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Mar 2016
1:32pm, 22 Mar 2016
537 posts
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larkim
I've seen runners take each other out when neither party is wearing headphones. In fact its nearly happened to me. Not sure that it is feasible to "prove" that its the headphones which are at fault in all occasions.
But in any event, this thread isn't meant to be "headphones - good or bad" - that's a long debated issue on which there are many thoughts. The fact is they are not banned under UKA rules except now under the single carriageway rule. That's a change, and there is a question that race organisers who turn a blind eye to headphones might have to think again now that its in the official rules.
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Mar 2016
1:35pm, 22 Mar 2016
492 posts
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decorum
Not running and not head phones ~ but, possibly, relevant ...
A friend of mine is profoundly deaf. Born with hearing but lost it gradually over time and is now almost completely deaf.
She openly admitted that because she remembers hearing stuff she that not hearing it equates to it not being there and (more than) several times she's been physically grabbed and pulled back onto the pavement having not heard the car she'd not looked for before stepping into the road.
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Mar 2016
1:35pm, 22 Mar 2016
538 posts
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larkim
Interesting Baroness's point - curious, is the race licensed as a road race or a cross country / trail race. If its a cross country / trail race as I read the rules the "headphones" rule would not apply (even if it is a section of single carriageway non-closed road).
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Mar 2016
1:36pm, 22 Mar 2016
5,656 posts
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Jambomo
I was nearly taken out by someone in the River Ness 10km a few years ago when they cut in front of me and there wasn't the space. I didn't fall but I did shout at him, he said he "hadn't seen me" but basically wasn't paying attention. He didn't have headphones in.
I'm not saying that people don't have a responsibility to look out for themselves and others but that perhaps we are now taking more notice of incidents involving headphone wearers because we are now being told that they are dangerous pests rather than noticing that runners as a whole don't always pay much attention whilst running for a variety of reasons (headphones being only one of them).
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Mar 2016
1:36pm, 22 Mar 2016
493 posts
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decorum
[Hmmm ... a stray she there *oops*  ]
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Mar 2016
1:50pm, 22 Mar 2016
31,970 posts
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Hills of Death (HOD)
A runner at Cambridge Half with headphone was in wrong place started too hard and was wavering across road as he struggled to keep pace. (must have been listening to Motorhead or something). At the narrow streets I ran past shouting coming through on right and those that know me know I aint quiet. He barged into me elbow hit my Garmin and lapped me half way through a mile.
Bastard
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Mar 2016
1:50pm, 22 Mar 2016
61 posts
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CharlieP
You can't really discount anecdotal evidence when there's so much of it about. As well as the experiences others have described of being cut up by headphone wearers/having to intervene when they've been unaware of danger, I tried it myself a couple of years ago. I never ever used to run with music (I must have funny-shaped ears as the little buds never stay in!), but rashly entered a half marathon a couple of years ago (my ideal distance is probably 3000m ;)) and figured I might get bored running for over an hour, so bought a pair that hook all around your ears. Having run "naked" for so long, it was surprising to me what an isolating effect it had on me - it was as though I was only aware of things around me if I actually looked at them, and that there was a huge blind spot behind me. A bit like driving your car when all the mirrors have been removed. I quickly gave up the experiment.
Sadly, because "gadgets" are so ubiquitous, having music seems to be the norm for many people, and new runners probably wouldn't even think of it as an obvious option to run without headphones. The group I run with has new people arriving all the time, whether at the start of a beginners' group or otherwise, many of them with smartphones and earphones. I don't know what the group leaders do about this, if anything. As others have pointed out, if you start running with headphones from Day 1 and don't know any other way, it's going to seem like cruel and unusual punishment to be told to forego them at the start line of your first race.
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Mar 2016
1:54pm, 22 Mar 2016
9,610 posts
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Star
Thanks for making me aware of this, I have put a wee post on my jogscotland page as there are a few of our runners who have their music when racing. We don't allow them for our runs.
I think I've only ever run with headphones once, didn't suit me.
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Mar 2016
1:55pm, 22 Mar 2016
11,096 posts
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SODIron © 2002
I'm not sure the 'taking runners out because they were wearing headphones' argument stands up too well.. I was taken out by a spectator at a half-marathon a few years ago and had to withdraw, does this mean that we should ban spectators / pedestrians when races are on?
I feel the measure are a little draconian...don't get me wrong, I personally choose not to wear headphones in races of respect to the organisers and volunteers....however, I do feel that the rules have potential to put off those who are new to the sport of road racing.
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Mar 2016
1:57pm, 22 Mar 2016
62 posts
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CharlieP
decorum's post above reminds me of the usual straw man argument trotted out - "oh, so you're going to ban deaf runners too then, are you?!".
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