NEWS>> April 04, 2007>>>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE>> New USATF Rule Prohibits Headphones/ Music Devices on Sanctioned Courses; > Rule Applies to All Grandma's Marathon Races>> (Duluth, Minn.) USA Track & Field (USATF) recently adopted a new rule > banning the use of headphones and other music devices at all > USATF-sanctioned running events. USATF, the governing body for > long-distance running and track & field in the United States, adopted the > rule (#144.3b) in an effort to increase runner safety.>> Previously, USATF guidelines recommended the prohibition of music devices > for long-distance running events, but such a measure had not been > mandatory until this year. Now, athletes participating in USATF-sanctioned > races, such as Grandma's Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, > will be subject to the new rule.>> "As an organization whose races are sanctioned and certified by USATF, we > are required to abide by all rules, regulations and guidelines," says > Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma's Marathon. "Establishing the > rules for our sport is a role of USATF. We support their efforts and will > begin enforcing this new rule at all of our 2007 races.">> The first Grandma's Marathon event to be affected by the headphone ban is > the Fitger's 5K Run & Walk scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 21. > This rule will also apply to Grandma's Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half > Marathon, the William A. Irvin 5K, the Park Point 5-Miler and the new > Grandma's Minnesota Mile races in Duluth and St. Paul. The new USATF rule > is printed on entry forms and race packets for all 2007 Grandma's Marathon > events.>> Participants in Grandma's Marathon events are advised to not bring > headphones or other music devices with them to the racecourse. Athletes > with these devices will be given the option to surrender them to a race > official prior to the race. Surrendered devices will be properly packaged > and mailed back to their rightful owners within two weeks after the race. > Participants who violate the headphone ban will be disqualified and their > finishing time will not appear in official race results.>> "The best advice we can offer to anyone hoping to avoid any inconvenience > is simply to not bring headphones with them on race day," adds Keenan.>
