Running and Mindless Chatter
runmybunsoff
Posts: 224 Member
Hello fellow runners! I was curious how one may run without headphones to keep your mind entertained while running, especially during long runs. I have developed a habit of using my headphones to listen to music/podcasts (albeit in a safe enclosed space, not out on the open road or anything) and can't seem to ween myself off of it. The reason I want to ween myself off of this habit is because I want to get serious about entering races in the near future. Also it just makes me feel kind of..shameful for some reason! As if I am not a serious runner :-\
I am not going to lie it gets a little tough for me to just enjoy the ride while enjoying to the sounds of "nature" for long periods of time along with my mindless chatter. Also, music helps me with my pacing and tempo too, without it I feel like my form/speed goes all over the place. What do you all think about when you run? Cheers and thanks as I would appreciate any tips!!
I am not going to lie it gets a little tough for me to just enjoy the ride while enjoying to the sounds of "nature" for long periods of time along with my mindless chatter. Also, music helps me with my pacing and tempo too, without it I feel like my form/speed goes all over the place. What do you all think about when you run? Cheers and thanks as I would appreciate any tips!!
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It is really just background noise for me. I generally listen to AM radio, yes, you read that right, when training and I never wear anything in a race so I could go without all the time I guess
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I stopped plugging myself into an ipod a couple of years ago and I haven't looked back. I supposed it coincided when I started to take running more seriously and it was no longer an adjunct activity to leading a healthy lifestyle. I found I didn't require the distraction or motivation anymore and that there were other things that I wanted to pay attention to like my breathing, my effort level and when I moved to trails the terrain, my footing and not getting lost. it started to become more annoying than anything else so I just stopped bringing it along.0
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jturnerx- and schmenge-thanks for posting!! I think that is what I will have to do as well, just stop using it and get more serious about running and practice form without music and such more often.0
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One of my favorite things about running is when I can get into "the zone" and just really enjoy the sensation of running. When that's not happening and I'm tired of my mindless chatter, often I find myself counting my steps (usually up to 6 or 8 or some random number) or repeating "Mississippi' over and over (since I'm trying to keep a 3 step per second tempo). Can't believe I'm admitting the Mississippi thing on the Internet!0
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i don't know how people run without music. i know my mp3 died 20 mins into a 90 min run. by the time i'd got home, i'd arranged mine and my hubby's lives for the next 10 years! i need music to run- unless it's running with a mate and we're talking, or trail running where there's stuff worth listening to.0
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One of my favorite things about running is when I can get into "the zone" and just really enjoy the sensation of running. When that's not happening and I'm tired of my mindless chatter, often I find myself counting my steps (usually up to 6 or 8 or some random number) or repeating "Mississippi' over and over (since I'm trying to keep a 3 step per second tempo). Can't believe I'm admitting the Mississippi thing on the Internet!
I will admit that this Mississippi thing helped me a lot on my run tonight, haha!
I personally can't run with music. It messes up my pacing, and I ended up running too fast, too slow, burn out...I run in a much better steady pace if I'm running with just me myself and I.0 -
Maybe it's the (wannabe) musician in me but when I listen to music I want to listen to it rather than just have background noise which distracts me when running.
I listen to my footfalls and pay attention to my breathing and let my mind wander, it's very meditative.0 -
I agree that listening to music for its own sake while running can be very distracting. Instead, I have a play list that is all the same tempo, my target for stride rate. That way, I can concentrate on my form and breathing and know that my stride is right as long as I'm hitting on beat. When I started, it helped motivate me as I could think about it more like dancing than exercising and it was all I could do to keep my feet moving that fast. Now, it helps hold me back, particularly in races, when I'm tempted to start out too fast.
It might not be too fair to the musicians, since I'm not totally paying attention to them.
ETA: Also, it gives my toddler something to listen to when I'm pushing him around for 60-90 minutes. I don't take the tunes out on the trails, though, since it's so nice in the woods (and I want to hear the mountain bikes coming behind me).0 -
I am digging the Mississippi idea!! Also the same with the tempo to keep up with the form. I am going to experiment with this and be patient with it all and give it a shot. Thanks guys, I hope there will be more thoughts coming on here!
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I use to always always run with music but mostly because I was running alone or on the treadmill. Now that I run outside I tend to leave the music at home. I found with the music I was worrying more about how much I can't stand this song or that song or how it would mess with my pace which became frustrating during a run.
For my long runs I run with a group so there's lots of talking which makes the miles go back fairly quick and I never miss the music. I ran the first 22 miles of my first marathon without music and only put in the earbuds because it was at that point (24) that the run became a mental struggle and I needed the music to push me but after 2 miles I took the music out again. I think that was the first time I realized I didn't need the music for an entire run.
I guess it's personal preference though. I think start slow if you want to learn to run without it and then build up. That seemed to work for me. I can't even tell you the last time I even charged my iPod. lol0 -
I run in the early morning darkness with our German Shepherd. I unplugged the headphones months ago but still wear my phone on my left arm and still keep the music playing softly in the background along with my running app which is givng me pace and time every 1/4 mile. My average morning run is a bit over 8 miles and I must admit that most of the time I am not hearing the music or the app as I find my mind is usually off in some other place that I can not seem to find unless I am running. Talking to the dog is okay but she never answers any of my questions. When I run the occassional race I just turn the tunes off or if it is a fun run I leave them on and have actually had other runners start singing the lyrics as they ran near by. I figure the music lets the coyotes know that I am not their next meal so I feel a bit more secure when Haley starts acting odd and looking over her shoulder. I unplugged the headphones so I would be able to hear the cars coming before I saw their lights and having them in my ears was distracting me from paying attention to my breathing, pace, and form....0
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I run with music just because I helps to turn my mind off, otherwise I run along counting every step. However, I only run with an earbud in one ear so I can still hear traffic or others on the trail/sidewalk.0
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