Confessions of a pod head

To carry an iPod or not?
That’s a question many runners face these days when signing up for a race.
Particularly in American races, iPods and other sound devices are often banned.
The U.S. governing body for running, USA Track and Field, officially banned headphones in races, citing insurance liability and safety issues. There’s also something being said about giving certain runners a competitive advantage.
But, more recently, some Canadian races are also putting the breaks on headphones.
About three weeks ago, I ran a half marathon in Burlington that had the same rule. No iPods.
But when I got there, quite a few people were wearing them in plain view.
The possible punishment for violating that policy can be disqualification — a nightmare for any runner, especially if there is a steep fee involved.
I faced the same situation in the Chicago marathon last year —little did I know wearing an iPod would be the least of my problems.
The rule has sparked a debate among runners.
There are purists who never use music. They almost chide runners for wearing music and ruining the natural scenery.
They nickname those of us who use them “pod heads”. I just learned this fairly recently after speaking with my marathon instructor, who is a purist.
Some cite safety as an issue.
With music blaring, you might not hear what’s happening during a race. 
Now, any idiot knows while you want to be pumped, you don’t need set the volume to the highest level to be effective. That’s just common sense.
I have an iPod shuffle. I’ve run races without it and with it. I’ve had great races without an iPod and great races with one.
Sometimes I use it. Other times I don’t, but just like Linus from Peanuts, who didn’t travel very far without his blanket, I don’t like to be at the start line of any race without my security blanket of music, just in case it gets so hard that I need to hear something.
And it happens to every runner —you suddenly feel you can’t continue because you’re tired or the weather is either frying you like an egg or trying to blow you out of your shoes.
In October, I ran the Niagara Falls Marathon, which is known for it’s nasty weather and lonely roads.
We started in Buffalo and crossed the border into Canada. That was great, but it was over in about 7 km.
With 35.2 kilometres of very pretty scenery left to go, after a while, much of looked the same.
I remember, at the halfway mark, looking at mist from the falls where I was to finish and, for a moment, wanting to cry because it looked so far.
A tough wind was also blowing, at times knocking me to the side.
I had just dealt with the trauma of the cancelled Chicago Marathon three weeks before, and I was nervous about doing another marathon so soon after.
I would have either died or gone crazy without my music. But Madonna, Jay- Z, Amy Winehouse and a whole list of others kept me company along the route.
I really believe wearing an iPod does not jeopardize your safety if race organizers have adequately closed the roads.
Above all else, I also think runners should have a choice.
If I want to listen to Kanye West or the The Chemical Brothers when I’m tackling a hill at the 24 km mark, I should be allowed to.
It’s my choice.
Since running is 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent physical, sometimes you need a boost. Sometimes hearing a song makes all the difference and gets you over the hump.
If you are going to ban iPods, ban them. Too many times I’ve gone to a race with that rule and it’s not being enforced, leaving runners confused as to what to do.
I, for one, was sweating being disqualified from the Chicago marathon last year, but my need for music superseded those fears, thankfully.
Had I not had music during that race, the only thing I would remember was the hours of ambulance sirens that became the soundtrack for that event.

Comments

[kdays]

Hi Caroline

I totally agree with the need for music sometimes. Some runs I would not get through without my mp3s! I'm still not convinced on why they should be banned.

At kdays.com I host the Running Blog Carnival.

This post was included in the Running #2008-11 edition.

Cheers,
Kerrin