General Discussion Triathlon Talk » ear plugs during race Rss Feed  
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2005-03-09 10:38 AM

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Veteran
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Austin, TX
Subject: ear plugs during race
Is this a good or bad idea? I've only done one race and I didn't wear one then but I started to do so in training. I find it very comforting since I don't have to worry about water getting in my ear. Not that I find that worrisome but it does annoy me. My next possible race won't be until early May so I have plenty of time to decide what to do. In the meantime though I would like what others have to say.


2005-03-09 10:51 AM
in reply to: #127246

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Expert
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Lafayette, CO
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
I have a serious problem with water getting in my ears, so I use them for the swim.  The catch: make sure you can hear race directions!  I keep one out until about 30 seconds before the wave starts...
2005-03-09 11:03 AM
in reply to: #127246

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Pro
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Los Angeles, CA
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race

I also have a problem with water in my ears but I heard that the life guards sometimes communicates with you, so for sake of my life's safety, I'll keep them out in a race.

2005-03-09 11:09 AM
in reply to: #127246

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Elite
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New City, New York
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
My advice: race like you train. My first few Tri's I didn't wear them and had some trouble at the starts. Now I wear them and I think they block out all of the distractions. I'm sure I'm more comfortable w/ overall experience but w/ the plugs in I'm in my own world.

An side, I can't understand how people train w/o them. All it took for me was one very painful ear infection!!!

mark

Edited by rollinbones 2005-03-09 11:11 AM
2005-03-09 12:01 PM
in reply to: #127267

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Veteran
240
10010025
Austin, TX
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
rollinbones - 2005-03-09 10:09 AM

My advice: race like you train. My first few Tri's I didn't wear them and had some trouble at the starts. Now I wear them and I think they block out all of the distractions. I'm sure I'm more comfortable w/ overall experience but w/ the plugs in I'm in my own world.

An side, I can't understand how people train w/o them. All it took for me was one very painful ear infection!!!

mark


That's how I got started wearing ear plugs. I had a really bad ear infection after I decided to run a half marathon and just barely recovering from a flu. My doc says it's very uncommon that adults get ear infections. She also told me that the pool was an unlikely source of my infection. Just to be safe though, I started wearing them and they do make me feel like I'm in a world of my own. However, I can see the problem of not hearing those kayakers when the time comes.
2005-03-09 12:49 PM
in reply to: #127246

Elite
2458
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Livingston, MT
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
I wear them. I can't swim without them.



2005-03-09 12:53 PM
in reply to: #127246

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Pro
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Los Angeles, CA
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
 For people that wear them during races, do you feel there are problems with hearing the important people, like life guards?  I thought people did not recommend wearing them, but now it seems like people that do, are coming out of the woodworks.
2005-03-09 1:22 PM
in reply to: #127340

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Elite
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New City, New York
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
Dave,

Honestly, I've never given it any thought. I mean I can hear the gun and then i'm just focused on finding my rythym. I ususally draft a faster swiimmer, sight my buoys and go. In 8 Tri's I've never had to hear anybody while swimming. I guess if somtehing were amiss I'd just pull them out. I worry more about people hearing me if I were in dire straights, so maybe I shouldn't promote everybody else wearing them!
Mark
2005-03-09 5:17 PM
in reply to: #127246

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Buttercup
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Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
I don't use ear plugs during swim and can remember only 1 ear infection when I was a youngster (and competing). After my infection, I was supposed to wear them for 1-2 weeks when I was back in the pool but they were too much of a nuisance so I wore them only 1 or 2 days then ditched them.

When I did compete, I wanted NO distractions, and wore nothing that could fall off of me during the swim. No rings, bracelets, chains. Just my swimsuit and swimcap (couldn't keep the goggles on after the dive, but most people can). My advice is wear them if you need them for medical reasons. If not, get rid of them. You don't want to train with them and then accidently lose them during your race - it will throw you off. If you are going to use them during the race, do train with them.
2005-03-09 7:48 PM
in reply to: #127246

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Master
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Kingston Ontario
Subject: RE: ear plugs during race
I have worn then in 5 tris with no problems
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