Why are headphones discouraged during marathons




















I now run at least once a week without headphones. It would be hard for me to tell the difference. Here are some reasons why we might want to run with headphones during a half marathon race. In the post written by Jenny Markell, Can Listening to Music Improve Your Workout, she discusses that different exercises require different tempos in order for your body to synchronize with the music.

For example, running and cycling are going to be performed at different tempos. A website that you might want to take a peek at is Rock My Run I have no affiliation with this website. They have an app that you can download on your phone that places a pre-built playlist of music based on beats per minute.

If you upgrade to the pro version, the app supposedly can match the music to your heartbeat or step count. When I listen to music while I run I do some of the best analytical and deepest thinking. When you register for a race, check the rules on headphones and earbuds. If there is no rule preventing you from listening to music while running, weigh the benefits of running with headphones against running unplugged.

Many running competitions rely on audio cues for relaying important information. People with hearing impairments can receive special accommodations so that they don't miss important information. All runners are expected to listen and respond to audio cues so that they know when to start the race and when to move out of the way or stop. This is one of the rules of racing etiquette. If you're listening to music during a race, you may not be able to hear these important cues from race officials and other runners on the course.

For example, there may be a false start. When motion is detected by a runner before the start of a race, a sound lets everyone know the race needs to be restarted. If you don't hear the cue, you may be tempted to follow the runner who has initiated a false start, further delaying the start of the race.

This may also cause race officials to evaluate whether or not you contributed to the false start, which could result in disqualification. In some cases, the consequences of not being able to hear may be more severe. If the roads during the race are open to cars and other traffic, listening to headphones in both ears while running may cause you to miss signals from oncoming traffic.

This may result in injury for yourself or the people around you. Being able to hear race instructions, traffic noise, and other environmental sounds is crucial for a safe running event. Wearing headphones may compromise your ability to hear these cues. These issues are major concerns for organizers of large races or marathons, who already have a lot of logistics to keep in mind.

They may underlie their preference for an outright ban on headphones. Many runners listen to music because they believe it leads to psychological benefits and an increase in performance. This belief is validated by research but qualified by a few factors.

For example, one study examined the differences in performance when music was self-selected or chosen by someone else and synchronized with the athlete's movement. Many runners may be used to feeling a boost at the start of the race from their music and using music to set their pace while running.

But there are other ways to set your pace and get a motivation boost that don't involve listening to music. And there are some risks involved with relying on music, even when you have the option. The device you use to listen to music could stop working during your race or require a lot of your attention to maintain. For the most part, using headphones during marathon training is personal preference.

Many runners find that using headphones can make running a more enjoyable experience; others find the solitude of running without them to be ideal. There is some evidence suggesting that running without headphones can make you a better runner while also being safer. Marathon runners are in a bit of a different situation than runners completing shorter distances when it comes to a desire to use headphones.

This is especially true on long runs. Completing a 5-mile run sans headphones is one thing, running longer distances sometimes creates more of a need to pass the time. As a runner who often runs the same routes repeatedly, this is true for me.

If I was getting a change of scenery more often, I would probably be less apt to use headphones. There can be a lot to love about running with headphones. Here are some of the top reasons runners opt for wearing them:.

Most people I know listen to music when they run. But they may have never tried running without them to find out what they might be missing out on. But some runners feel bored when running without something to listen to. But being completely plugged into the rhythm of music in your ears can also prevent runners from noticing the elements that surround them, which can be problematic on race day.

Since the Walkman was made available to carry on runs, the use of headphones in road races has been a heavily debated topic. Today, a growing number of races all over the country discourage or ban the use of headphones, with harsh implictations for runners - one recent example of this rule happened at the Hull Marathon when runners were disqualified for their use of headphones. Related: The best bluetooth headphones for running. The guideline comes from a deep concern over safety. Yet the banning of headphones at races is nothing new.



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