As an avid runner my attention was drawn to Boston.com this morning for the story on “A Running Debate”.
This debate has been in question with runners and race directors over the past few months on whether or not ipods should be allowed during races. Last Sunday, I joined 12,000 other runners for the 35th annual Falmouth Road Race. This was my third year running the race and I did notice a drastic increase in the number of ipods and armbands on runners throughout the race. Nike has even caught on to this new trend in running. This summer the Nike plus running shoe hit stores designed with a transmitter that sends information about speed, distance, and calories burned to a runner's ipod.
The day before the Falmouth race there were rumors floating around that ipods were being banned this year and taken away at the starting line. Within my charity team of 15 runners about half of us were going to be running with our ipods. Looks of panic came over everyone at the thought that their music would be taken away before the race. We soon realized that we were safe and that it would be virtually impossible to try to confiscate thousands of ipods at the starting line.
Music is a HUGE part of any runner's training regiment, and when it comes to race day if you need the music that has brought you this far then I say go for it! Possibly it is a generational gap? My father a diehard athlete couldn't believe that I would be running with an ipod this year. But I say whatever gets you through the hills of Falmouth and 90 degree August heat and if that happens to be your ipod and your favorite song on repeat then the more power to you! Not to mention, I think the Nike Plus will be my next pair of running shoes. :)
To donate to the charity group I ran for this year - please visit The Genesis Club and help us to "Make Strides for Mental Health"