
Had a great morning 6 miler yesterday - push 4 later that night at 90% - however my knee is starting to tighten up after runs the last 2 days - damn, I'm caught between "listen to your body" obedience and wanting to run to get ready for this Half - 10 more training days - I am trying to run with intensity - I think I will limit it to no more than 8 - 9 miles/day tops. I was amused with an article I read on the "running w/an
iPod debate pro & con". Something was just too funny, went like this. "Music-dependent runners are increasingly running smack into opposition as race organizers discourage or ban electronic devices from their contests. New regulations quietly adopted this winter by USA Track and Field, the governing body for the hundreds of long-distance running races held in the
United States each year, prohibit digital music players and cellphones from road races.
Enforcement is left up to organizers of individual races. Attempts at some events to confiscate music devices at the starting line have hit a sour note with some participants.
Attempts to confiscate headsets at the starting line of a marathon in
Duluth, Minn., last month sparked outrage among competitors. Runners in
Florida are reported to be planning to circulate petitions over plans to ban music players at upcoming marathons in
Miami and
Palm Beach.
"Music is a necessity for me," griped one recreational half-marathoner recently on a forum hosted by
Completerunning.com. "There is no
freakin' way I'd make it through 2+ hours of pounding the pavement without a soundtrack!"
Racing enthusiasts say there is also a question of whether electronic devices enhance performance among elite runners who make their living from road racing. Using a cellphone or music player during a race could be interpreted as getting assistance, which is also against the rules.
Many runners use particular tunes and GPS units to calibrate their pace. For some runners, music provides a spiritual lift. Others use music to keep from getting bored on long runs.
Above is edited - you can read the
article here. My thoughts? I've seen some near crashes at water stations in races because the
ipod wearing runner's attention was elsewhere. The water stations are almost like

"intersections" of races where you just can't be in your own world/zone - you have to be cognizant of adjacent, behind, and in front of your traffic - including with your ears. Though it's not my cup of tea - if you want to wear your
iPod - be my guest. However I suspect this whole issue will be resolved in race events when the first law suit pops up - it's going to happen. Here with the
NYRR, a cyclist will claim an
ipod wearing runner diverted their path as they drifted outside the double white lines in Central Park and as a consequence they crashed and because the runner was wearing an
ipod the cyclist could not alert to the runner from behind. This is why at
NYRR races you will hear 100+ times organizers screaming for runners to stay in the recreation lane in Central Park races. Runners drift out of that lane and beyond the
double white lines all the time. The Cyclist
wil sue the
NYRR ya'll - for not enforcing the policy that's on every entry form (that these devices are a violation of the agreement on entering the event). This will be a slam dunk out of court settlement for the cyclist and after the
NYRR is sued - they will have spotters disqualifying runners on the spot if they don't remove their headphones. This is how we do sh*t in America - we sue - the result of a law
sut - litigation - will force the
NYRR to crack down. However I am amused just
imagining race officials actually trying to confiscate
ipods and the like at the starting line! I can't believe that actually has
happened -
lol - it was at the
Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn. Can you imagine that in NYC? N0 -way - a mass fight would break out ha ha ha. Have a great day.