Headphones are discouraged

[nemmie]

From RunDisney

''Headphones are discouraged due to audio messages that are placed throughout the course to ensure your safety.''

Does that mean I cannot use my ipod?
Music is what pulls me through my walls
I was aware that I would have to have the sound low but now thinking I cannot have my ipod at all.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks.

 

[Sandi]

Headphones are "discouraged" in all the races I've done. I still use them. Many times I'll just have one ear plugged in and then switch to the other. I know I heard all the announcements. I can't run without my music.

 

[nemmie]

Headphones are "discouraged" in all the races I've done. I still use them. Many times I'll just have one ear plugged in and then switch to the other. I know I heard all the announcements. I can't run without my music.

PHEW! Thank you so much. And thanks for the tip!

 

[nemmie]

Out of interest (first race) what kind of annoucements are there?

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

The only annoucements are really in the beginning, and if you are at the back of the pack, they may have someone reminding you about the threshold. There are some parts of the Marathon course at least that I would encourage headphones with! That, or someone to talk to. Just watch your volume just in case there is anything going on so that you can hear around you. I have no problem listening to my iPhone with my Bose headphones and still managing to hear those around me.

 

[nemmie]

The only annoucements are really in the beginning, and if you are at the back of the pack, they may have someone reminding you about the threshold. There are some parts of the Marathon course at least that I would encourage headphones with! That, or someone to talk to. Just watch your volume just in case there is anything going on so that you can hear around you. I have no problem listening to my iPhone with my Bose headphones and still managing to hear those around me.

Thank you!

 

[TnTsParty]

When I first started run/walking I had heard about how headphones were discouraged from the majority of races and I got use to not having any headphones. I also look at it from the safety standpoint when I am doing my training runs as I am always alone and don't want to get run over or grabbed or something because I couldnt hear someone behind me. One way I used to do it is wrap the headphones around my bra that way the music was mostly in my ears but I could still hear what was going on.

I think there are going to be more course announcements this year in the full due to the marathon relay being run in conjunction with the full - especially around the 13.1 mile area as the 1st leg runners are going to be transistioning to their finish and the 2nd leg runners are going to be transitioning into the 2nd half of the full.

I find that there is plenty of things going on around at Disney races that the headphones aren't needed. There are some stretches that they don't have some sort of entertainment or music playing but I tend to enjoy the silence in those areas as well as giving/getting encouragement from those around me.

Good luck with your first race.

 

[cloudnut220]

Just be careful to not have your music on so loud that you can't hear other runners, race officials, or course announcements. I think runDisney will only give you a problem if you don't respond to them, but don't be surprised if other runners are frustrated with you if you don't hear them ask you to move.

The on course announcements are typically things like "course narrows through the Magic Kingdon" or beware of upcoming barriers.

 

[ironz]

You won't be pulled off the course if you have headphones on, but consider these things....for your own safety, fun, for the considerations of OTHERS (what a concept!)....

1. Course announcements along the way...where the course narrows; for the full, where the relay will split off...as Coach Charles explained, it will probably be 'marathoners to the right, relays to the left."

2. NEEDING to hear other runners. If someone needs to pass you, esp in tight areas on the course....if someone is about to take a walk break, and as they are moving to the side of the course, announces 'walking!' to warn the people around them....you MUST be able to pay attention to things like this.

3. Just MAYBE think that people on the course want to cheer you on, whether they are spectators on the side, or other runners. Or maybe another runner loves your race shirt and wants to compliment you, or your stride is looking good....you can't hear them. I have gotten so frustrated, both as a spectator and a runner, trying to give other people some positive vibes and they don't hear because they are tuned in to their ipod, and tuned out to everyone else. Guess what? I don't cheer for people with headphones on anymore. It's a waste of my breath, even though I would like to do it...I love to talk to other runners along the way.

4. If you are running with a friend, it's rude. One friend of mine was going to run a local 5 mile race with me...she plugged in before the start, and we couldn't even talk before the gun went off because she was all in her music. Needless to say, we lost each other in the start, and only found each other after the race.

5. Disney races are chock full of entertainment...whether the parks, the music, the characters, the DJ's, the bands and cheer groups. Not to mention the thousands of people running/walking with you. They are out there FOR YOU!!! Let them entertain you.

6. If you are ever going to do a triathlon, you have to wean yourself off the headphones as they are not allowed. You will get a time penalty and perhaps have them taken from you.

So...for many reasons....and for safety in training as listed by a PP....it's not a bad idea to wean yourself off of the headphones. Learn some mental toughness. It won't kill you, I promise! It can be a good learning experience to be alone in your thoughts and focus on what you're doing instead of not fully experiencing it.

