Survey for RUNNERS: Do you listen to music?

I more often than not listen to music, but it’s absolutely not required. I generally prefer it for long runs, but find it distracting if I’m doing speedwork. When I listen, I am sure to use my crappy headphones, for two reasons: 1) I can hear the environment around them, and 2) if my form starts to slide and I start to bounce, they immediately fall out of my ears.

I didn’t listen to music when I exercised in my youth because my walkman drained batteries like crazy. When I finally got a discman, it skipped like mad. Not only that, but I was a competitive swimmer, so I was used to silent workouts. No underwater music players back then – at least not any that I could afford. (I didn't start running seriously until my late 20s, but I did do some running as crosstraining for swimming or martial arts.)

Instance where running music can throw off a workout: I was in the last few minutes of a tough run, and I wanted to rev my engine and pump hard, but then this soft and dreamy soundtrack from a movie came on, haha. I thought, “well, at least it will be good for my cooldown in two minutes,” but by that time, another song had started…very difficult to cool down to Justice – Stress. :laugh: Why couldn’t those two songs have been switched? (Without the pain of having to dig my player out of my shorts and unlock it and all that, that is.)

On the treadmill yes, outside, no. I listen to music while on the treadmill only because my other option is to see my pathetic dog laying next to me snoring and farting. I'd rather hear music than that. It's bad enough I have to smell him. Way too many runners (I live right by an international airport - no matter what time of the day there is always a ton of traffic) get hit these days even if they have it low enough, and pay good attention. Face it there are too many drivers out there with road rage, and people always in a rush - you're life is more valuable than a couple hours of music while you run, IMO. Oh, and I never ran in my life until I had my third son at the age of 26 (about 10 weeks post-op).

On my shorter runs (less than 5 or 6 miles) no, I don't listen to music. But anything longer than that, and I need the distraction.

I don't listen to music on the 1/2 marathon races, because I want to be aware of those around me.

I started running 3 years ago...at age 39! Ran my first half marathon at age 40. :happy:

I have found that when I'm trying to train in a certain zone listening to music really messes me up. I can't focus on pace. So, I've started listening to audiobooks. That way I'm less distracted, I can focus on the rhythm of my feet instead of music and I also have something to listen to. Also, I'm training for the NY Marathon and many people say you don't want to listen to music and miss all of the great stuff going on like bands and the crowds. I don't want to get so dependent on listening to music that I won't know what to do without it.

I do listen to music; but I can and have run without just fine. I mainly have the music to drown out the sounds around me so I can enter my head. I know it sounds odd, but I don' really "listen" to the music; it's just there. Only when I run long distances (10+) do I start to pay attention to the music. Interesting theory you have!

I'm a new runner (about 6 months), I run outside, and I listen to music. I started without it, but I have asthma and I found that hearing myself breathe would freak me out, so the music over-powered that. I've never tried it without since that point... might have to give it a try.

It depends upon the goal of that particular run. I started running again in February (used to run in XC in HS 20 years ago). When I started running again I used a podcast on my mp3 player. I needed the music for the run/walk cues during the program. I still run to music for interval training (faster/recovery cues).
For my LSD days I run without music, or if I am trail running (like a pp wrote). I like to listen to music on other runs, but it isn't essential, but a nice distraction.
I always run with one earbud in and one earbud out so I can hear everything going on around me.
I have a rockin' podcast that I use during my 5K races to pump me up and keep me powered up until the finish line. I only listen to that podcast during a race....

Just started running in March, and yes, I run with music. Don't need to, don't always, and when I am out with others, even if we are spread out on the trail, I never have my earbuds in. The funning thing is, I was never a music person either. Never in my life was I the type to have music on in the house, or by cds, even concerts were something I did strictly the social aspect.

Now I love both running and music.

Don't think I would have carried a large walk man though, I hate having anything bounce on my body. Had to force myself to get used to my iPhone armband, it is saftey as I am often out on isolated trails alone. That I get to use it for music and runkeeper is a bonus.

I started running right after my 24th birthday, so it's been almost a year now. I really love listening to music while I'm running. Helps me keep my pace up so that I don't find myself slowing down, since I listen to fast paced music. I can run without, but I prefer with.