The Ipod debate

Someone once told me that you're not a real runner if you run with an Ipod.  But that's how I started.  The only thing that got me through my first few unbearable and horribly unfit runs, was having music in my ears to distract me from the pain in my legs, chest and pretty much all over my body.  Even as I got fitter, I continued to listen to some old punk rock music from my younger years to motivate me through both training runs and races.  My second ever half marathon was the Maritzburg 21 km.  The race took place in February in Pietemaritzburg so you can imagine the heat and humidity that was felt by the runners even as early as the first km at 6 am!  So when I saw a water station with a kind of shower that you could run through at about 10 km, I eagerly ran under it in an attempt to cool down for the second half of the race.  Foolishly, I didn't think about my Ipod and the damage the water might cause.  Unfortunately the music stopped almost immediately and for the next 11 km, all I had to listen to was the sound of my own panting!  I made it through the race, but was convinced that I could have run better had I been accompanied by the sounds of Pennywise and Rancid for the full 21 km. I went out the very next day to buy a new Ipod and loaded it with all the same songs.  From that day on I have always been extra careful with my running aid, making sure its fully charged and safely dry before any run.  

Just recently, the powers that be in the running world have banned Ipods from all races and if runners choose to ignore this new rule and get caught, they risk being disqualified from a race.  The reason - safety of the runners.  It's been said that runners are less aware of the traffic on the roads when listening to music while running.  In addition, runners sometimes cut in front of other runners without realising it because they may be paying less attention when their Ipods are too loud.  I completely respect this new rule and understand the safety issue.  However, I know many runners who do rely on Ipods to get them through runs and while I don't rely on it as much as I used to (I am now capable of running even a full marathon without the help of music...well, I was a few months ago anyway) I have gotten used to it and rather enjoy having something to listen to while running.  I've heard many runners argue that each runner should be responsible for their own safety on the road and should have enough sense not to put the volume on their Ipod so loud so as to be cut off from what's going on around them.  Even if Ipods are banned from races, (where there are closed roads and marshals to assist with the safety of the runners) I for one and many others I'm sure will continue to train with Ipods.  I always make sure my music is soft enough for me to be able to hear everything else that's going on around me so that safety doesn't become an issue.  And as much as I do respect the new rule, I am hoping against all hope that by the time Comrades comes around next year the running world would have forgotten all about it, because to be honest, ten or eleven hours is a long time to be running with your own thoughts and the sound of your own exhaustion without a little musical distraction to help you out for a while!