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New UKA road running rules - now with added headphone bans!!

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Cheg May 2016 11:15am, 11 May 2016 951 posts	Quote Pin Cheg Poor old headphone wearers. I enjoy training with them, but now pretty much every race bans them I don't race with them. I don't understand the one way traffic in slating them, it's remorseless. People like different things, some run for enjoyment, some for times, some for fitness. Some of us like running on the trails, some on the roads. Some love to gas all the way around, some like to listen to music. Each to their own. I like running as fast as I am able, so run on the roads and I don't gas. I never understand people yacking away, particularly in a short intense race like a 10k. But that's fine it's your life do what you want. The Marshalls argument, I love Marshalls and give them a wave or even a thanks if I have breath in my lungs, but I've never run a race where I have needed instructions. There are signs everywhere, there are loads of people, just follow the herd in that direction. Even where signs or Marshalls have said keep left, there have been occasions where people with or without headphones have ignored it and run on the right and then the herd has followed them over. Cars coming from behind, we try and get the message down the line, but people still run 3 abreast again not just those with headphones. I do totally get the ban on them, why open yourself up to hassle and legal action. Particularly with races on open roads. What I don't get is the almost universal headphone runner bashing.
Arjin May 2016 11:24am, 11 May 2016 259 posts	Quote Pin Arjin last nights first race in the local summer 5k series allowed headphones. Are they now breaking the rules? Race was mostly along the prom but does go on a road and accross a couple of car parks.
McGoohan May 2016 11:24am, 11 May 2016 23,266 posts	Quote Pin McGoohan My problem isn't with headphone runners getting hurt - they take their own risks. My problem is when the feckers run into me or across me 'cause they're in a world of their own.
Cheg May 2016 11:58am, 11 May 2016 952 posts	Quote Pin Cheg There definitely are those that are like that. But I've been cut up by runners of all shapes, sizes and with and without headphones. When I weave through traffic in a busy race it is a look over my shoulder not my ears that stop someone running into me.
The_Saint May 2016 2:29pm, 11 May 2016 5,829 posts	Quote Pin The_Saint I don't understand speed limits on the road or why I have to wear a seat belt in a car or why I can't chat on my mobile phone whilst driving - see it is easy to not understand things, this isn't very useful though. As for the headphone wearers barging into other runners due to being in their own little world, we DQ'd a runner for exactly this at our 20 Mile race 2 years ago.
Cheg May 2016 2:38pm, 11 May 2016 956 posts	Quote Pin Cheg Maybe not understanding was a bad phrase Saint. I just wanted to put out some counter arguments to the torrent of headphone runner bashing that pops up on the site.
Carpathius pompoms May 2016 4:58pm, 11 May 2016 9,632 posts	Quote Pin Carpathius pompoms I love running with music. Can't always do it but when I do it's on pavements, I keep to one side and I look around before crossings or junctions. However, I hate people wearing earphones/headphones in races. Quite apart from the safety aspect (which I believe is legitimate) they're a fecking pain in the arse. Another thing that really annoys me in races is people who put their 'phone in an armband or pocket, put their music on, and turn the volume up. I was very, very tempted to tell a woman on Sunday to turn the fecking thing off. Of course I didn't, because I'm British. I just seethed in silence.
Badger May 2016 5:16pm, 11 May 2016 7,326 posts	Quote Pin Badger I listen to audiobooks on long training runs, with earphones that don't block traffic noise. As with Carp, I wouldn't do so in a race - you need to pay attention to what's around you, and running the race right is enough to keep the brain busy. There's a strong correlation between people who cut across you and earphone-wearers; they don't hear your footfalls. (Again, deaf people would look...) I was marshalling a race for life in Cambridge once, and was posted to point runners at a right turn where there was a break in the route tape to allow people through a right of way. Lead bike arrives, first lady follows it, second lady is just far enough behind not to see this, doesn't notice me pointing, can't hear me shouting over her pounding tunes... I think I might have had to tap her arm to get her attention (it was years ago).
The_Saint May 2016 5:45pm, 11 May 2016 5,830 posts	Quote Pin The_Saint The reason for headphone-wearer bashing is simple, when something is virtually flashing a neon sign saying "This is a bad idea, don't do it" and many people seem to think that because they can't see the problem then they should do what they like, other people recognise them as people who need to have some plain speaking aimed in their direction.
larkim May 2016 9:28pm, 11 May 2016 752 posts	Quote Pin larkim Mo Farah seems to like headphones 😉 facebook.com