“I can’t hear you, my music is too loud,” said the girl to her friend during the Baltimore 10 Miler.
The running-with-headphones debate has probably been around as long as there have been portable music players, but it’s definitely been at the forefront the last few years.
I usually don’t run with music, mainly because I usually run with people. It feels antisocial to play music. We usually talk throughout our run, and even though I could always leave an earbud out, I’d just as soon run without.
I’ve gotten so used to running without music that sometimes I forget it when I’m running alone. I don’t mind listening to my footsteps, but music surely does make the time go by faster and help keep you moving. Whenever I’m running in roads, I only use one earbud to make sure I can hear traffic and people around me. Safety first!
Headphones are often banned from races, but I rarely see it enforced. (Though I have spoken with a race director who says she has disqualified people after giving them a warning.) I always go without during races — you definitely miss out on the atmosphere, especially if there are bands on the course!
Recently, a friend was trying to pace off me for a half marathon since she has a history of going out too fast. She was with me for the first four miles or so (that were downhill), but my pace slowed as we started climbing. She kept going, but didn’t realize she left me in the dust since she had her iPod playing. Later, she ran out of steam. I passed her walking near mile 10, and ended up beating her by eight minutes.
I’ve tried to start conversations with runners wearing Maryland shirts when I’ve traveled to races, only to have them not hear me. And in races twice this spring, I witnessed music-listening runners have to be grabbed by other runners to get out of the way of emergency vehicles. One time, it was a closed course and the vehicle was a cart transporting an injured runner. The other, though, the roads were open and she was running beyond the traffic cones. Very dangerous!
If you always run with music, give it a break one day. Sometimes it’s nice to listen to nature!
And if you must wear headphones on roads or in races, please be careful. Make sure you can hear what’s going on around you!
I have a co-worker that likes to run together, but then she’ll “sign off” & stop talking when she puts her headphones on. I don’t understand why she’d even bother running with anyone if she’s then going to “sign off”.
I enjoy running with people for the conversation. I guess she doesn’t see it that way. Too bad, it’s definitely nice to have coworkers you can run with!
I’m very much an “every once in a while” music runner and always try to encourage people to ditch the headphones every once in a while. What I’ve discovered in the past year is that music can be good a couple of times a month to mix up training, just like wearing different shoes or running on a rail or taking different routes. Otherwise it’s the same old, same old.
I do love music, and it’s a necessity on the treadmill. People just have to make sure not to tune everything out when running outdoors!
Lately because the husband and i have been running together I’ve been going without music and have really enjoyed it. I really enjoy running with people 🙂 Even if i can’t chat (depending on my pace i’m not too chatty sometimes) it’s nice to just be around people. As much as I love tunes, I can always listen to them cross training or what have you – if i’m running outside (unless i’m really by myself) i’m going to leave the tunes at home 🙂
Great topic.
I listen to music occasionally in the second half of an ultra, but more often than not, it stays tucked away in my hydration pack. The banter on trail is not to be missed, and that goes double for the sounds of the wind in the treetops, the trills of birds, singing cicadas, the rhythm of my footfalls against the earth …
It does serve a purpose during treadmill runs when you need a little extra boost to keep the pace on that hamster wheel.
I can see wanting them during an ultra once the field has thinned out.
I don’t run on the treadmill without either music or TV! But that’s definitely a safe environment. No need to look out for cars!