USA: ATHLETICS - New York Marathon discourages headphones; Radcliffe racing for win
- 00:00:06
- ITN Source
USA: ATHLETICS - New York Marathon discourages headphones; Radcliffe racing for win
As New York prepares for its 2007 Marathon on Sunday (November 4), runners reacted on Friday (November 2) to a request not to run listening to headphones, while former champion Paula Radcliffe prepares for her second Big Apple win. Thousands of runners are expected to rebel against an order against headphones during this weekend's race. The sport's governing body, USA Track & Field, called for an end to the use of headphones and portable audio players like iPods at its official races earlier this year to ensure safety and to prevent runners from having a competitive edge. But New York City Marathon officials said they do not plan to ban the players because there would be no way to enforce it among more than 38,000 participants. "People want to make sure you know they're coming up on your right, they're coming up on your left, and if you're tuned out, it's harder for other runners to communicate with you, let alone us if there's some instruction that we wanted to relay over a loudspeaker or otherwise. So we strongly discourage the use in racing, we understand and appreciate the use in training, and the only reason we don't have a ban is, it's almost impossible to enforce," said CEO of New York Road Runners, Mary Wittenberg. Runner Adam Schaefer is just one who racer who plans on running with rhythm. "I train with mine and there are parts of the run which are tough and it carries you through. Music inspires me; it helps me. I plan on wearing mine," said Schaefer. One person not relying on her iPod for inspiration is world record holder Paula Radcliffe. The New York Marathon will be her first marathon in more than two years after having a break for the birth of her daughter. Radcliffe has known virtually nothing but winning over the marathon distance, triumphing in six of seventh marathons she has entered, including New York's 2004 race. "Physically I'm feeling in good shape. I think that I've had a good period of preparation certainly since my last race. I'm ready to get back to racing and build up towards Beijing," said Radcliffe. On the men's side, eyes are on last years winner, Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos. Gomes, who became the first South American to win the New York race, finished with a time of two hours, nine minutes, 58 seconds. But he said he would be concentrating on the win rather than the time. "I am more worried about winning the race than I am about the time. This is a difficult course, so I will focus on winning," Gomes dos Santos said. Sunday's marathon is expected to attract two million cheering spectators along the city's five boroughs and 315 million television viewers worldwide.
ITN Source | November 3, 2007
