15 runners DQed for wearing headphones!

Screw the headphones. I'll just start carrying my transistor radio again and make everyone around me listen to the music I am listening to. When I was in high school, I carried a tape player on runs to listen to music.

I did go for a run the other night with out my headphones on. Listening to all the dogs barking was very enjoyable.

I wear headphones 10 hours a day while I am working, so it is natural to wear them when I go for a run.

steelframe wrote:

I'm an RD we have the universal 'no headphones' sign on race materials. however, what bothers me about this that the no dogs or stollers rule has been around for a long time yet there wasn't this push to enforce it. Now there is the 'no headphones' rule and RDs are supposed to enforce this? If i enforce one rule, i'm going to enforce all of them and there's enough to do putting on a race than having spotters along the way documenting scofflaws.

why are the rules selectively being enforced?

To say that the rules are being "selectively enforced" implies that the races actively enforcing the 'no headphone rule' are not enforcing the 'dogs and strollers' rule. I'm guessing this isn't the case. More likely specific races are actively enforcing all of these rules or none of them. My experience is that I've never run a race with dogs (explicitly banned or not) and never strollers in a race that explicitly prohibited them.

The thing I find most troubling about the headphone issue is the apparently growing attitude that the stated rule need only be observed if it is actively enforced. As you say, race directors have enough to do without having to play nanny to those who feel they are above the rules.

First, rules are rules.

Second, banning headphones during a race might help people understand that headphones aren't a good idea during workouts where the roads aren't closed off to traffic. I do generally feel that headphones aren't that dangerous during races where the roads are closed off.

Third, if you wear headphones while running on the streets, I think that's fine as long as you are willing to pay the consequences if something goes wrong. If you hurt someone because of it, then pay the price without complaining. If you get hurt because of the headphones then don't complain.

Today I was almost hit by a car while running and was upset until I realized that I was in the wrong. I immediately felt bad for creating a dangerous situation for the driver, which was the appropriate reaction. Too often people think they're in the right no matter what.

Simple as that.

I am the RD for a 10k here on the Western peninsula of Maryland. I've been RD for 12 years, and last year I finally had enough. I had my crew review the race tapes and we dq'd 17 runners, out of 120 finishers, for wearing headphones, and earbuds for their Eye-Pods. We actually had to dq the 2nd place male and 4th place woman. Man were they pissed. I am still trying to get those in the money to send me checks, and I may have to get the law involved.

Race Director wrote:

I am the RD for a 10k here on the Western peninsula of Maryland. I've been RD for 12 years, and last year I finally had enough. I had my crew review the race tapes and we dq'd 17 runners, out of 120 finishers, for wearing headphones, and earbuds for their Eye-Pods. We actually had to dq the 2nd place male and 4th place woman. Man were they pissed. I am still trying to get those in the money to send me checks, and I may have to get the law involved.

That will really make your race more popular. Those runners will just go to a race that allows them to run with headphones and since that is the way the masses are headed, your race will cease to exist in a few years. Just go to the local Y and see what the percentage of headphone wearers are. It is about 75% at the Y I go to.

You must put on a crappy race since according to Letsrun posters only hobbyjoggers where headphones and one of them came in second in your race.

Race Director wrote:

I am the RD for a 10k here on the Western peninsula of Maryland. I've been RD for 12 years, and last year I finally had enough. I had my crew review the race tapes and we dq'd 17 runners, out of 120 finishers, for wearing headphones, and earbuds for their Eye-Pods. We actually had to dq the 2nd place male and 4th place woman. Man were they pissed. I am still trying to get those in the money to send me checks, and I may have to get the law involved.

Huh? One of us is drinking more than me! Are you saying you DQ'ed people you already gave checks to? 120 finishers and people are getting checks... what race is this?! You've been a RD for 12 years and you've only got 120 finishers?!

I thought the same thing.

the gooch wrote:

I am fine with the rule being enforced. I just can't understand why people care.

I'm also alright with it being enforced, but I don't really care about this topic nor even about why other people do care.

Alright, I can't say there are a lot of runners like this but, here is what I mean.

First there are runners who only run for fitness and find running boring without the headphones.

Like it or not running, like many other exercize programs is very boing to some.

But many of these runners find running more enjoyable with headphones, so they remain running.

Some of these headphone weareres only run a couple a races a year if not only one and still want there headphones. If you say no they wont go.

Alright, I can't say there are a lot of runners like this but, here is what I mean.

First there are runners who only run for fitness and find running boring without the headphones.

Like it or not running, like many other exercize programs is very boing to some.

But many of these runners find running more enjoyable with headphones, so they remain running.

Some of these headphone weareres only run a couple a races a year if not only one and still want there headphones. If you say no they wont go.

I know many race directors would rather not (I will not say not) enforce rules.

Basically you seemed to answer my question that its not becasue you see it as a problem but rather they are being told they have to.

Im with you, I don't wear headphones at work, but I do use earplugs and if they were such distractions you have to agree the company and insurance companies would yell safety hazard.

I ran a race Monday without my headphones and it was very boring. I could not concentrate and some of the conversations I over heard I rather not.

Race director, What is the reason you wanted to enforce the rule?

This is the question I am asking.

Do you have a past incident with someone wearing headphones or did you ban them beecause you are being forced?

My dog wears her iPod during races. Why does anyone want to take one of her two joys away (she also enjoys licking her "private area").

Regardless of your feelings on this, I love the fact that I'm being served an Oakley Thump banner advertisement on this thread.

Mike,

A couple of years back, there was an incident at the Long Island Marathon, where the race rejoins the half-marathon course late in the race. Without excessive detail, the wheelchair leader managed to run between the legs of a woman who moved suddenly because she was unaware of what was happening around her BECAUSE she was wearing headphones. Fortunately, the wheeler managed to stop without causing injury to her or himself. While there is truth in your argument that headphones can be used safely, the unfortunate fact is that they often are not.

More significantly, one of the wonderful things about a race (or an "event" as some people have pointed out many races have become) is the crowd around you and the ability to interact with them. Wearing headphones changes that equation. Some people won't talk to you (when they otherwise would) because they assume you won't be able to hear them.

Finally, Mike, your spelling could use some help. Your most serious error is using "incidence" when you mean "incidents." You will be taken more seriously if express yourself properly.

Mike Montagna wrote:

First there are runners who only run for fitness and find running boring without the headphones.

At first I thought you were drunk, but now I agree with the poster above that you are a moron.

Boring? Who the hell is forcing these people to run races? If something is boring to you, it's very simple, quit doing that activity and find something that excites you.

This "fitness runners need headphones" argument is a steaming pile of horse shit excuse designed to let whiny brats ignore a rule.

EXCELLENT!!!

double standard wrote:

I wonder if they would DQ an illegal immigrant running this race...for being in the country illegally. Probably not, just goes to show you how selective we are as a country in choosing to uphold certain laws and disregarding others.

That has nothing to do with this. This isn't a law from USATF, it is simply a standard that they chose to enforce. laws from organizations are not the same as federal laws.

Mike,

A couple of years back, there was an incident at the Long Island Marathon, .[/quote]

The problem with the United States is that they try to legislate the ABSOLUTE safety of everyone because of one or two isolated incidents throughout the whole country. This happens in every industry, not just running.