Looks like the other shoe has dropped. Today I received my 2007 Twin Cities Marathon entry in the mail and they are following the lead of Grandma’s:

“USATF rules prohibit the use of headphones, cell phones, and similar devices on the course. This rule will be strictly enforced at all TCM, Inc. events.”

I just emailed them a similar note to what I sent Grandma’s earlier this week. No more TCMs for me either, I guess.

The people who run USATF need to get in tune with the technology and realize that non-elite runners participate for different reasons and have different needs than those trying to qualify for national titles and spots on the Olympic team. Race organizers also need to look at who their primary market is and meet their needs or risk losing the bulk of their participants.

Not a big fan of the man and his rules…

UPDATE: Here is the response from TCM:

David,

Thank you for your email. We have actually banned the use of headphones, iPod’s, MP3’s etc since 2002. This year it is a rule backed by USATF.

We will continue enforcing our policy in the same way that we have since 2002. Please look for more information on this on the website in the future.

We hope that you will reconsider running with us, we would love to have you.

Thanks & Happy Running!

Lindsey Altermatt
Twin Cities Marathon, Inc.
763-287-3888 ext 10

That has me a little confused, as I always thought their rule was headphones strongly discouraged, not banned. There were plenty of people with them last year and I saw no enforcement taken against anyone.