Headphones at races
We've talked about headphones in the past - how they are a safety hazard, but runners want to wear them anyway.
The USA Track & Field rule prohibiting their use in races has been debated since its inception. Many events, including Grandma's Marathon, in Duluth MN, and Marine Corps Marathon, in Washington D.C., enforce the ban.
The Route 66 Marathon, in Tulsa OK, recently reaffirmed its policy of ignoring the ban and allowing headphones. Most other races - especially those of shorter distances - are silent on the matter and let event participants do whatever they want.
It's always a good idea to warn runners of the dangers of headphone use. But don't prohibit them unless you are prepared to enforce the ban.
Posted in Course issues