There is somewhat of a controversy about running with music. Some studies suggest that listening to music can make running feel easier, and it can break up the monotony of running on a treadmill during the winter months. Others argue that listening to music, especially while running outside, can be dangerous. Having headphones plugged inside your ears removes you from the sound of that dude creepin' up on you with a blade, cars whizzing down the road at top speed, and various bodily cues that provide feedback about running speed (e.g. breathing).
Personally, I never run with music. I find headphones uncomfortable and don't like exercising with any additional clothing or items on me. Also, I spend a good portion of my day outside of my body, e.g. absorbed in a book, in front of a computer, multi-tasking appointments, and surrounding by a lot of noise that I need to block out. The activities make me feel out of touch with my body. I find that running helps me reconnect with my body and helps me focus on my immediate physical environment. But, with that said, I do like listening to music before a big race, specifically 70 and 80s classic rock.
So, what do you think? To run or not to run with headphones?
FYI: Here are some informative articles on running with music from Runner's World: Running w/ Music.
When I started back up with running in Jan 2010, I couldn't believe how many people ran with ipods! During my high school/college days of running, nearly no one ran with music as it wasn't easy to run with a walkman/discman.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I was against the ipod movement when I first started up, only using my clunky ipod touch while using the treadmill. Earlier this year I got a much more comfortable shuffle and use it for nearly every run - inside or out.
I am very cautious of my surroundings while running with the ipod. Always looking for possible problems. In some cases, I will pause the shuffle in especially busy or 'scary' parts of my run.
I have run with it for some races, but generally like to race without it for the sake of hearing my breathing - and the breathing of others. It helps to give me a sense of their fitness/fatigue or to know if they're falling behind or coming up.
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ReplyDeleteIt wasn’t until this past year that I occasionally started running without headphones. My opinion of running with music is 50/50. My pros for music: 1) it helps with motivation and running to the beat, 2) it puts me in the zone and makes me forget about the struggles of running, 3) I love music, so it’s relaxing and meditative. My pros for NO music: 1) free and clear of wires and extra weight, 2) I’m in tune with myself and nature, 3) removal from technology is never a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteBasically, this can be compared to eating a meal with or without television or driving with or without a cell phone attached to your ear. Sometimes it’s best to just live more simply and savor the moment of one activity. Other times, combining the two may be comforting and lead the mind away from boredom and frustrations. As I get older, however, I am leaning toward focusing on one thing at a time—not because I can’t do both, but because I choose not to.
During my early years of running the only available method of having music during a run was the ol' Sony Discman or setting up your boombox on the inside of a track, both of which not ideal. But now there are water resistant iPod's smaller than your finger. Without a pair of speakers jammed in my ears, using a rowing machine or a treadmill would be a special form of agony but out on the road that's another consideration.
ReplyDeleteIt mostly comes down to this: for many people it's an ideal way to distract themselves from the potentially perceived monotony of a long hard slog through another otherwise unbearable long run, but for me the connectivity I feel with nature/body/pavement and the safety of getting that split second heads up to a car hopping the curb to squash you makes the decision. Headphones inside is a bare necessity, but outside... why run if not to feel that closeness to the body you're always neglecting.
I absolutely cannot run without music. If the iPhone is not in my hand, it's a deal-breaker. I run with one ear bud in and one out so I can be aware of what's going on around me.
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