Comments on: Running With Headphones … As Bad as Running With Scissors?

By: Ex-purist

Ex-purist — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:18:54 +0000

Although there is much value to what this article says, I disagree with your comrades who state:

“We can tell you who does NOT—runners who are serious about their training and racing leave the headphones home. Not at the track, not on the trail and not at the races.”

Do the likes of Ryan Hall, Josh Cox, or Hal Koener ring any bells? All of these athletes use headphones and take their training seriously. I would like to see their 20-30mpw butt toe the line.

Yes, headphones may be unsafe. They may disconnect you from your running. But they can be an invaluable training tool.

By: Mel

Mel — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:06:46 +0000

Funny, I just found this via google because I am running my first half marathon and I was intimidated when I saw that headphones were discouraged (not banned). This is one of those where there will be entertainment along the course, so that soothes me a bit, but I’m pretty specific in what I like to listen to and what helps me keep my pace. I’m fairly new to running, I’ve been doing it for maybe a year now. To be honest, I didn’t love it until I was given the ipod and I can barely imagine running without it. I do keep it to fairly low levels, and I manage to run in Boston very safely. You can listen to music and still be fully aware and likewise you can not have music and still be in a complete daze.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:00:15 +0000

I always wear headphones on runs. I remember my running days before I got my iPod, most runs were brutal. Now it’s actually fun, kind of like dancing sometimes. If I ran outside in a bad neighborhood and/or at night, I might leave them at home, but I run on a treadmill most of the time. I feel pretty safe to crank up the volume and jam out.

Usually, the only time I don’t use the treadmill is when I do races, which are also pretty safe, since there are generally anywhere between 60 to a few hundred people in them with me.

By: Ana

Ana — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:17:37 +0000

As a super beginner , I’ll confess that I did run with my headphones on. Yet during my first run I decided to take them off for a while to listen. It was different, you realize where you are, what you are doing, and more importantly why. I vote to no headphones as well, but I don’t agree with a crazy paragraph with insults about the subject. Never will everyone agree on everything. Let it be.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:55:55 +0000

So-called runners who wear earphones are much like irresponsible dog-owners who keep their dogs off lease and don’t clean up after them (and if you are a “real” runner, you have had MANY run-ins with dog owners). They cause a lot of problems for runners and are quite selfish and unaware that they are ruining the experience and sometimes endangering others all for thier own convenience. Try talking politely to an irresponsible dog owner whos dog has just bit you, or an ipod “runner” who doesn’t hear you yell “trail!” or is just making a nuisance of themselves…they all come back with the same defensive, self-righteous attitude that it is somehow YOUR fault for being too sensitive or a jerk. Having a forum or discussion about ipod-listening fake runners will get you nowhere. DO you notice that they all excuse themselves with anecdotal “evidence” such as “I’ve never seen anyone get hurt” or “no ones’s ever complained.” You tend to find what you’re looking for in an argument and fake runners are looking for what they always look for…a good time and an artificial ego/performance boost at the expense of real runners and the integrity of the sport. SInce anecdotes seem to be the currency readed around this forum, here’s one for ipod listeners to chew on…my dear friend Trudy Thomas was struck and killed by a car two years ago while running with headphones. All it takes is one death of a person you know to see hoe assinine ipods are while running. I promise you, no real runner uses them. No real runner whould let a friend use them. No real race would let you compete with them. No real runner will ever respect you with those things in your ear. If you need them to run, then runnings not what you’re after. Running has never and will never be about distraction or adreneline or multitasking. Running is about using the road/trail and your legs to figure out your head and what this life is about. Wear your ipod to a sermon or a lecture or a movie or while talking to a loved one or proposing to yor sweatheart and you start to understand exactly what you’re doign when you wear an ipod on a run. You could have learned something, felt something, bettered your life, or fallen in love. But you traded it for a beat and nonsense lyrics and the opportunity to be an antisocial, poser, ignorant, selfish, fake, arrogant, and unmotivated prick.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:35:11 +0000

I have not heard of anyone getting hurt while wareing a headset.
I have been to many races in which people wore ipods without any incidence.
I agree that you can be attacked if your wearing a headset, but it happens without it.
As far as being serious, you want to be serious while your racing, then go right ahead. For those who wnat to stirke up a convesration, maybe people don’t wnat to be flappin their jaw, If they wanted to they would not wear it.

What are you stupid anyway, would you walk into a library when someone was trying to read and start talking.

Why don’t you guys just leave those who want to wear headsets alone already.
Your probably the same crack pots who drive listeing to the radio or even talking on a cell phone.

If your really worried about safety, stay of the roads when you run, you might get hit by a car!

As far as the lady with the headphones getting hit by a train,,, I run the tracks and I have yet to see an animal dead cut in half ever with headsets on.

By: The Sound of Silence : Complete Running Network

The Sound of Silence : Complete Running Network — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:25:45 +0000

[...] has tackled this topic before: here and [...]

By: jonathan

jonathan — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:56:44 +0000

When I am out cycling, quite often runners pull out onto the road in front of me without looking. It is a common mistake these days to look with your ears rather than your eyes. Putting headphones on removes the ears but not the temptation to look with them... jonathan's last blog post..Pose running or chi Running?

By: barry jordan

barry jordan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:49:28 +0000

I run with headphones and it’s amazing how an intelligent person can hear music and gather his or her thoughts at the same time!

By: 2007 Just a Short Run Half Marathon @ Ales Rarus

2007 Just a Short Run Half Marathon @ Ales Rarus — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:56:16 +0000

[...] I used my iPod. What are you going to do about it? Funky [...]