More Photo Fun
I bought some pictures a couple of evenings ago from Karen Thibodeaux. I have been meaning to for some time, but finally had some time to follow through.
It was then that I was browsing the HMSA Classical 25K pictures.
As I opened up the TXU Energy Trot pictures and was browsing through the "Unidentified" start pictures, I came across this picture of a guy with an Al Lawrence Running Club singlet "checking out" Lisa Tilton-McCarthy.
Lisa's been having a heck of a fall in both road races and triathlons, but I'm sure he wasn't thinking of the place that she came in during the 10-Miler, Half Marathon or the 25K.
It was then that I was browsing the HMSA Classical 25K pictures.
As I opened up the TXU Energy Trot pictures and was browsing through the "Unidentified" start pictures, I came across this picture of a guy with an Al Lawrence Running Club singlet "checking out" Lisa Tilton-McCarthy.
Lisa's been having a heck of a fall in both road races and triathlons, but I'm sure he wasn't thinking of the place that she came in during the 10-Miler, Half Marathon or the 25K.
posted by WalkSports.com | 4:22 PM
16 Comments:
Anyone else think it's disrespectful to race with an IPod?
If by 'disrespectful' you mean not abiding by the race rules of no headphones, then that's for race directors to correct.
I can't imagine any other disrespect. I'd love to be able to lose myself in the music when I run, but I would get lost in the music and forget that a 4,000 lb car can take away the tunes fairly quickly and decisively. So, I don't.
doug
Actually, I think it is disrespectful to leave an anonymous post, but that's just me.
It will continue to happen until race directors have the guts to disqualify and yank people off the course.
When they do, the practice will stop or those folks will simply go to races where the RD's will take their money and not worry about potential safety issues.
There were people that I was cheering on at the 25K that couldn't hear me -- not that I cared -- because they had their headsets on so loud.
Sean Aguilar is the guy in the pic.
Can't imagine a RD pulling someone off the course for an mp3 player. Sure it's the rules, but let's be honest... your safety is YOUR responsibility, not the RD's.
I’ve become "addicted" to my ipod while running (training and racing). With regards to MY SAFETY, I have literally used scissors to cut-off one earphone. Plus the volume is low. It works for me. Although, when I’m 60 I’ll probably wonder why I’m only deaf in one ear!
I agree that loud music could present a hazard on a course that is not closed, but otherwise, it’s a personal accountability thing.
I wouldn't run a race that pulled people for having an mp3 player on. That's just me.
One last thought: I can't imagine why someone would think another runner’s mp3 use at a race would be disrespectful. That’s like someone being mad for a runner wearing trail running shoes on a road race. Are you just looking for petty stuff to bitch about?
Maybe more RD needs to start the beginning of a run the same way Roger Boak does! Now, Jogging strollers.... that’s a whole new subject.
Bill,
First of all, we have no perspective from where the initial person that commented is coming from because they had no guts to leave their name.
Those individuals get their jollies by getting other people fired up in a conversation like this.
As far as we know, it may be somebody who Lisa kicked their ass! Because if they were in front of her, they 1.) truly wouldn't care and 2.) most likely anybody up in front of her wouldn't have one on because they'd be moving so fast they wouldn't need it to pass the time.
From Barbara's blog regarding the 25K, "Some girl in front of me had her headphones on either so loud or was totally into her zone because when the first cyclist went by and told her to move to the right, she didn’t move. The second cyclist literally put his hand on her shoulder and said loud enough for her to hear “you need to move to the right to make room for the elite runners in this lane”. Too funny!"
No, to me, actually it isn't funny because that individual didn't take everybody's safety into consideration. What if they caused the bicyclist or one of the lead runners to crash or fall -- and injure any one or all of them?
Not because you are saying it ... but I'd run an RD's race every year and try to get folks to come with me if they would enforce the rules about no headsets, jogging strollers, etc.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/columnists/14932023.htm
The Twin Cities Marathon bans headphones, Brophy Achman said, and instructs course marshals to ask offenders to remove them. Runners wearing headphones can't hear warnings, she said, and if they drop a music player, they could get trampled when they stop to pick it up.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/01/AR2006070100729.html?nav=rss_sports
RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack is not sympathetic to those who want to race to music. "Rules of road races should be respected by participants. They are there for the safety of not only the individual but the group as a whole. . . . While I think it could be potentially disruptive to other runners to pull people from a race field for headphone use, I do think a race director would be justified in not including someone violating the race rules in the official results or refusing to supply them with an official time or finisher medal."
The RRCA realized this back when the Walkman was the portable music player of choice and approved a guideline in 1991 recommending that headphones be prohibited in races and used with extreme caution when running near traffic and for women running in isolated areas.
Despite plain language on entry forms prohibiting headphones during races, most race directors are reluctant to pull headphone-wearing clients from the starting line, even if they could get their attention. But the proliferation of iPods is bringing the issue to a head.
