Straight from nannyworld comes news that a popular Idaho marathon is banning competitors from using iPods in what may be the first in a wave of such decisions. Organizers of the Race to Robie Creek in April have told contestants they won't be able to schlep media players, even though many runners rely on them to add rhythm and pacing to their workouts.
Cited reason is not unfair competitive advantage, as I might have suspected, but safety. Sanctioning agency USA Track & Field has adopted a new rule outlawing "video or audio cassette recorders or players, TV's, CD or DVD players, radio transmitters or receivers, mobile phones, computers or any similar devices" without actually saying what the presumed dangers are. Sure, iPod owners may not hear someone yell out, "Hey, dude, your shorts are hanging kinda low!" But is that really going to kill or injure anyone?
Murphy: iPod ban makes sense[Idaho Statesman]
