Cellphones: Good or Bad for Marathon Training and Racing? (You Decide)

Cellphones are a touchy subject among marathoners. Some swear by them. Some swear at them. Either way, they are becoming more popular for training and racing.

I’ll start by noting what foes of cellphones say about them and those who carry them in training and racing. I’ll then note what cellphone fans say about those who don’t carry them. I’ll conclude by recommending how you should view cellphone technology vis-à-vis marathoning.

What cellphone foes say

Foes of cellphones for marathon training and racing have two categories of complaints. They don’t like them for their own training and racing. And, they don’t like others to use them while training or racing.

Why foes don’t like to train or race with cellphones

Here are five reasons that people give for not training or racing with cellphones:

1. “A cellphone is too heavy.” These foes believe that every ounce counts. There is some research to support this.
2. “A cellphone is too bulky.” These foes complain that cellphones don’t fit well on their arms or hydration belts. As screen sizes keep increasing, the strength of this complaint grows.
3. “A cellphone is too fragile.” These foes resonate with what Steve Jobs said when introducing the iPhone: “iPhone is like having your life in your pocket.”
   They don’t want to risk damaging their cellphones through rain or a tumble.
4. “A cellphone is like an electronic leash.” These foes recall the days of company-distributed pagers or cellphones. “Electronic leashes” was their nickname. A cellphone to them is a reminder of being always available, even when they want to disconnect.
5. “A cellphone is distracting.” These foes know that a cellphone’s distraction power can endanger a runner as much as it can a driver. I recognized this and wrote a white paper about this long ago.

Why foes don’t like others to train or race with cellphones

Some marathoners get their control-freak on around those with cellphones. Here are five popular reasons that they give:

1. “They endanger themselves.” This complements the “A cellphone is distracting.” reason. These foes fear that marathoners will endanger themselves because of cellphones’ distractive power.
2. “They endanger others.” These foes know that cellphone-distracted marathoners can lead others in dangerous ways. For example, followers may run into automotive traffic because a cellphone-distracted marathoner did.
3. “They get in the way.” These foes say that cellphone-using marathoners often step in front of them on the road or trail. Those in the latter group don’t hear others approaching them from behind. Or, they get engrossed while looking at their cellphones and slow down or stop without notice.
4. “They are antisocial.” These foes embrace the social aspect of marathon training and racing as part of the joy of the sport. They see no value in training or racing with those consumed by their cellphones.
5. “They give marathoners a bad name.” These foes care about how non-marathoners perceive their sport. They don’t want marathoners to get a “Walking Dead” reputation.

What cellphone fans say

Cellphone-carrying marathoners shake their heads about marathoners who oppose what they do. Here are five of their “smh” (shaking my head) opinions about these other marathoners:

1. “They get lost more often.” These fans say that they always have their cellphones with them. To them, cellphones ensure that they always have training-route maps and turn-by-turn directions. To them, directions on paper are too subject to loss or to leaving at home.
2. “They can’t call for help in an emergency.” These fans like the comfort of being able to call for emergency aid. So, they see those without cellphones on long runs or in races as irresponsible.
3. “They don’t appreciate the power of music.” These fans want to get the most from their cellphones. This includes the inspirational and pace-setting power of music from a cellphone app.
4. “They don’t understand how cellphones help marathoners to stay together.” These fans point to apps that let marathoners keep up with one another in races and on training runs. They also point to the bonding power of group photos taken with their cellphones. They see these apps as strengtheners of group cohesiveness.
5. “They are missing a great way to improve.” These fans appreciate apps that let them track each run. Some apps do this through technology in the cellphone alone. Other apps, such as Garmin Connect Mobile, let GPS watches connect to cellphones. “You can’t improve what you can’t measure.” is a motto for these fans.

So, what should I do?

Both fans and foes of cellphones for marathoners have their points. The trick is to find ways that your cellphone can help you and not hurt you. Here are ten suggestions:

1. Get a cellphone that is light, is easy to wear (not too large), and is water- and shock-resistant.
2. Turn off alerts for incoming calls and messages. The only exceptions would be for a crucial few people who must be able to reach you on the road or trail.
3. Read my white paper about how easy it is for a cellphone to distract and endanger you.
4. Keep music low and playing through an earbud in only one ear.
5. Stay aware of the fact that your fellow marathoners may follow right behind you across a street. Put away or mute your cellphone when you are about to cross a street.
6. If you must look at your cellphone during a run or race, then step to the side before stopping.
7. Remove your earbud to engage another marathoner with your full attention.
8. Remove your earbud when crossing an intersection.
9. Use a run-map app to stay on course during longer runs.
10. Use an app, with or without a GPS watch, to track and record your runs and races. These records can motivate you in your downtime to improve future runs and races.

For more ways to use your cellphone as a marathoner, check out 123 Cellphone Tips for Runners and Walkers.

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Image Credit: Pixabay