<<<<Im going to guess the same people that don't want you to wear an iPod running also support the "nanny state" and the government running the rest of our lives.

Stay away from Las Vegas, because you don't stand much of a chance there. You don't seem to think or guess too well.

Most races are private enterprises and not for profit except for the charities they support. Businesses owners tend not to be lefty leaning goverment types. Myself, I'm well to the right of center and don't want half the goverment I have.

<<< No one can be personally responsible

Rather ironic, you want people to be responsible but when it hits the fan it's always someone else's fault. People should really get their act together. Either you want responsibility or you don't. Which is it?

<<<< we're all adults

Really now. You show me a crowd of adults of any size and I'll show you any number of them who don't look or act like adults. This is the real world we are talking about.

<<<<<<<<<....should mind their business.

So please tell us.

What is the "business" of the owner or manager of a private event to which you have been allowed to attend.

What is the business of those ultimately responsible for what goes on at a race, and the business of those who are responsible for the safety of you and those who you might harm, who is also responsible to the town, the police, the insurance company and the USATF in some cases and to their own families by not putting their own assets in jeopardy by allow themselves to be negligent for allowing those with a defective survival gene to put themselves in harms way at a race..

The RDs are minding "their business".

While we all may not be race directors, most of us understand the difference between a RULE and a "nanny state". Race directors are overseeing USATF sanctioned events are there to ensure the USATF rules are adhered to; including the rule prohibiting iPods and other similar devices during competition.

If runners who perform better during a competition with an iPod chose not to wear an iPod because of the rule prohibiting the device and they lose out to other runners who wear an iPod; I call that cheating. It's not a nanny state; it is cheating. No one should be glorified for choosing to run with an iPod during a competition. Until this rule is overturned, runners should be made to turn in their iPods during competition.

The "legislation" has already passed, that boat has sailed. What don't you understand about the rule? Your probably one of those golfers who think it's okay to take a mulligan on each side and not count it on your scorecard or drop the ball where you hit it out of bounds.

How about marathon running, perhaps you think it is okay to start at the 5 mile mark rather than run the entire course?

We are all bound by the same rules; I like most of the others in this forum disagree with this rule.

BTW; Go Hillary!!!

Migo, I think most of us would appreciate it if this did not become a political soapbox and instead remained a discussion somewhat related to running.

As to the original topic, I love my iPod and couldn't imagine elliptical training, spinning, tread mill, etc. today without it (and yet somehow I managed it for many years). That said, I would never run outdoors with it; I prefer to maintain an undisrupted rythm and I just enjoy the natural surroundings. I certainly don't mind if other folks want to wear their headphones while running (the only time I have a problem with this is at races where far too many people line up well ahead of their projected pace and it really is a pain to try and navigate around a pack full of slower runners that are completely lost in their own little music induced worlds). If there is a valid reason for banning headphones during races (the reason I have been told is due to insurance coverage and I have no reason to disbelieve the officials who told me this) then one should follow that rule out of simple respect for the people who have put in their time and efforts to host the event.

The only rebuttal I get for my statements is name calling. Not one of you can come up with a rational counter position to my thoughts on banning ipods. You want to strip away every thing that makes a road race, a road race and still call it a road race. Let's have aluminum bats in the MLB and Golf carts in the PGA tournaments. You just want to change things to meet your needs. How about keeping the sport some what the same so there is a tread of continuity from the beginning to the present and into the future? Why not have virtual road races on treadmills and link every one together by ipods? Leave the road to real runners that are out there with nothing but the will to win.

I'm all for purity of sport and I actually like that argument. Makes me all warm and fuzzy. Really. Where you lose me though is that most of us and the vast majority of people in these public road races are amateurs out to have a good time and challenge themselves. There aren't a whole lot of careers on the line other than the elites and the RD's. I used to be 240 and that aint a muscular 240 and only 5'9". I still see a lot of runners in that range or better. I doubt using an iPod will be the difference between a Top 5 and BOP finish but if a little music is motivation enough and the RD is looking the other way and don't seem to care well then good for them. Also, it wouldn't surprise me if some RD's were willing to look the other way on iPods simply for the sake of keeping their numbers up. I have nothing to back that up but it wouldn't surprise me. Nor would it bother me. If people want strict by the rules races, here's a thought, hit your local olympic trial then you won't have to compete with iPods. Just steroids. There's the purity in sport Ms. Jones.

I don't think you understood what I was saying so to me your response is frustrating. One foot in front of the other in strides. Thats running. I don't recall accusing anyone of not being a "real runner".

PS you're WAY off on your opinion that Im out running around in a bunch of high tech gear. My favorite hat is a Dolphins cap. Man is that depressing.

Did the dogs have their race bibs displayed properly and time chips? To quote the movie Air Bud (where a dog plays on a kids football team) "There's no rule that a dog can't play football".

I wouldn't mind getting rid of those potholes and speedbumps too.