I saw a friend when I was running around White Rock Lake last night — this is one of those pull no punches, tell-it-like-it-is sort a friends. As usual I was wearing my iPod nano with the ear buds, and he says, “What are you doing wearing headphones out here? You’re going to get run over.” Oh, here we go, I thought.
I explained to him that I keep my headphones low enough (usually I keep only one ear in) that I can hear passing cyclists, etcetera, and that it really doesn’t hinder my ability to stay safe. But he (who unlike me actually passes people when he’s running) has experienced big problems, especially as the park draws bigger and bigger crowds, with runners who “are completely oblivious, lost in iTunes or whatever".
We agree to disagree in the end, I guess, as he runs off saying “just concentrate on your running and save the ear buds for the gym,” or some self-righteous nonsense of that nature. (I mean that in the friendliest way.) So have some of us runners been so reckless as to warrant the boycott of earphones on public trails? I have to admit, I’ve seen headphone-wearing runners nearly flattened by cyclists shouting in vain that they are passing. What do you guys think? And remember, if you comment, be nice to each other.
