Runners should leave iPods at home
The following is a Counterpoint:
By Mary Beth Errington
I am an avid runner who has been running and racing for more than 15 years. I will run in the United HealthCare North Carolina Marathon today, and I am thrilled that Greensboro is able to host this event. This will be my 25th marathon.
I strongly disagree with Marty Johnson's comments (in the Sports section May 1) about racing with his iPod. He is choosing to use his iPod during today's half-marathon, saying: "I realize others don't need it or want it, but I like it."
Listening to music does give competitive advantage over runners who are not using music. Part of the challenge of running long distances is grappling with the mental and psychological fatigue, as well as the physical.
Music boosts the spirit and gives cadence to the stride. Ask the runners next to and behind Johnson today who are not running with music if they think he has an advantage.
Wearing headphones while running creates safety problems for the runner, the other participants and drivers who are trying to navigate the course.
A runner who is distracted by music is less likely to hear and react quickly to a car, a dog giving chase, a fellow runner calling out, or the instructions of volunteers and race organizers.
Lastly, a runner wearing headphones is in violation of the terms and rules governing the event itself. When did it become acceptable for an athlete to blatantly disregard a rule during an athletic competition? Which other rules are optional?
I neither train nor race with music. I prefer to challenge myself mentally as well as physically. If an athlete chooses to train with music, then I support his or her decision. But to register and participate in an event while planning to break the rules is unfair and disrespectful to the race organizers, sponsors and other participants.
The writer lives in Pleasant Garden.
Comments (2)
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Agreed. MP3 players offer distinct and unfair advantages to those who use them. Maybe you could rat them out, calling out to race officials, pointing and yelling and telling on them as you pass by.
Let's also remember the disadvantage that people with manual transmission cars incur since they have to use their thigh muscles more on the drive to compete. And race officials should probably regulate mandatory valet services so no one will have to walk farther in the parking lot before the run begins.
Now that I think about it, we'll probably need to issue regulatory blacked-out and 100% vision blocking glasses since some people might be inspired by nature or architecture depending, of course, on the route, and any inspiration could potentially drive a competitor to try harder or last longer. How could a naturalist and a materials engineer be expected to compete on the same track? And have we accounted for how inspiring the sight of the finish line might be? Naturally, if someone with 20/20 vision was neck and neck with a near-sighted person, the near-sighted runner would be at a clear disadvantage and wouldn't be able to get that last little burst of energy at the exact same time the other runner could. Clearly unfair. To truly keep things even we should probably hold all competitions inside and on sanctioned, pre-approved, and pre-programmed treadmills, with the vision blocking glasses, of course, so that competitors can be monitored, inspiration is kept to a minimum, and any rogues who might want to listen to music while they run can be quickly disqualified. Now that I think about it, that would also lessen the danger of the aforementioned dogs, cars, and race organizers. A win-win.
But until we can figure out a way to cure our plague of self-absorption and thoughtlessness and can begin to remedy such inequities I'll say keep your head up and good luck with your run, Mary Beth, and I hope you'll keep us posted on how you manage to find the strength to keep competing.
Roger
Posted on May 3, 2008 1:55 PM
We'll have to disqualify all lower-limb amputees, since according to the Olympics, not having two feet in a foot race is an unfair advantage.
Posted on May 3, 2008 10:21 PM