No Headphones For 5K - WHAT?!?!

MissAmyB80

OK - gearing up for my first 5K - been training for weeks. I've become obsessed with my music while running. I like to be ALONE - put in my ear buds and CRANK my music. It is my inspiration and my motivation.

So - I was just looking at the site for the 5K I am signed up for....it says - NO HEADPHONES ALLOWED.

Is this for real? I almost cried.

Is this common for races?? Anyone else have this concern/issue?

babydull

Bump for me to return to later.

MB_Positif

I would say it's probably 50/50, but you'll be fine without it...with all the other people, it will go by so quickly. Just find someone you can keep up with and chase him or her the whole time!

Teeteetare

I have never heard of that but I have only ran in one race.

BobbyDaniel

The 10K I'm running in November is a no headphone race, so they do exist. I'm not sure if it has to do with the number of runners and it being a safety measure or not. I've been running without music the last few weeks, now I've gotten to the point where I can run with music or without.

countrymom1

I've been thinking about that, too. There is a half-marathon I want to work up to and, upon reading the details of the race, they discourage headphones because you can't here announcements being made and such. I really like my music. I don't like to hear myself breathing. Haha!

dwarfer22

Does that also mean no earbuds or just the big honking plastic headphones? I can see where that might be a safety thing. Interesting post.

summertime_girl

Does your phone/iPod have speakers? I hate running with headphones for safety sake on the road (can't hear cars), and because the wires tangle on the track. I always just run with the speaker on.

koosdel

Yeah.. its stupid. I wear mine anyway. I have this special finger for the wankers that complain.

robmaguire1

I just got back from my second 5K run. I love my music. I actually create a music setlist in a time that I want to match or beat (For today I had 34 minutes of music and finished race in 33:17).

ansonrinesmith

It's a safety measure so you can hear what is going on around you. I've found when running on a trail, I don't hear bikers and faster runners that call out "passing on your left".

Schwiggity

I'd just use them anyways. All the races I run "discourage" headphones, but the large majority of people use them.

victoriashea

Yeah.. its stupid. I wear mine anyway. I have this special finger for the wankers that complain.

Yeeeup.

Womona

Sadly, it does exist! I did a sprint distance tri, and a regular local 5K with the same rules. I guess the best thing is to start running without them as you approach the race. I have my soundtrack so ingrained in my head anyway that I can just play the songs in my head!

billsica

Why do you need headphones?

ansonrinesmith

LOL!

LuckyLeprechaun

Yeah.. its stupid. I wear mine anyway. I have this special finger for the wankers that complain.

this.

you paid for this race, what are they gonna do, yank you out of it? No. Worst that will happen is a disapproving glare. As you run by.

ineednapkin

There is a big difference between training and actually racing, and that is the excitement that comes with racing. Personally, when I was deployed I wasn't allowed to wear headphones so I just got used to it, and now I don't run with headphones. It also helps when you have someone with you. I run on a nice paved trail and I love listening to the sounds of nature and just outside in general. Also, if I'm running on a street I like to be aware of my surroundings.

I would say just to try it once or twice without headphones (with an open mind) just to see how it is. Or you could be a rebel and run with headphones anyway

dustyhockeymom

The one I did last week had the same rule. They said it was for safety. Luckily it was a walk and I had a friend with me to talk with the whole time. But I know as I am training to run one that I would have a hard time running without headphones.

christineburrus

You can wear them! A lot of them say that but there hasn't been one yet that I couldn't wear them in!! Breathe!

rybo

How did people ever run before walkmans & ipods were invented?

UltraRunnerGale

It is a safety and insurance issue. That being said, most people use their iPods anyway. I have seen race directors tell people that they can't wear them, but this is rare. I have learned from running trails that it is IMPORTANT to pay attention and to be able to hear noises around you. This is what I do... I do NOT turn my music loud and I only wear ONE headphone and I tuck the other one in my shirt. This way, I can hear my music but I can also hear what is going on around me. If you must use music, this is a very smart practice in races and in training.

themyriadthings

I will often run with just one of the earbuds in - best of both worlds.

Cornpuff32

I used to always run with one or both of my earbuds in. I thought I couldn't run without music. There are some interesting articles out there that say you actually run slower when you are listening to music...hmm. I'll try to find the link. When I run in the afternoon I listen to music, when I have to run in the morning, when it's still dark out, I go without my tunes, for safety reasons.

I did a race this summer and some of the people had mini clip-on speakers on the collars of their shirts.

http://www.safesoundsports.com/product.html

LorinaLynn

I'd run without if that's what the race directors suggest, but I have to wonder if I don't have some kind of super-human senses because I always hear traffic, people coming up behind me, dogs running, etc. when I have my ear buds in. Heck, I can even hear if someone has their air conditioner going in a house I'm about to jog past.

brookiefbabyy

the rules for the 5k that i did said the same thing, for safety reasons..i still took mine and there were a ton of other people using them..i just kept one ear bud in and one out to make sure that i was alert of people around me! if it helps you, i would bring it and play it by ear!

Grimmerick

I would't worry too much about a 5k with no earbuds, it will be over before you know it, now if it was a 1/2 marathon they can go (fill in the blank) themselves. I wouldn't sign up for a race longer than a 5k that doesn't allow headphones they wouldn't be getting a dime from me.

staceypellegrin

if you wear the little earbud type headphones, you can wear only one ear so you can still pay attention to whats happening around you!