They aren’t allowed by the rules but I don’t see a problem using them on the run.
It beats some of the god awful music they play out there on the course and at the finish line.
Each person has their own way of passing the time out there on the course. If an MP3 player helps on the run, have at it…
I’ve seen them all over the place and rarely have people been caught. If you do it’s a penalty but I think the refs should get a life and concentrate on the bigger stuff.
well, this is the reason times are so fast in Roth…
Hearing “The Final Countdown” by Europe is unbearable and people just rush away
I bet you wouldn’t say this about drafting. It is a rule. Knowingly breaking this rule is also called cheating. I am sure you are not encouraging anyone to cheat in a race. These rules are not in place so we can pick and choose the ones we like. Aren’t there enough problems with people drafting and getting pacing help on the run that we don’t need to be telling people to break the other rules.
<< but I think the refs should get a life and concentrate on the bigger stuff.
great Brian, why don’t we just tell all the refs to go get a life and do something else instead of volunteering to officate races? Give them a break, rules are rules, you break them and get caught, you get penalized, period.
Yep. It’s a rule and like I said using one is against the rules. It’s a stupid rule in my opinion.
I don’t see any benefit whatsoever of someone using an MP3 player on the run and I personally would rather see the refs concentrating on other things rather than policing MP3 use on the run. You’re right, I’d rather they police drafting on the bike because that’s a clear advantage rather than someone listening to tunes on the run.
GPS units are allowed and I don’t see how they’re different than someone pacing you.
GPS units are allowed and I don’t see how they’re different than someone pacing you.
Yeah, I don’t get that either. What’s the rationale there?
No need to get in a twist about it…It is a rule. A dumb one. In this case, I’d rather see the refs doing something else rather than worrying about whether or not someone is listening to tunes or not on the run.
I saw another girl listening to her iPod… but the guy I loved most was the guy on his cell phone… talk about outside assistance…
I won’t argue if it is a stupid rule or not, but I think it is one that will eventually change (not for the bike, just for the run). With the number of people that use them now there is no doubt someone will start offering races that allow them. It will probably start with marathons, but it will eventually jump over into the tri scene as well.
Something else I think will happen 5-6 years from now is a specialized triathlon event that doesn’t allow heart rate monitors, bike computers, gps, radios etc. Alot of people know at what heart rate they need to maintain while racing, but how many can judge accurately if they are at that rate without a HRM. I know some of you can, probably even quite a few of you can. I think it would be well received (especially right after USAT changes the rules to allow headphones).
I can see that…Headphones, gps units, bike computers, etc…no watch, no nothing…
I don’t know where the run course is for all of you but quite a few races in Norcal have you running on the side or on one lane of a road. The reason for no headphones is for safety. You need to be able to hear cars, instuctions given by course workers or public safety officials. That line of cones and your ears are the only thing seperating you from a distracted driver driver drifting onto the course in many cases.
Something tells me that the insurance companies would also have a fit if headphones were permitted
I think people really overestimate how much more safe they think it is when they can hear traffic. On the bike most riders are moving between 15-25 mph. Cars are moving in the 35-55 mph range an if they are going to hit you there is nothing you are going to do to stop it.
Maybe I’m cynical because a local triathlete was just hit from behind by a drunk driver at 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning. I doubt it would have made a difference if he had been totally deaf. Speaking of which, can a deaf person compete in triathlon if they can’t hear cars or directions from race officials. If they allow them to race then the headphones issue is just hypocrisy.
Chad
P.S. I’m not saying deaf people should not be allowed to compete. It was just an illustration to show the rule is silly and inconsistent. After 20 years of riding without headphones, I admit that I have recently started using them with an mp3. It make the middle part of a six-hour ride pass more quickly and I still see the scenery and can hear cars pretty well. I would never use an mp3 in race, but doubt that you would suddenly see a rash of accidents if they were allowed.
Most of the races I’ve done have been safe enough to allow for music listening during the run. In fact, all of the IMs I’ve done the run course has been closed to traffic (or at least one full lane blocked from cars).
In my opinion, the course should be set up in the safest manner possible so that traffic encountered by the competitors is kept to a minimum. During the run of an IM most of the competitors are either so focused or too looped to clearly listen to directions anyway. Hand signals, arrows, cones and signs don’t require listening skills and are much safer then relying on verbal instruction.
In addition to no gps, no computer, no hrm … they also should not allow clothes or fat chicks.
I won’t argue if it is a stupid rule or not, but I think it is one that will eventually change (not for the bike, just for the run). With the number of people that use them now there is no doubt someone will start offering races that allow them. It will probably start with marathons, but it will eventually jump over into the tri scene as well.
**I really doubt that this rule will change for either marathons or triathlons. Even on the run, barring headphones will increase safety, at least a little. If I were representing a race or a race director, I would advise them to continue to bar all headphones, MP3 players, etc. If only a few races allowed headphones, it would be really easy to show that the race was negligent by allowing them if someone wearing them was hurt or killed. Still have to prove causation, but it’s a lot easier to defend a case if the plaintiff has to prove both negligence and causation. **