NO HEADPHONES POLICY

Many runners ask why headphones are not permitted and will be grounds for immediate disqualification for the entire team. The reason is simple - it is for your safety.

The Green Mountain Relay is not held on a closed course - you will be running on the shoulders of the roads with traffic. In addition, the GMR course is very rural - there are wild animals in Vermont (black bear and moose for example, not to mention dogs, idiot drivers, and drunks). So running down the road with your ears shut off from reality is one of the most unsafe things you can do.

It is the requirement of our insurance carrier.

I know this policy is not popular, but triathlons, which are also held on open roads, have this same policy, and athletes accept this rule. The ONLY acceptable alternative is I understand there are now little speakers that clip on shirts. That's fine, but any device that is stuffed in one or both ears will be a disqualifiable offense for the entire team.

Please read this article in Runners World.