Why no music during the run?

this is from 2008-

"(f) The visible possession or use by athletes of video, audio, or communications devices in the competition area. The Games Committee for an LDR event may allow the use of portable listening devices not capable of receiving communication; however, those competing in Championships for awards, medals, or prize money may not use such devices."

The rule previously had banned the use of headphones by all runners. While headphones remain banned for any athlete competing in a USA Championship, they may be allowed by race directors in other circumstances, at the discretion of each race director.

Enforcement of the previous ban was in the hands of race directors, with some enforcing the ban, some simply urging runners not to use headphones and others not enforcing it. Rooted in a concern for athlete and volunteer safety, the rule had drawn passionate feedback from all sides, including from runners who hated the rule and runners who loved it; from volunteers who had seen the logistical difficulties of having participants wearing headphones; and from race directors who supported it and others who had had encountered logistical difficulties enforcing it.

"The difficulty in enforcement was part of the reasoning," USATF Rules Committee chair John Blackburn said. "However, several good-sized races have demonstrated that they were able to enforce the rule. There were strong opinions on all sides of this discussion, both understanding the issues related to athlete safety, race organization, difficulty of enforcement. This resolution appeared to be the best position for USATF overall."

I believe it's for 2 reasons. One is safety as you are not completely aware of your surroundings so the race's insurance underwriter may enforce that. The second is that it could be a radio connected to a coach. No joke, any advantage to win for some people. This way with a blanket rule, it eliminates anyone getting an advantage.

Have you ever seen it said that deaf or hearing-impaired athletes can't compete?

If you have, let's talk about it.

If you haven't, then let it rest already.

PULLEEESE forgive me.  I just find the argument that listening to music while running or riding is somehow "dangerous" without merit.

And if you have any spare time, please let me know what I am allowed to have an opinion on.

1. I commute by bike on a multi-use path and very frequently have trouble with runners/walkers not being able to hear me approach. It's dangerous for them and me, though admittedly only when they wander all over the path.

2. I personally observed a marathon / half marathon last year where there was a part of the course where the lead marathoners overtook the half marathoners. The lead bikes could not warn the half marathoners or get them out of the way, because they couldn't hear anything.

3. When I was in high school, it was against the rules to wear a watch for cross country. It was considered cheating and an unfair advantage. Now people wear GPS watches. The rules are the rules.

Well, you said you bring this question up every time... So maybe you'd realize that the parallels just aren't there. Which is why I said give it a rest. An able-hearing person with an ear plug broadcasting music is a totally different thing than a hearing-impaired person. Watch them, and you'll see.

It's one example, but my experience with riders (and drivers) that have headphones on is that they've checked out and aren't paying attention.  It may just be that the people that are aloof and inattentive are more likely to wear headphones, giving other headphone wearing riders a bad rap.

Do you know any deaf people?  They're far more aware of their surroundings than hearing people.  They don't take things for granted like we do.

Not really an answer to your question, but I was really annoyed at one race I did by some people with headphones.  There was a big hill at the start of the race, and so a large group of us runners actually passed several in the wheelchair division.  Then a downhill followed, and the wheelchair division had a hell of a time getting through because people with headphones on didn't hear the repeated calls of "Wheelchair coming through on the yellow line."  And then when someone tapped them on the shoulder and told them, they acted all annoyed by having to take out an earbud.  Maybe it's just those particular people in that particular instance, but it really annoyed me.  Imagine if some walkers linked arms in front of you all wearing headphones and you couldn't get by...

If you're going to wear headphones when you run in a race, at least have some common courtesy and awareness of your surroundings. 

I don't think the latter really applies or they would ban watches.  You can actually have a pacer, as long as they are also competing.

I wasn't a fan of this rule at first either. Then I did a few tris and got used to running w/o music. Now when I do a running race I get annoyed that almost everyone has music and nobody is social, friendly or giving atta-boys to each other, they are too busy with their own music. So now I am SO glad there is no music in tris. It makes the experience so much more rich!

x2 - I started as a runner and always ran with music then got into tris and got used to running without, on my last half mary, I ran without music and had a great run plus a PR.  The biggest frustration on that race, the couple in front of me that kept screaming back and forth at each other because both were wearing headphones. 

This was a big issue at Chicago Marathon 2007.  Even without headphones it was hard to figure out what was going on.

I also seen at a race where a man died and emergency response vehicles were delayed getting to the fallen racer because of a person with headphone on running down the middle of the street in a small narrow 1 lane road.   I was about 100 meters in front of the runner waving my arms and shouting and they did not notice that either.  Sad irony of it all is when they almost step on the runner who was getting work on by fellow runners they were quickly offering their CPR skills.