After being on the coolrunning site for a year now, I have seen many comments on the Ipod issue. Also when you sign up for a race you sometimes will see that headphones are prohibited. OK.....we get it, some people feel that wearing Ipod's while running is unsafe but people who do wear them are going to continue to wear them! Just because some people can enjoy listening to the sounds of nature doesn't mean they should bash something else that helps people enjoy their runs. We run because we love it, but we all run for different reasons. The debate of are they safe has been beaten to a pulp....Yes not wearing them is the safest thing but instead of bashing headphones why not let the headphone users know what they may be doing that is causeing danger. Let them know ways to wear their headphones but be safe.

Precautions ALL headphone users have heard NUMEROUS Times but in case someone is a Newbie:

Keep the volume low enough that you can hear the sounds around you

Make sure you are noticing fellow runners around you

Before you stop to walk, check that another runner isn't right behind you

Look both ways before crossing the street

Keep you ipod wire close to your body (run it under your shirt)

Instead of bashing headphones help us be safer.....If there is something specific you hate that ipod runners do...let us know!

They say that abstinence is the best way not to get pregnant but we don't always do the absolute safest thing, instead we come up with alternatives........So Yes not wearing Headphones is the best thing but people enjoy wearing headphones lets figure out a way that the headphone wearers and non-wearers can run together in a crowded race!

Sorry if this rant offends or annoys anyone! I just have been getting frustrated with all the Ipod nonsense. Please feel free to bash this post as much as you want, I don't mind