Headphones while running

[kevinspradlin]

The marathon club will consider banning the use of personal music devices during an organized event. The discussion will begin Monday at 6 p.m. at Life Fitness Management in LaVale.

Some people already have written saying they disagree with such a policy.

Weigh in at the new online poll at www.mountainMDmarathon.org.

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CUMBERLAND - After seeing a growing number of participants in the first three events of 2009 wear headphones or other electronic which emit sound over their ears, the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club will consider a no-headphones policy at its March 16 regular club meeting.

The discussion is set to begin Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. at Life Fitness Management, located on National Highway in LaVale. The meeting is open to the public.

As a general rule, said Kevin Spradlin, club executive director, participants in club-sponsored events should not be permitted to wear anything that coveringn the ear which transmits sound from an electronic device to the ear during a race.

A photographer is usually on hand to visually record events and any participants seen wearing such devices would be disqualified and would not be counted in the event's official results, Spradlin said, no questions asked. There would be no refund due to the disqualified person.

"I think the only time headaphones should be considered to be allowed would be times when roads are closed," Spradlin said. "Most often with us, that's just not going to be the case. Even if a road is closed, other safety issues, such as wild animals or domestic animals, such as dogs, often post a danger to participants. Not being able to hear a possible danger could pose more harm to the event participant."

"Bottomline is, if it jeopardize your safety unreasonably, why on earth would you do it," Spradlin asked rhetorically.

Spradlin said those interested should read the Road Runners Club of America information available here - www.rrca.org/news/index.php?article=2413

The club is expected to vote on the issue at the March 16 meeting.

[flyinghighrunner]

My opinion is to ensure the safety of the runners, and make them aware of the rule by having it in the waiver and application. Then it's up to the race director whether to enforce it or not on race day. I would think it to be very difficult to enforce 100%. Personally, I'm not going to pull someone out if they have headphones on, but if something does happen, at least I'm covered by the waiver.

[kevinspradlin]

Well put. It's easy to enforce 100 % with so many photographers on the course at various, undisclosed points. The purpose of the photographer, of course, is to capture runners during a certain point in the race. But a secondary use could be to enforce policies such as this if it were adopted.

I wouldn't yank a runner off the course; I think a suitable action could be to simply not list them in the official results. 26.2-miles for nothing? Bummer, right?

I'm not sure yet what the marathon will do - a decision will be made by April 1. The waiver on the earliest versions of the marathon entry form didn't specify a no-headphone policy but instead served as a blanket liability.

Problem is, if someone wants to blame the event for something going wrong, they will, I guess.

[Justin]

I don't in any way advocate wearing headphones during races and would never do so myself, but I find in hard to DQ someone if they hadn't harmed anyone or effected other people's race experience. It seems like this is similar to the stupid high school track rules where runners get DQ'd for wearing the wrong color underwear.

I feel individuals should be able to determine if wearing headphones "jeopardizes their own safety unreasonably", not race directors.

I think if there is a problem and one runner obstructs another in an unreasonable way, then go ahead and DQ that person whether they are wearing headphones or a chicken suit or whatever. To take pictures of the racers and comb through them to DQ people is just ridiculous in my opinion.

[kevinspradlin]

I understand your personal position, I think, Justin but once again - surprise, surprise - I have to disagree. I think a headphones policy which address a very real safety issue is far different from someone wearing a wrong-colored undergarment.

I agree with your last point - I hadn't intended the issue to be a time-consuming one post-race. So, how about this as a possible solution for the marathon - wear headphones, no problem.

But doing so rules our your eligibility for an overall or age group award.

Any policy in place, which will be decided by April 1, is not due to the potential impact of another runner's race experience or possible harm to another participant or trail-user. Instead, it directly impacts the potential safety of that person.

And a point shared by many - that runners should be able to police themselves and choose for themselves whether the wearing of headphones constitutes a safety risk - I also have to disagree with, at least to a point. Being able to hear a potential risk - bear, dog, falling rock, cyclist - could allow for greater reaction/response time, thus deflating the potential risk.

Again, though, I will share your thoughts with the club and see what the board determines. If no decision is made by the board, I will, as event director, come up with what I hope is a compromise, at least for 2009.

[kevinspradlin]

I forgot, Justin, to thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this issue. I admit, I figured this issue would be more of a hot-button topic than it so far has been. Thanks again.

[Justin]

I see some points there, but really how far are we going to go to eliminate risks in races? Is there going to be a mandatory amount each participant must drink at stops to prevent dehydration? To eliminate the traffic risk why not get the roads completely closed? Why do a race on a public trail with bikes in the first place? One could argue the tunnel is an unreasonable risk. I guess I'm a pretty strong advocate of freedom and just giving people choices in their own lives. If you need to go back and scan through pictures to DQ people, then how big of a problem could it really be.

I personally wouldn't wear headphones during a race primarily because I think it would hinder my focus on the competition, but I can definitely see someone with a goal of finishing the distance wanting to use one. Your proposal sounds like an ok one, I'd personally make it overall awards only, especially with a small field a large percentage of your racers will be fighting for those age group awards.

[44Hawk]

I personally happen to agree with the no head phone policy. I do have it on our application for the 5mile red neck road race in May. Head phones do hinder runners hearing while they are out running no matter if they are training or running an race event. I can speek for my self on this matter cause I was almost hit once because of not hearing the car until it blew its horn at me to let me know it was there. Just the other day I was running with some track boy's and one of the guy's could'nt hear the coach when he was yelling car. The coach made it a point to all runners that they were not to wear head phones anymore while out on a run. I think it's a great idea to have this policy in place. I hope that other race director's will follow. I for one will do what ever I have to make my race as safe for the runners as possible. Some runners may not like it, but keep in mind its your safty and well being that I'm concern about.

[kevinspradlin]

Yes, and as event director you, it seems that you realize when it's your rear on the line, you'll go a little farther to eliminate risks. As to all the others, thanks for commenting and I'll be sure to take your comments forward to the club board for consideration.

[kevinspradlin]

On March 30, the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club Board of Directors adopted a policy that "strongly discourages" the wearing of headphones during the 2009 Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival.

Visit www.mountainMDmarathon.org and click on the "Headphone policy" tab for details.

Thank you, everyone, for your input during this information-gathering process.