss this since they have their headphones in)… As an official, we usually catch a few each race… This is a safety risk… especially on the bike, especially if the course is not closed to traffic… One of my more frustrating stretches was in a local race, being stuck behind someone who was all over the road (couldn’t safely pass on either side without committing a centre line violation) with headphones in (I was lapping her), so couldn’t hear my repeated calls to pass… fortunately, I waited until she swerved towards the right hand side at one point, and then threw down a massive sprint to get clear of her before she swerved back and took me out. I had a very pointed discussion with the “official” (it was an unsanctioned race, the officials were dudes riding their motorcycles on the closed roads effectively doing noting…) about it, and he did nothing except complain about me to the RD. The RD approached me after the race to discuss it, and apologized (for the incident and the actions of the “official”) and warned the athlete… they also beefed up their highlighting of the rule on their website and pre-race emails…