Long runs

podcasts are great and audio books can be a huge distraction too. Just don't listen to anything too sad. I had a long run interrupted by tears during one very emotional book. It's pretty hard to run while crying.

If I'm doing distance and its a regular route, I mentally break it up. Instead of the idea that I'm out to run 5k, etc. I set myself just to be running to that place/landmark which is between a half mile and a mile away. Adjust that to how interesting the views are. A longer park section is lovely and gets lengthened. A boring street section gets shortened so that I'm not fed up with that bit for too long.

I also break up hilly bits so that I'm not running up a big hill. Just bits of it at a time.

So when running, I'm thinking about the next waypoint and no further. I tend to zone out till it comes up. A bit of mental adjustment and confirming to myself when the next location is and doing another short run to there.

This way it also stops me dreading the idea that I'm running this long distance that's going to take a long time.

It's also good for pacing. i.e. did I do better this time, worse, how comfortable did I feel. All things that have me thinking and therefore not getting bored with just pounding the pavement.

I think. Running is a great time for getting lost in your own thoughts. I haven't taken music with me in years.

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

Trail running. No need for audio.

That's pretty much the way it works for me as well. I just look around at stuff, have random thoughts, and listen to birds, etc. I bring headphones and listen to music occasionally but I don't usually listen to music.

I talked to someone on the phone for 3 miles yesterday. You're supposed to be running at a conversational pace anyway. Why not?

Additionally, the ability to run without "manufactured distractions" is great prep for race day as most races (at least IME) don't allow music on the course.

I don't think I could run without podcasts. I personally really like "stuff you should know" (stuffyoushouldknow.com/), "Radiolab" (radiolab.org/), "this American Life" (thisamericanlife.org/), and "the Moth" (themoth.org/). And then there is always political stuff if you want to really get your blood pumping.

Music distracts me from my pacing. I only listen to the sound of my own suffering.

I second audio books, when I was training for my full marathon, I listened to audio books when I was getting the bored itch coming...around 15-20 KM I would plug it in to get me past the last 10 - 15 KM.

SueInAz wrote: »

I really like the Zombies, Run! app. It has a story line that intersperses with the music on my phone. I don't use headphones while I run, just the speaker on my phone. It's loud enough that I can hear it (unless a bunch of cars are going by) but not loud enough to annoy the neighbors and it allows me to hear what's going on around me.

I just looked this up. I'm going to have to try this. It sounds epic.

I eventually abandoned music and podcasts in favour of audio books as well, it's great. I haven't run to anything sad enough to make me cry, but the opposite has happened, I've startled a fair amount of people just suddenly laughing out.