Jon
True - looking back, the event itself wasn't funny at all. I didn't write it well; what I meant was just the visual of watching the cyclist literally push her over to the right while he was continuing to ride his bike.
As someone who also has been an avid cyclist, I was thinking he did a great job getting her over, without falling himself.
I was definitely perturbed with the woman. And while I'll cut her slack on maybe being new to running and not knowing to move to the right, headphones are headphones.
Do I wear them on the track, inside a closed course, on a trail? Sometimes. On very low volume with one ear bud in, and the other listening for other runners, etc.
But I really checked out your blog today to see if I was gonna scoop ya on some exciting news I just found out - LOL! (j/k but I do have news).
I've only raced with my iPod once (though I train with one frequently). It was the third leg of Hood to Coast, and by that point, I was so sore that I wasn't sure I could even get out of the van, much less run four miles. I took some ibuprofen--another first for me, as it is still the only time I've ever taken anything before a run--plugged in my headphones, and took off for my last leg. I needed something to distract me from how bad I was feeling... :)
Barbara,
Thank you for commenting and I wasn't trying to be critical of you saying it was funny. I understood completely the text in which you shared it and I know that the group that you run with preaches running safety religiously.
Scoop, eh?
Is it something about the 2008 Texas Independence Relay? If so, I know about it, but am working with the organizers to promote it effectively through the blog.
If it isn't that, then scoop me! I'm completely OK with it!
Thanks again for sharing!
Jon
BTW--Lisa came on very strong at the end of last spring. I'm not surprised at all that she's running really well right now. Great to see it!
Is the scoop about the Texans recruiting the Worlds fastest man?
I have mixed emotions, because he was recently banned from T&F for a failed drug test?
Bill,
The Chronicle quoted Kubiak as saying that many teams had worked him out.
Unless they announced today that they signed him!
I would say that I would have mixed feelings as well, but I don't get that worked up any more over pro and college sports like I did 10-15 years ago.
Thanks for jumping in!
Jon
No scoop on the relay; there's a half coming to Aggieland!
Christy had me busting up laughing at her response on my blog.
Our group has a definite "no running with headphone" policy and trust me - I've heard many coaches flat out tell a runner they need to take them off before running with our group.
As someone who's been hit by a car (I wasn't even in the road; I'd moved over when I heard/saw them coming up) I would never risk the chance.
Jon,
Not sure why you have so much anger inside you and/or towards my observation of "disrespect" of someone racing with an IPOD.
Post question, it seems like it was an interesting topic, as it has drawn 13 comments, but you seem to only focus on the fact that the post was "Anonymous". If you don't like an anonymous post, than remove that feature from your blog instead of providing the option. If you don't know how to do this on blogger, let me know and I'll walk you through it (I know, age and computers).
Anyway, I do find it disrespectful to run with an IPOD (my opinion), thus my original question to promote conversation and thought on an otherwise dead blog.
Don't be so full of angst and agression with people supporting your blog. There is nothing wrong with an anonymous post, especially this one. Your anger only hurts the running community.
JPL- HARRA
My response is in a private e-mail.
Jon
Well, heck, I goofed big time because I responded to who I thought this was and it turned out to be the wrong person (which probably ruined and lost a friendship over) -- and which is all generated off of somebody not willing to completely identify themselves.
If I can't put my name to something in cyberspace or in person, I don't post it or say it. It is a value that I grew up with.
My anger has nothing to do with the act of running, the sport itself or even the topic at hand.
(And any "anger" towards people running with IPODs stems from the fact of lots of people complaining about it and nobody doing anything about it.)
It has to do more with the societal problem of people using the anonymity of the Internet to hide behind being accountable for their thoughts.
In certain cases, I have no problem with anonymous posts if I know where the person is coming from with their viewpoint. This could be established in a private e-mail, "Hey, I made a post, but here's a reason why I don't want my name attached to it." As a journalist, I obtain information that way (and keep those confidences.)
But that wasn't a common courtesy that was offered to me in this case.
Why do I allow anonymous posts? Because some people don't want to go to the trouble of creating an "ID", which includes potentially identifiable information to an entity such as Blogger.com. I respect that and they respect me by posting their names to their posts - because they are willing to stand behind what they say. (JPL still tells me nothing.)
And who defines a blog as "dead" because it doesn't have any comments? Most people come here for the information and never leave a comment. (I have no problem with that. I have no problem if nobody ever said that they read my blog at all.) Some of the information is passed along from other sources. Other parts of it are original material.
I don't expect everybody to like me. I have a few people that just out and out hate me. It comes with the territory, and I just have to get a thicker skin.
And, for the record, the running community is far, far bigger than me that my "anger towards anonymous posters" is going to hurt it.
Jon
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