MP3's at OWS events

They are not allowed on most official channel swims (english, FINA sanctioned etc) as they are pacing devices. I'm not certain but I suspect they are not allowed for most USMS ow events under the same clause amybe some officials could chime in here. I think they should not be allowed because indeed they are aides/pacing devices and they prevent the wearer from being as alert to thier surroundings including hazards such as waves and boats and other swimmers.

USA Triathlon also bans their use. For use in a pool it's one thing but wearing them in the open water is just downright dangerous when water / weather conditions can change and if a kayaker, pilot or lifeguard is trying to get your attention. Don't mean to sound like an old fart but if they really have no business being out in the open water.

Are they used as a metranome? I have 2. A swimman and a swimp3 player. They both have their pluses, but I like the swimman better. With all of the noises associated with ocean swimming,.it`s just about impossible for me to hear anyone even without listening to music.

For use in a pool it's one thing but wearing them in the open water is just downright dangerous when water / weather conditions can change and if a kayaker, pilot or lifeguard is trying to get your attention. Don't mean to sound like an old fart but if they really have no business being out in the open water. I keep forgetting the absolute breadth and variety that is OWS. My questions and assumptions were based on my typical OWS experience which, thus far, has been in small lakes or controlled areas during events in which their are no kayakers, pilots, etc. I am considering doing the Pensacola Bay swim next spring. While it's no SF Bay, I would never consider wearing an mp3 player even in P'cola Bay as the conditions will likely be too choppy for me to want any distraction. As for lake swimming in events, I am currently suing the SwiMP3 which has bone conduction speakers on the cheek bones so as soon as my ear is clear of water, I hear ambient noise and not the mp3 player. Any lifeguard wishing to get my attention would completely be able to do so. Perhaps this is why I haven't seen specific rules forbidding the use of players as clearly stated as in Tri competitions. The use of these devices is too new and too varied.

srcoyote I always wear ear plugs when I swim.. With colder water it is important to keep "the computer" warm,..cold water entering the ear is not good. I would place the swimp3 player over my ears rather than the temple,..it was much louder that way.The Swimman waterproof ipod has earbuds which keep the water out and cannot be worn with earplugs. I was disappointed with the low volumn of the Swimp3 player,...not so with the with the swimman. I seldom swim without listening to music. No need to worry about not hearing a warning or someone trying to get my attention as I almost always swim alone. In August I entered a 5 mile swim and had an escort on a paddleboard. My escort had a plastic board and grease pen for communication purposes. WRT to swimming alone,....I find it thrilling,..not to mention that I do not have to worry about another swimmer getting into trouble and dragging me under. I do have a rescue can, but never swim with it. OK,...flame away!:):)

After considering it for some time, I'm bringing a swiMP3 to the British Virgin Islands tomorrow for SwimVacation clients to enjoy. Before trying it, I was concerned that a swimmer couldn't hear a warning signal, or an approaching jet ski, etc when wearing one. However, I have found that as soon as you pick your head up out of the water, you can hear everything (but the music) just fine.

I have a Freestyle waterproof mp3 player, and it's really fantastic for the gym pool (it cuts down on hearing the annoying kids on the other side of the pool). I don't know if I'd actually use it in the open water, but that's mostly because I like the quiet of the outdoors (maybe not so much in the ocean, but definitely in a lake). I'd have to second the person who mentioned that the sound is louder in the water than out of it. It took a bit of adjusting before I got the volume just right. That being said, I don't think I can do laps at the gym without it, now!

For me, part of my connection to the water is hearing it, and simultaneously the sensory deprivation aspect. I love the fact that swimming takes away the "noise" of every day life. And I have to say, when I swam with an SwimP3, I found myself feeling like the workout was longer, like I was more distracted, and less connected to what my body was actually doing. With how pathetic my left arm entry is, I have to concentrate! That being said, I'm a person who doesn't run with music either. I never have, and just don't like it, unless, miserably, I have to run indoors on a treadmill. I only do that if the temperature gets below 8 so it's not often. I find my workouts to be the one quiet part of my days. I would never use music on an open water swim since I've been on so many courses where jet skiers are out, where I needed to hear my kayaker, where there were so many variables I wanted to be aware of.

I think training with musical devices is a great thing; it's a distraction which helps a long distance swimmer possibly avoid the boredom that can set in. But having been a long distance swimmer for awhile now, the thought of using one during an actual open water event makes little sense to me for a variety of reasons. Because I am no longer "bored" by hours on end of swimming, I don't really need one, but I certainly advocate its use by others who do get bored. For me, using one during an event regardless of how long the swim is, would be counterproductive. I'd get lost in the music, get too comfortable with possibly a slower swim, and not enjoy the possibility of getting into that autonomous zone whereby my body and mind have the opportunity to separate for a bit and my body does the work. This is a great experience to enjoy because when the mind takes a little break, the body can do so much more. But for those who enjoy these devices during an open water event, just make sure you don't pick Lawrence Welk music; you may end up taking a nap and finishing slower than you wanted (LOL). Donna