Disclaimer: yes, I use an ipod... on the treadmill, and then only some of my runs. Almost never outside. And I race anything from 5K up to full Ironman and haven't died because I didn't have entertainment.

 

[Saylan]

I ran my first 1/2 (the Princess) this year and due to weather and health I had to train indoors for all of it. I used headphones on the treadmill to watch TV while I ran.

The day of the race came and I had my mp3 player in my belt ready to go. I had my headphones in but honestly, I never turned my player on. I had it in case I needed it but I found I never did. A lot of entertainment along the way, not just Disney stuff, but other runners. I completely forgot I had my headphones in till I saw my race photos after.

Bring them if you train with them, but I'd say try and do without so you can enjoy the people in the race and the entertainment (as well as previous mentioned posts about encouragement and safety).

 

[verticalchaos]

I've actually weaned myself off my headphones - or at least music on them while running - and hadn't realized it until I attempted my run yesterday. I figured I was in the little park close to my house I hamster around in sometimes, so I'd be fine. Well, I finished my warm-up and beeped my garmin over for my run interval and took off. In time to the music and WAY too fast. It was all I could do to get myself through 40 minutes. If I listen to a podcast, I'm fine.

Weird how I used to think I couldn't run without music. Now I can't run with it.

 

[cewait]

Adding just a little....

I have literally watched an ambulance have to wait on a runner oblivious to his surroundings at Disney. Why the ambulance did not blast the air horn I do not know..... It was just plain bad form on the runner's part.

2010 was a great year for on course entertainment. There was something at least every half mile for both races. There is so much from Larry the Lounge Lizard, to Reedy Creek FD, to high school kids and wise crackers in the crowd. You never know who is yelling your name from the side of the road if your tunes are too loud.

Bring them if you need them, but leave the volume down low enough to hear your fellow runner.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm a big fan of running with one headphone in one ear. Music makes me happy, and allows me to run faster than I would on my own. I'm a little ADD, and need the distraction so I don't get bored.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I use my iPod but only have the volume about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up. It hurts my eardrums if it's any louder, plus that way, even if I'm on the treadmill, I can be aware of anything going on. The times I do zone out isn't because of the music, but because I hit a running zone.

My first 1/2 will be the Princess next year, and I plan on having my headphones with me, but not use them in the parks because it can get tight and there are people cheering you on. I didn't use them during Mickey's Halloween 5K because I wanted to take everything in at MK.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Also, as good as Disney is at the entertainment, each runDisney race has a LOT of highway miles. Highway miles need a soundtrack.

 

[Danhockey04]

I wear my headphones during the race, I can hear perfectly fine everyone around me. I keep them on 1/4 volume so I can enjoy the race entertainment cause that over powers my music. It's the voids of entertainment, I am able to have some form of music to enjoy.

 

[stitchfan18]

I train with headphones, and run races around here with them. Disney races I don't wear them because there is enough entertainment going on that I don't really need the music. I noticed several more on course announcement during the wine & dine than during the princess. Just be mindful of your surroundings at all times, and you'll be fine.

 

[TnTsParty]

Also, as good as Disney is at the entertainment, each runDisney race has a LOT of highway miles. Highway miles need a soundtrack.

In the last 2 years I think Disney has done a lot to have entertainment of some form through a lot of those highway miles. With marching bands, drummers from Japan, the Wedding pavillion singer, DJ's and the character's Disney has done a great job providing entertainment along those stretches of highway. Like others have said bring them with you if you are used to them in your training runs but keep the volume low enough so you can take in all there is to experience at Disney races.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

In the last 2 years I think Disney has done a lot to have entertainment of some form through a lot of those highway miles. With marching bands, drummers from Japan, the Wedding pavillion singer, DJ's and the character's Disney has done a great job providing entertainment along those stretches of highway. Like others have said bring them with you if you are used to them in your training runs but keep the volume low enough so you can take in all there is to experience at Disney races.

I'm just basing my comment on my own experience at Wine & Dine. There was very little between parks.

 

[TnTsParty]

I'm just basing my comment on my own experience at Wine & Dine. There was very little between parks.

I don't want you to think I was bashing your comment - I never did Wine & Dine but have done some of the other races Disney offered before the Wine and Dine and I can see where you are coming from with the lack of entertainment on the course. So not sure if the OP was talking about the Marathon weekend in January but that is where I was basing my comments on. I found that 2010 and 2011 was better entertainment wise than it was in 2009 for the full.