The Sound of Silence
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 7:00AM 
Today's post is about iPods and running. Lots of runners like to listen to music while they're out on the pavement... Lil Wayne, Black-Eyed Peas, Usher, Beastie Boys - whatever gets us going! For a very, very long time I operated off of all kinds of playlists... I had a 3-mile playlist, a 4-mile playlist, a 5-mile playlists - all the way up to a 16-mile playlist... after which I switched to audiobooks for the SUPER long runs.
Then Bossyboots came into my life and started running with me. Bossyboots does NOT listen to an iPod while he runs. I thought he was nuts. I mean really... a 10-mile run is a recipe for major boredom, if you ask me. A couple hours alone with my thoughts? No thanks - my mind is NOT that interesting. I just thought Bossyboots was silly, but... whatever! There's also the fact that running with music is not the safest choice - it hampers your ability to hear danger, whether it be of the auto or human variety.
Then one day, I gave a non-music run a try - surprise, surprise, I found I liked it. I think I was bored before because I wasn't paying attention. Actually, there's quite a lot to look at and listen to just on the street. I just wasn't looking for it before. If I get all spiritual about it, I think I was using the iPod to separate myself from the people and places around me - so that I could zone out in my own little world. Running without music is a pretty different experience than running WITH music, in a good way. You become one with the run - how's that for hippie dippie?
I can't say that I will always always run without an iPod, but I haven't used one in a long time, and for right now - it's my favorite way to run. I enjoy hearing the birds in the trees, the kids playing in their front yards, friends chatting in the streets, feeling the air whoosh by my unencumbered ears - I'm a fan.
Of course Bossyboots will use this as an opportunity to say "See, I was RIGHT!" ;)
Would you give running without music a try? If you try it, comment here with how it goes!
Reader Comments (7)
Good insights! I started running without music because races generally don't allow it (though they don't enforce that rule). I trained for 2 half marathons without music and really enjoyed it for exactly the reasons you cited (listening to nature, interacting with world, etc.). I have been wondering about listening to music with certain beats to speed my pace up a little though!
True this! Sometimes I bring my ipod with me for a run but never turn it on. And most times I like listening to things like "This American Life"--the sound of people talking to me in low, dulcet tones is somehow very motivating.
I run without music because it messes up my rhythm and pace.
Unfortunately, I just don't run often enough!
I run with audio books 90% of the time, but I do love to run with no sound. It's nice when I have something I really need to "work out" in my head. Nothing like getting all Chi with the running, no?
i go on spurts of both...but I've been running since spring sans ipod and its been one of my favorite running seasons yet!
I usually prefer to run with music, but I think it's because my thoughts really bore me! Sad. Haha.
Glad to see that post Penny! There is a lot to take in when running...I encourage all you guys to give it a go without an IPOD and see what you experience. On the serious side, a 28 year old young lady was recently killed down here...she was running on a combination bike/run trail while wearing an IPOD and made an abrupt left turn right in front of a bike rider who had been calling out to her that he was passing her on her left. She never heard any of that and died from the head injuries.