Runner's Forum: running with or without music?

Hi,

Just courious if you run with or without music and why?  also how long are your runs?

I was running with music but as my runs became longer (eight miles) I found I'd rather run without it.  I couldn't hear the sounds around me or listen to my footsteps or breathing to keep them regular.  also, if my ipod would go on me or my headset would go bad, it would rewine my whole run.  i still miss my music on the days I just don't want to get out there though..   :)

Lately I have been running without music.  I usually run with a friend when I do my long runs...anywhere between 8-12 miles at this point.  We like to talk, so there is no need for the music to distract me.  Plus, then I do not need to fiddle with the cords and earbuds.  I also leave the music behind on mid length runs, but prefer to have it for short runs when I am alone.  When I first started running (2 1/2 years ago), I thought I would never be able to run without the music.  Funny how things change over time.  Now I like to listen to the birds and traffic around me...

If I have to run on my treadmill, I must, must, must have the television on.  Otherwise there would be no way I could make it.  Too darn boring!

Happy running!

I'm normally a music person - well house/trance music, so depending on your tastes you might not agree with me ;-)  But yesterday I tried it with a Chris Moyles podcast (breakfast radio DJ in the UK).  And that worked really well, he's pretty funny, and I found myself laughing along as I was running.

Of course, I have only recently picked up on regular running, so this may just be a phase - it was fun though!

I generally run without music.

But if I feel my motivation is a bit low I listen to some cool tunes...

Music helps me get through those runs that I just have to get done no matter how I feel (part of a taining program)..... runs done in bad weather, when tired, demotivated etc.

i'm a fairly new runner, doing about 3 miles every other day, always listening to music.  music is a central to my life, and i think it pairs wonderfully with my new running venture.  at this point,  it makes me excited to run because it's time i get to spend with an album, the way many people look forward to time alone with a book.  when i have more endurance and am able to take on longer, hillier runs in prettier landscapes, i bet i'll lose the headphones and listen to nature too every once in a while :)

the best thing to do to make headphones comfortable while running, i think, is to get yourself a set of these soft, rubber earbud wire holders that hook around the back of your ear.  i have them, and it feels like i'm wearing nothing.  i know how you feel; when those little suckers aren't annoying your inner ears, they're falling out.  those hooks are great.

my top 5 favorite albums to run to (at least today) in no particular order:

the giraffes - self titled

gnarls barkley - the odd couple

the kills - midnight boom

mike doughty - golden delicious (i dont know, it just works for me)

lcd soundsystem - self titled

-shannon

agree w/ gilly, i used to have to run w/ music, now i have no desire.  of ocurse, this came to me because i forgot my ipod and then realized i didn't really need it.  also, i've seen folks too dependent on them and then they show up and the battery is dead - throwing them off their game! 

another key aspect is the social part of running.  you close yourself off too much from your surroundings and other runners.  so, maybe listen while doing some training - and especially longer runs to prevent getting too bored.  i really think on race day you should try going without it though.  you'd be surprised how easy it is to run without it when in those conditions. 

happy running!

Giggles - if you find you like music, run with it.  Just don't make the mistake of tying your improved performance to music.  IMO, if you can't run without music, you can't run with it.  The main thing is, enjoy your running.

CarbNut - Yes, I have been averaging 80 miles weeks lately.  This week I am lowering it substantially...enjoying a recovery week.

Hi,

I need my music when I run. I do the Nike ipod thing. I love it and it helps get thru the last mile or so. I'm running the ING Phila Distance Run Sept 21, do you think it will be ok to have my ipod with me? I usually hold it in my hand. I feel like this helps me out alot.

Trisha

Mt Laurel, NJ

I run without music outside. Liek others have said, I like hearing my breathing and hearing cars, dogs, etc.

 I do run with music when I'm on the treadmill, though. It's just too boring otherwise.

I listen to podcasts rather than music. I find running to be a great time to catch up on items I'm interested in but otherwise don't have time to dedicate. I listen to podcasts on IT stuff, history, photography and fitness. Other occassional podcasts are puzzles (a bit distracting however) or entertainment related (e.g. sci-fi or Harry Potter).

 Also, I have 'emergency' music permantly loaded on the iPod for the times I'm struggling in a run. This is the awful stuff I'd never listen to normally but picks up my running pace. I'm too embarrased to list that playlist! he he

I’ve been running for approximately 2 years now and I usually run with music. When I began running I would usually do fairly short runs that lasted approximately 30-40mins with music. I then spontaneously decided to enter a half marathon to see how I would do and it was announced that we could take our ipods with us for some reason. Having never run without music it was off putting and didn’t give me fill me with confidence that I would be able to do it –but I did and I found it so relaxing listening to the sounds around me and the thoughts in my head-sounds cheesy but very true. So I would say just try it because you may find you can do it and I find it better to not rely on having music, I can run with or without it. I actually sometimes find it off-putting rather than motivating me so it can depend on your mood I guess J

I run with music about 75% of the time.  Since I run alone I don’t have the social aspect to be concerned with.  The decision to run with or with out comes down to several factors.  Expected traffic conditions due to the time and route are major factors. The type of run I will be doing that day is the other primary factor  On fast hard days or on days when I am doing something new I tend to leave the music home.  My long days are usually slow (8:30ish) 12 to 15 miles, I really enjoy tunes on these days. 

Gear:  I use an iPod Nano carried in a Nike arm band.  I wear it loosely above my bicep so it does not move around.  I have Sony ear buds that have a soft rubber contact surfaces.  The inserts come in three sizes so that they fit comfortably in the ear.  I think they cost about $50.00.  The hard plastic buds that came with the Nano are terrible.  They may make a good emergency shoelace but that’s about the extent of their use as far as I can tell.

One thing I found that improved the experience a great deal was running the ear bud cord under my shirt, up my back and under my hat.  Wearing it like this the only indication that I have it on is the glorious tunage bouncing around in the vacant space between my ears.

Gilly32:I run 75-80 miles weekly.  I never run with music.  I want to hear if a car or dog gets close to me.  I love the sound of nature.  Most of all, running is my time to do creative thinking.

 Same here.  I love music too but I don't like wearing headphones, earplugs etc. at all. If there was a way to drag studio speakers with you then I'd be all for running with music.  There's no good way to do that though and I wouldn't want somebody following me in a car unless it was electric so I wouldn't have to deal with the exhaust fumes while running.

 One other thing I have against headphones and earplugs is they do more damage to your hearing too.  Since that's the case while you're running and trying to improve your health, you're doing just the opposite at the same time too