What ya got in the sack there, Santa ? Are all those iPods and other merry little music players headed to runners and walkers in Arkansas ?

Too bad so many experts say not to use them for outdoor workouts.

And Santa says, Whaaaa… ? Lots and lots of people run and walk with personal music players. You can buy jogging shoes, watches, sports bras and jackets to facilitate their use. They’re advertised in fitness magazines — in Runner’s World, for crying out loud.

What overanxious, interfering, selfappointed ear-nanny says not to use them ? USA Track & Field, the governing body of competitive running. Road Runners Club of America, with more than 700 affiliate running clubs. McGruff the Crime Dog — and many police and public safety authorities who think it’s smart to be alert to your surroundings when you walk or run outdoors. Most (but not all ) properly organized footraces, which carry liability insurance.

And yet millions of people enjoy using headphone-type devices while they exercise. You can see some yourself: Just go outside and look. So it’s not surprising that there’s controversy over the Dire Peril supposedly posed by headphones. Lately some runners have been sassing back at the experts. more >>
BY CELIA STOREY