Music or no music
plateaued
Posts: 199 Member
My marathon training group says no music because of the dangers in urban environments from traffic, etc.
I've never tried music. Does it help on long runs? Or does it distract from training?
I've never tried music. Does it help on long runs? Or does it distract from training?
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For me it depends. It can be distracting, but then again I have a GPS watch that i do check decently often to make sure I'm at a good pace.. As far as from traffic and such, unless you're blasting your music or something I don't see how that's an issue. That said, I run in the mornings, so I try to keep my music at somewhat of a background level, so that I can still hear possible hazards like cars, pedestrians, animals, etc..0
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It depends on the person. Honestly, if you're OK running without it and don't feel like you're missing something, then you may as well go without.
Personally? I need music when I run. I can actually concentrate better when I have something going on in the background (I listen to music at work too). I don't blast my music - it's low enough that I am still well aware of what is going on around me. I've never been surprised by a walker / runner / biker / vehicle / pet / wild animal / rushing water hazard / etc. that I wasn't aware was there. I also love that I now associate certain songs with memorable running moments... like I remember what was playing when I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge during my first half marathon :-).0 -
I run with music all the time, but I try to make sure the music itself is turned down enough for me to hear everything.
I don't run with music in group though. I like socializing with the people in the group, and I am already distracted by the people around me, the last thing I want is to not hear that biker behind me.0 -
When I started running, I ran without music and thought that people who did were silly. That was till I tried it. I find it I tend to run to the beat and I now play rock genre songs at random as I run. When meatloaf comes on with "Bat Out Of Hell" I run 1 min a mile faster. I pretty much run off road so traffic isn't a problem.0
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When I run I normally have my phone on me and play the music through the speaker with no headset. It is usually before 6 am so not a lot of folks around to offend! During races I turn it down lower so as not to annoy anyone : )0
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I always run with music or a podcast. My mind needs something to do. I always have music on at work as well. If I am running in the "urban environment" I use only one earbud (usually the one not on the traffic side of the street).0
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I mostly run with music, unless I am running with another person. I always have my music low enough to still hear approaching cars or bicycles. I have a playlist of songs in my target bpm and it really helps me keep a steady pace. I also play my a longer list of songs on shuffle. It's long enough that it takes a long while to cycle through. I like to be surprised. It seems like just the right song comes on just when I need it and it gives me new spring to my step. Like last night it was Weezer "Surf Wax America" and on my first ever 4 mile run, it was of all things, "Eastbound and Down" -the theme from Smokey and the Bandit. I had forgotten that was even on my iPhone! But it was perfect! "Loaded up and truckin'...we gonna do what they say can't be done"...Absolutely perfect!
I make a playlist in my targeted bpm for my races too, and wear headphones with only one ear bud in. I was told off the record by a local race organizer before my first race, that they have to tell you no headphones for insurance reasons. But they wouldn't make you remove them or even give you a cross look for wearing headphones.0 -
I run with music but only put on earbud in so I can hear what is going on around me.0
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Used to run with music, my iphone died last year, haven't gotten a new phone since, yes srs, I haz no cell phone... LOL. I started running without the music and now really enjoy it, can't imagine going back, my running has gotten so much better without it. Not to mention safer, I too used to take out one bud in certain areas that required it. Now I just go out and listen to my breathing and babble.0
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It depends on the person. Honestly, if you're OK running without it and don't feel like you're missing something, then you may as well go without.
Personally? I need music when I run. I can actually concentrate better when I have something going on in the background (I listen to music at work too). I don't blast my music - it's low enough that I am still well aware of what is going on around me. I've never been surprised by a walker / runner / biker / vehicle / pet / wild animal / rushing water hazard / etc. that I wasn't aware was there. I also love that I now associate certain songs with memorable running moments... like I remember what was playing when I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge during my first half marathon :-).
This makes me miss running with music a bit because you reminded me of moments where certain songs came on and I felt like a ninja or character in a video game, quite epic with the sound track added, LOL.0 -
Oie, I could never run without music. I typically listen at a fairly quiet level though, I can hear over it pretty easily. Honestly, Ever since I got run over on my bike my head's pretty much on a swivel anyway.
But yeah, music helps me run, fills up my brain and I can just focus on pounding it out.0
