Hello,

Generally you will need to check with the staff of each event or look at the web site for guidance on this. I for one am not a fan of any of these devices. They disconnect the person wearing them from their surroundings, thus creating the safety issue you mentioned. They cannot hear commands to move aside for ambulances etc.. I have seen this first hand and had to grab a person by the arm and pull them over, only to get an angry stare prior to them seeing the emergency trying to get by.

However, all that said, some people like th euse these and really rely on tem to motivate them through. I enjoy hearing the crowds or if I am trail running just listening to nature.

Many events such as the Marine Corps Marathon have written rules against these but have not truly enforced it yet. I would like to see them do this though.

Believe me you won't need it in your triathlon. After swimming and biking if you aren't in the zone, what are you doing in triathlon? Its much different than just running, I train with an ipod on the run and on an indoor trainer, but you won't even be thinking about it when you get off that bike into transistion. Besides in USAT tris, which are most of them, you will get DQd or penalized without question, most likely DQd.