Hi there;
I received the details about my 10k race on the 10th October and it says headphones not permitted! I always always run to music or to coaching as on wk 6 of couch 25k, I do plan to run where I can and walk some as only up to 3.5k but how do you manage without headphones?? Will I get disqualified if I have one in?? Sorry for the very silly question ☺️
Some races allow you to use aftershokz headphones as they work by bone conduction and still allow you to hear traffic or verbal instructions. It might be worth enquiring with the organisers Chillipeppers. I find these particularly useful when running on routes shared by bikes.
Having said that, I often go without music at races so that I can really soak up the atmosphere with bands along the route and spectators cheering you on.
Thank you, on the faq bits it said you can use bone conductor headphones but they’re a bit pricey. I’m hoping the atmosphere like you say will be enough ☺️
I am sure it will. I suggested mine as a Christmas gift, and hubby was glad to not have to think 🧐 . 🤭
Not a silly question at all - I felt the same the first time a I ran without them but you will be surprised how quickly you adapt. In big events, there is often so much going on around you that you don’t hear your music properly anyway! Obviously this rule is to ensure safety on the course and yes, you can get disqualified if you choose to wear them but I think that is down to the discretion of the race organisers. Bone conductor earphones (specifically Aftershokz) are sometimes permitted where others are not and sometimes the wearing of one earphone is allowed - but always check the race guidelines.
Good luck in your race - bet you’ll be just great even without the music - race day adrenaline is a wonderful thing!🙂
Thank you, I’m a mixture of nervous and excited 😀
I only run with headphones when I'm running solo. I do parkrun "naked" (no headphones).
Just you, your breathing, your footfall and the sounds of others round you.
I don't know what my 10k race at the end of October will stipulate. I'm still waiting for them to publish the intended course.
Thank you, that does sound a more zen type of running, I may try to run without music the next few times I run see how I get on
I tend to listen to spoken word podcasts. A few times I've had playback stop and not noticed for about five minutes!
A very good question that many of us have worried about before now. As Dexy says, some events only ban in-ear headphones. It is important to be able to hear marshalls, especially where races are run on open roads. If you try running with headphones in it will spoil your enjoyment as you will be constantly worrying about being disqualified (and yes, it might happen). If you are really concerned, check whether bone conducting headphones are allowed, but maybe you should just give it a try and soak up the atmosphere - you may find it's not as bad as you think in a race atmosphere! Good luck.
Thank you, I’m definitely leaving them at home then, would hate to be disqualified 😳 hoping the atmosphere will see me through
I'm sure that's the right call - and I'm sure it will! Let us know how it goes.
Hi CP. I also used to think I needed headphones and music. Then, while training for an event that discouraged them, I had to get used to running without. And now I far prefer it that way. The run feels more focused and I feel more “present”. In retrospect, think I was trying to distract myself from what I was doing, but now I try to embrace it and so I get more out of it. My times are faster, too!
Yes absolutely I do use them to distract me from how far I have left. I will start trying without them and see how I get on, thank you 🙏
I usually run with headphones Chillipeppers1 . However, in the one and only event I've run to date I couldn't find mine, so ran without and it was fine.
Although I'll take them with me on Saturday I'm planning on running naked, not least because I suspect my phone will run out of battery otherwise!
Thank you and good luck for Saturday 😀
One of the races I run each year doesn’t allow any headphones at all, not even bone conducting ones. I always run with something, whether it’s music, a podcast or a guided run, and I thought it would be an issue, but it really isn’t. The atmosphere more than makes up for it, in fact now I think I prefer running all races with nothing in my ears. 😀
You’ll be fine.
Oh, and don’t try to smuggle them in. You could get disqualified. 😳
Thank you, I’m definitely leaving them at home then 😊 the Shame of being disqualified!!! my kids will be cheering me on at the finishing line so that will keep me going hopefully 🙏
Can you even imagine? 😩😳😩😳🤣 Great that you’ll have support - that alone will help you cross the line. Have a wonderful time! Not long to wait. 👏👏👏👏👏
I remember having that very dilemma myself a few years ago! I ended up buying some bone conducting headphones which I’ve really used much and I couldn’t hear my music most of the time anyway as it was quite a lively race with lots of music being played on the route anyway. I’ve since come to prefer running without music. I’m not sure how often people are disqualified for wearing in races though. I’ve run many races where headphones aren’t allowed but have seen plenty of runners wearing them; and not just the more discreet in ear type either. But haven’t known of anyone actually being disqualified. I certainly wouldn’t recommend taking the risk though!
Thank you I’m going to give it a go, leave the headphones at home and hopefully it’ll be okay, the shame of being disqualified would b too much 😳 can’t imagine explaining that one on the go fund me page, I’d probably wind up feeling guilty and blab to the organisers that I have headphones in or something stupid like that ☺️
A bit of topic, but do I read correctly that you run at the moment 3.5K and want to participate in a 10K race? You are sure you're going to have to walk bits? Can I suggest to look into Jeffing, where you do run-walk-run from the start?
Lots of people do 30 seconds running - 30 seconds walking, but I for example run 4min30 and walk 0min30. I am not fast, but in this way I have reached 11K in the meanwhile. It is better to incorporate the walking from the start, than having to do it at the end when you're tired. With Jeffing you feel much more fresh during and at the end of a run. Just a tip 😊
Never heard of jeffing ! Ooh will look into that thank you as I was planning on running for as long as I can maybe 30minutes then walking for 5 then running how would you split it up then?
It is very personal on which ratio you use. Most people use a very short ratio of eg. 30 seconds running (fast) and 30 seconds walking, there are people running marathons this way. Others use 60 seconds running and 30 seconds walking, others do 1 kilometer running and 2 minutes walking, etc, etc. It's what you feel best with.
I tried the short ratio's like 60/30 (60 secs running + 30 secs walking), but I did not like it. I subconsciously ran faster and faster as if I wanted to catch up for the walking part. And I do not like running fast. In the end I settled of 4:30 / 0:30 (4min30 running + 30 seconds walking), which for me personally feels the best. I can run at my own pace as I don't feel a need to make up for the walking part and yet it is short enough that 30 seconds walking allows me to get my breath back and my heart rate down again.
Important though is that if you do this, try it in a normal run first, try out some different ratios and always do the Jeffing from the start. That is the key, if you only start Jeffing once you're feeling tired, then it is too late. The idea is that with Jeffing, you don't get tired. Of course, I mean in general. Your legs will tire and start to feel sore, that is just a matter of biting through it until you reach the finish :).
Watching the Great North Run on the tv recently I was surprised to see that an awful lot of people had earphones in - possibly they were Aftershokz, not too sure. The only time I ran without them was a Tough Mudder ages ago, and as mentioned, the crowd and external music got me through! It was great to hear people cheering 📣.
I saw that too lots had one or two ear buds in, bet the tough mudder was fun 🤩
Half Marathon Plan: 10k race! 💥
My 10k Race is going ahead! 
