What is the etiquette for listening to music on the run during an IM race? I know the official rules are “no”, but I am wondering if it is reinforced and/or considered bad form for the non-competitive racer?
As a side note, anybody find this non-music policy “annoying”? The Tour is raced with support team communication, we are supporting friends and family at races with banners and cheers etc., loud music is often used at triathlon and running races, I assume top IM racers gets split etc. from coaches - so what is the big deal with listening to your favorite tunes while racing?
Just curious how others see this rule and willing to take the risk of getting abused for my opinion :o)
You can’t be serious? In case you are lets break it down
“What is the etiquette for listening to music on the run during an IM race?” The ettiquette for IM racing is to follow the rules “I know the official rules are “no”, but I am wondering if it is reinforced and/or considered bad form for the non-competitive racer?” If you know it is a rule, why not just follow it? It is a rule, not a suggestion, request or wish but a rule, yes it is enforced and hell yeah it is considered bad form. What is it that makes people think that rules are optional? Why would you enter an event with an intent to knowingly break a rule?
its a rule! so if someone just decides they want to draft, then they should be allowed to? what if that person wants their wife to give him his own special endurance drink at various points in the race? if you break the rules you should be penalized. if you don’t like the rules then you shouldn’t sign up for the race.
why spend $500 to do an Ironman if you are a non-competitive racer? you can do it on your own for free 365 days per year, and you can use headphones! what is a “non-competitive racer” anyway? that seems to be quite an oxymoron.
you should absolutely get a DQ if you race with headphones. race officials, other racers, and volunteers need to be able to communicate with you. it is a little hard to do that when you are zoned out in lala land.
I’ll give a quick answer before it gets too nasty here. Bottom line is, unlike marathons, IM takes the rule seriously. It is a penalty and you can be DQ’d.
I honestly do not care on way or the other. For me, I am not a good enough rider to listen to anything on the bike!
A variable time penalty will be assessed, and can be given multiple times if the violation continues, resulting in eventual DQ.
Why would you train (presumably) for an IM, expend time and money to get to the event, participate, and then get tossed out because you can’t be without your favorite tunes for a 1/2 day? (No need to answer.)
If you don’t like the rule, lobby to change it. Good luck.
Good idea instead of a fuel belt you could clip your cell phone on there too so you can call your mom for moral support during the race. You could also put your blackberry on there just incase you need to e-mail a report to work.
We could get real time race reports with GPS and the whole bit. Would put a new way to race. Maybe we could attached a helmet cam on so it could
be a live video feed also.
Actually, I was at a race last year where we did penalize a woman for using her cellphone in radio mode. The rule is as follows:
3.4 i. Unauthorized Accessories. No participant shall, at any time during the event, use or wear a hard cast, headset, radio, personal audio device, or any other item deemed dangerous by the Head Referee. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty. Cellphones can, and often do, count as a personal audio device.
The RD and head official can also agree that first offense is a DQ. Most folks who use could care less about a penalty.
They are not racing. But, if they got no results, most will then and only then follow the rules.
I know at the last moutain bike race I helped about a guy came by on the first lap with an Ipod on. I could not believ someone could be such an idot on a single
track race. He must have heard us trying to get his number since I saw him through the trees taking it off.
Was there a big banner saying the penalty was for talking on the cell phone or because of unsportsmanlike conduct?
Hey, I’m ALL FOR banning cell phones, but each time I’ve inquired, the folks “in the know” say they are legal. Actually, rather they say they are NOT banned devices.
Totally agree. I always train with music, but I most certainly don’t (and didn’t) need it come race day. You won’t either.
Having been a volunteer trying to communicate with a racer wearing a headset who was going off-course, or another one who nearly got hit by a car, I can tell you it is frustrating.
