Headphones On Race Day

Is it a good idea to wear headphones on race day?

Some runners couldn't imagine a world of running without headphones. Others never wear them, while some might train with music but wouldn't consider it on race day. Where are you? If you are planning to run an event soon you need to check what the local race rules are as it might not be as straightforward as you think and it might not be your choice.

---

Banned or not banned?

This very much depends on where you are based and also where your next event is.

In 2007 U.S.A Track & Field, the sports governing body for that country banned the use of headphones in USATF-sanctioned running events. USATF officials believed that the use of headphones could pose a safety risk by preventing athletes from hearing important instructions or warnings from officials, as well as blocking out ambient sounds that could signal potential hazards on the race course. Additionally, some officials expressed concerns that headphones could give certain athletes an unfair advantage by enabling them to listen to music or other motivational content during the race.

After a huge outcry, it changed the rules a year later, but not completely. If you were competing in championships for awards etc then the ban remains, but not for the main field. The organisation also implemented new safety guidelines for headphone use in non-championship races, requiring athletes to use open-ear headphones that allow ambient sounds to be heard. In the US the use of headphones 'is discouraged but permitted'. That is very much the common phrase used. The organisers of the New York City Marathon go further: 'For all other athletes in the general field, the use of headphones is strongly discouraged. If you choose to wear headphones, please ensure that you can hear all announcements and remain aware of your surroundings, including other participants, and that the volume is low enough so that the sound is not audible to other runners'.

In the UK, it's different again. UK Athletics, who provide licences for many events, have banned all headphones, apart from one type. Bone conduction sports headphones are the only headphones that are approved for use in all road races under the UK Athletics Rules of Competition. The Rules are clear that “in ear” headphones cannot be used in events where roads are open to traffic. And it doesn't quite stop there. Even if a runner wears the bone conductor type according to race rules in some UK events, it's not job done: 'However this is at your own risk and if an incident occurs as a result of, or made worse by, you wearing these headphones or earphones you may be held liable.' UK Athletics is sponsored by a manufacturer of bone conduction headphones, so the rules may be more vigorously enforced as a result. Not all UK events are covered by this UK Athletics ruling, like the London Marathon, so you're fine at that one. Confused??

Around the world there is no consistent message. The organisers of the Berlin Marathon say 'We would like to ask that you not wear headphones so that you can understand anything that other runners or volunteers might say to you. You would also be missing out on the remarkable sounds of the spectators and live bands', and in Sydney, the organisers of their marathon 'discourages the use of headphones while participating, we do not impose a ban on wearing headphones on course. The use of headphones can impede an individual’s ability to hear marshals or other course officials. Participants who choose to wear headphones on course do so at their own risk and must pay attention to officials and other participants throughout their event'.

What happens if I wear them?

Look around any event that you run in and you'd think there was no issue. Most runners don't read race rules and don't even know there is a ban, if there is one and they don't even know they are discouraged. The majority of events don't really communicate their views on headphone use too much. Some may let runners know, with a one liner on their website, but then don't do anything about it on race day, when thousands turn up wearing them. However, in the UK the language is a bit more extreme. Here are a couple of examples:

Milton Keynes Running Festival - 'The use of bone conductor type headphones is acceptable, but NO OTHER types of headphones/earphones but these will be allowed. Anyone seen wearing headphones/earphones (excluding bone conduction headphones) will be asked to remove them and will be disqualified from the race. If you do wear bone conduction headphones then it is at your own risk.'

Inverness Half Marathon - 'Please note the wearing of headphones or earphones is not permitted in any of the races under Scottish and UK Athletics rules. We do allow the use of headphones or earphones that use bone conduction technology, which allow the wearer to be aware of their surroundings.'

In 2016 race officials at the Beverley 10km in East Yorkshire, UK followed through with their race rules and disqualified 48 runners for wearing headphones, while organisers of the Brentwood Half Marathon did the same and also banned a number of runners for wearing earbuds.

When you sign up to your next event, just double check the rules.

Why don't race directors like headphones?

• They need runners to hear their instructions

  
  

There are many occasions when race officials need to relay information to runners during a race. At the start obviously and generally this will be via speakers, so this should be very audible, but there are other times. There can be course changes, medical emergencies, last minute changes to aid stations and many more and these have to be communicated. If it's a two lap course and leaders are lapping runners, the marshalls may need to warn runners that this is about to happen.

More often than not it's the volunteers on the course that have to let runners know and it can be really challenging for them if runners are wearing headphones, especially if the volume is loud.

• They need runners to hear emergency vehicles

  
  

It is not uncommon for emergency vehicles to be required on course during an event, generally because a runner, volunteer or spectator has been taken ill. Speed is obviously essential and if they are stuck behind masses of runners who are listening to loud music it's very likely they will be delayed. Runners won't hear them and won't move aside as quickly as they need to.

• They need runners to hear the traffic

  
  

Many events aren't run on completely closed roads. Many of them will only close one side of a run so traffic will still be flowing, albeit hopefully much slower than normal. In this instance runners should ideally be able to hear traffic as well as see it. There may be pinch points on courses, where runners are closer to traffic than on the rest of the course and on occasions like this it is good to be able to hear the traffic.

Why do runners use them in events?

Just like their use in training there are plenty of reasons why runners use headphones on race day.

• To keep them motivated

  
  

Headphones can make a huge impact on motivation, especially as the race progresses. The longer the race, the more difficult it can be to stay focused and to enjoy it. With some upbeat high tempo music there's a good chance motivation can be maintained for much longer.

• To distract them

  
  

It is quite common to pick up some aches and pains as the race goes on and it's really easy to start focusing on them. Mind games become an issue and sometimes these aches and pains become more of an issue than they actually are. Music can distract the mind and help you focus on other things.

• Help with pacing

  
  

As the race develops so a runner's pace can change significantly. With a consistent beat from music it's more likely that this pace can be maintained a bit longer. That won't always be the case, as tiredness will probably creep in, but the music should help.

The compromise

Maybe using the bone conduction technology and open-ear design headphones are the compromise for runners who want their music or podcasts on race day? They aren't noise cancelling, so runners can enjoy their music and hear everything around them, including the marshals, the emergency vehicles and the traffic.