What percentage of the field uses an ipod on the run in IM and 70.3 races?

Triathlon Forum
1

For those of you who have done a lot of these, what percentage of the field uses an ipod on the run in IM and 70.3 races?

2

I’m going to say 20% - 1 out of 5.

3

Way too high. I saw 1 person at LP with one. And I am not even sure they were in the race.

4

I recall only seeing 3 people with them at IMLou and considering the out and back loop course of the run, you cross paths with almost the entire field.

5

I didn’t notice any in Madison. The percentage is pretty low.

Thom

6

Hopefully no one who does,t get DQed.

7

I do not recall seeing any at either IMC or IMWI…

8

For those of you who have done a lot of these, what percentage of the field uses an ipod on the run in IM and 70.3 races?
Hopefully ZERO, as it is grounds for disqualification.

Please attend the mandatory race meeting before an IM-branded event to hear this with your own ears, read it in the race packet, or USAT rule book available online will verify what I’m posting.

9

Please attend the mandatory race meeting before an IM-branded event to hear this with your own ears

But if they’re truly addicted to their ipods (from what I’ve seen of ipod owners, this is common), they’ll be too preoccupied listening to tunes to hear what the announcer is saying during the mandatory pre race meeting. :wink:

d

10

I saw one at IMC.

11

I gots a couple questions:

  1. What is the intent of the rule against ipods on the run? Is it considered to be a danger to the wearer of the ipod, or a danger to others as well? How?

  2. What is the motivation behind the venom many of you have for runners who wear the ipod during the run? That they are endagering themselves, others, or just that they are breaking the rules?

12

I believe the big issues are:

  1. Using the ipod for pacing
  2. Obviously the safety concerns
13

I believe the big issues are:

  1. Using the ipod for pacing
  2. Obviously the safety concerns

yeah but is it safety for the person with the ipod or is their some concern that joggers will collide at 9min pace and kill each other?

14

I have an issue with the people that do it because it’s specifically prohibited. It’s the same attitude that leads to drafting packs: “I’m out here to meet a personal challenge, not to race, so those rules don’t apply to me.”

As for why it’s illegal:

  • Reduced situational awareness - While the risk is slight, if something happens on the course and volunteers need to get your attention, it’s going to be more difficult. If someone has a medical issue ahead of you and the medical crew is coming up behind you on a Gator, are you even going to hear them?

  • Pacing assistance - I have several podcasts that I use for interval training that are 1-hour or so mixes at a specific cadence. I use them to build muscle memory of running at that cadence. I’d love to be able to use them during a race because it makes it much easier to maintain a solid pace. You don’t have to exert near the mental discipline. Along the same line, how do you ensure that the headphones someone has in their ear is connected to an MP3 player and not a 2-way radio that they’re using to communicate with their coach?

ETA: not saying these are necessarily *sufficient *justification for the rule, but they are justification.

15

The safety reasoning is a red herring.
The competitive advantage can be real - with pacing assistance being one asset.
The other advantage is mental - who hasn’t been picked up by the “right” song at a tough time in a long run?

That said, if you’re not in contention for overall or AG awards, go for it.

16

The competitive advantage can be real - with pacing assistance being one asset.

Pacing assistance from an IPOD? Do you mean like pacing assistance one can derive from a heart rate monitor, power meter, cadence/bike computer?

17

I gots a couple questions:

  1. What is the intent of the rule against ipods on the run? Is it considered to be a danger to the wearer of the ipod, or a danger to others as well? How?

  2. What is the motivation behind the venom many of you have for runners who wear the ipod during the run? That they are endagering themselves, others, or just that they are breaking the rules?

ST’ers have animosity towards anyone wearing an iPod because it irks them that a runner might be focused on himself or his music to such a degree that they don’t notice how important and awesome the ST’er is.

To answer the OP, I’ve only done three IM-branded events at which I saw saw no ipods.

I’ve done a couple local half-iron’s and seen between 5 and 10 people using them(on the run).

18

I didn’t see any at the 2009 Muskoka 70.3. The race manual states:
“8. Communication and audio devices of any type are strictly prohibited during the swim and cycle portion and run sections of the race. Use of such devices may result in disqualification.”

19

Saw zero at IMMOO last Sunday.

20

I agree 100% w/ dgunthert; don’t think the safety issue is a red herring… Yes, the odds of it being a problem are low, but it only takes one person who’s tuned out at the wrong time & place to result in a mishap, and no RD wants that on their hands. I’ve run Hood to Coast relay a couple times where there are huge traffic clusterfucks at many of the exchange areas and it’s not at all uncommon to see some dumbass rockin their tunes while running right out in front of a van who’s trying to pull out of a tight spot with poor visibility, or crossing an uncontrolled intersection, and nearly get hit. I do think you have at least a minimal responsibility to the other racers (and volunteers/officials) to be paying attention to what’s going on around you.

But that’s really beside the point… We can debate the underlying reason for why they’re prohibited, but bottom line is that they’re specifically prohibited, period. Thus, anyone who insists on wearing them anyway is saying loud and clear, “Fuck you all, I’m too important to have to live with the same rules as the rest of you chumps.”