I haven´t read usat rules but ITU states clearly that it is NOT ALLOWED!!!!

Personally it annoys me when people have music in races because they can't hear what is going on around them. It can be busy on the bike and if someone is passing you it's good to know so you don't swerve as you go for a bottle, etc.

And it is against the rules in pretty much every tri I've ever done or followed. It is a safety issue -- if you can't hear, and they are calling for people to pull over/stop running to get an ambulence through, that could be bad news for someone already having a tough time.

As for training with tunes making it hard to race without them, I think there is some validity in that. Just like we practice transitions and bricks and other things to be ready for (both physically and mentally) on race day, you should practice how you will race. I'm not saying every time (I enjoy running with music sometimes as well) but enough that it isn't another mental hurdle for you on race day. You'll have enough to overcome in those distances without throwing in suddenly having to spend the whole day with just your thoughts! :)

I agree w deepbluex that .."race day everything is interesting I don't feel the need to listen to anything to take me away from the moment". But I gotta say for training that bike and run I am a slave to the mp3 player. 100% of the time.

I agree with the others that racing with music, in addition to posing a safety hazard, you're missing some of the experience. And you'll never find me in the gym without my Ipod, cause I can't deal with their choice of music.

I train with my iPod, especially on the treadmill, bike trainer or on trail runs if I am by myself.

Most races prohibit them, and some even enforce the rule.
I prefer to race without.
I like the race experience, the sights and sounds.
It gives me a boost of adrenaline.:D

i get the whole against the rules thing, didn't really think about that, and the ambiance and experience.

but for those of you who always train with music, so it is not an issue to race w/o it? doesn't change anything really?

I used to listen to music when I ran and sometimes on the bike, but I stopped. It's distracting! I'd rathert focus on the task at hand or think about life or just be quiet. Don't get me wrong, I love music, but I think that life can be so cluttered with music and tv that ridng/running without bring a little bit of sanity to my life. Riding/Running is often times a great time to get away and not think about what's going on, but to be out on the bike or running.

An iPod/MP3 player is just one more thing I don't want to wrry about during a race. As I think about some past races, I think I would be annoyed to have music blasting into my ears.

Just my $1.02

What else can I say? Raceing with music is a dumb idea...
Listening to tunes while riding or running outside is a dumb idea too. You need to be in tune with your environment to be safe...period.

I still can't believe some of you ride with an iPod. I think that is so profoundly unsafe. I'm not interested in hijacking this thread with a pro-con debate on riding with headphones, I just worry about my tri-peeps here at TriFuel and don't want to see anyone get hurt. We have had a rash of car-bike incidents here in Phoenix (none of which were related to iPods) and I just want evryone to be extra careful.
In regards to this post, you will be plenty preoccupied during a race, you won't even notice the music is gone.

I think I was here for one of those debates and also got sucked into one over at SlowTwitch....but I care more about you guys :).

I wouldn't ever race with music: the safety issue, the rules issue (which is due to the safety issue), and the experience.

I do train with music off and on. I find it a useful tool to get me through those long runs when energy is low, or through time spinning on the bike when I've no desire to watch yet again something else, or have friends to spin with. That said, while running with phones it's purely trail running and the like...and even so I generally only run with one earphone in so if there is something unexpected, or if I need to hop on a crossover to get to the next trail, I can tune out the tunes and tune into the road.

I agree with Red. There are so many things to concentrate on during a race, I don't know how you'd really be able to listen to music and still race effectively. I also think you should train like you race, so I don't listen to music when I'm working out either (except lifting, but there's no bench press in a triathlon!)

I love it! I am going to buy a pair on cycling shorts with the "built in player" Get smacked by a car while on the bike listening to music...then sue the pants off of Pearl Izumi company for promoting the use of MP3 players while biking...that way I can take the rest of my life off and race hand cranks! (Total sarcasm)
I just love folks that think the rules don't apply to them. (More sarcasm.)

I wonder if those PI shorts come with a lengthy disclaimer about how they are for indoor use only, etc. etc.

We seem to get into this debate every few months at Trifuel, but I'll rehash my own position:

1. No headphones for me in races. Even when it's permitted by the rules, I'd rather pay attention to the race.

2. No headphones ever while biking outside. Too dangerous where I live, and illegal in some places to boot.

3. Sometimes headphones for running. Before longer distance stuff, though, I'll be sure to ditch them for several training sessions to work on the mental toughness.

well one reason for not allowing them on the run is in many races (ie an Ironman) the road is not closed to cars, and you run on the shoulder. This can be a problem for hearing cars, emergency vehicles, people directing traffic(or you) etc. It becomes even more dangerous if you are out when it gets dark .

I wear them all the time in solo training. In all 3 sports. I especially like them for long boring pool swims. It's not fair to generalize that everyone with headphones on cannot hear the traffic. I have the volume low enough on the bike that I can carry on a conversation and also hear traffic. I also wear a mirror and and a RoadID. I think the music helps me focus.

The headphones also help keep the noise of the wind down which can be really annoying after several hours. I usually stop using them a couple weeks before any event that doesn't allow them so that I can get used to not having them on. I wouldn't want to race with them on because I wouldn't want to miss out on the whole experience. I might reconsider that though when I try the 50k and 50 mile run distances.