Survey for RUNNERS: Do you listen to music?

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  • DizzieLittleLifter
    DizzieLittleLifter Posts: 1,020 Member
    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!
  • monjet13
    monjet13 Posts: 40 Member
    I just started the C25K program

    I run on the streets around my neighborhood and there.....I don't know the right word for it ... I guess you would say they have a steep slope so if I run on the side I end up running with one leg hitting the ground funny, an uneven stride, and it kills my hip. there isn't much traffic but I need to know when a car is behind me so I can move over. also I run with my dog witch is great but she is leash reactive so I have to pay attention. I think if I ran without my dog and on a track or on trials I might give it a try.
  • yes_i_can
    yes_i_can Posts: 419
    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.
  • swanny320
    swanny320 Posts: 169 Member
    I don't listen to music for a variety of reasons. If I am outside, I enjoy listening to the sounds of birds and things like that. For safety reasons, I also want to listen for cars or in case someone is coming up behind me to do me harm.

    IN the gym, I don't either...mainly because I don't feel like carting an ipod around. I prefer to zone out and clear my head and focus on my running goal for the day.
  • maddymama
    maddymama Posts: 1,183 Member
    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....
  • swanny320
    swanny320 Posts: 169 Member
    Also, I ran as a kid. In fact, I held the 50 yard dash record for my elementary school for 10 years - hehehe (I'd like to beat up the punk who broke it)!
  • corsayre8
    corsayre8 Posts: 551 Member
    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.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I also think that "new" runners have the better...smaller mp3 players making listening to music while running easier. I use to not listen when I was younger, carrying a bulky walkman didn't appeal to me.

    I hated the bulky Walkman hanging on my shorts so I used to run holding it in my hand. But in kind of evened out since many times I had a retractable dog leash in the other and they weighed about the same. :laugh:
  • beckyhope
    beckyhope Posts: 104 Member
    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.
  • katapple
    katapple Posts: 1,108 Member
    So I'm putting it out there to you "RUNNERS".... do you listen to music while running? If I am running by myself, YES! With friends or in a race, NO!

    Do you NEED to listen to music to get through your run?
    same as above

    And the big question.... At what age did you formally start "running"?
    I started running shortly before I turned 28...2 years ago :)
  • Tayla08
    Tayla08 Posts: 94
    I'm 30, and newer to running....never ran when I was in HS or younger...hated it. I run outdoors unless the weather is bad (Iowa) and I normally do take the IPOD...seems to keep me entertained. :smile:
  • amsparky
    amsparky Posts: 825 Member
    I seriously don't think I could run without music. I just finished up C25K in June and music is *crucial* for my jogs.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    Yes, I'm terrible at pacing so I use music to help me pace. I find a tune that fits in with the pace I want to keep and then page through until another one with a similar pace shows up. It also helps me not think about being tired, because I obsess about being tired if I start thinking about being tired. I'm always one earbud in even when I'm with someone. I also don't like to be unaware of my surroundings when I'm road running.
  • LaraeTX
    LaraeTX Posts: 674 Member
    I started running 1 1/2 years ago, age of 34. When I first started running I listened to music. But soon realized that when I finished my run I could never remember what songs I heard during my run. I tried a run without music and, never listened to music again.
  • gibbonm
    gibbonm Posts: 26 Member
    No
    I was a trail runner as a child.
    Now i road run for fitness, i love the quiet and ambient sounds around me,

    On the treadmill though i do listen to music.
  • kicklikeaGIRL
    kicklikeaGIRL Posts: 867 Member
    I agree with what many others said about not running with music in the past---BUT I do think its because I didn't have an MP3 player or i-pod shuffle.... I had a big bulky discman. I didn't run track in high school, I just did road running. Once I got my first I-pod shuffle I started running outside with music (back in like 2006), and haven't looked back since. It doesn't bother me NOT to have music. When I'm struggling mentally I'll use the music to forget the pain. I don't think that its bad either way...I know my grandpa would comment to me and say that "I wasn't a real runner if I had to use music", but I don't buy it.

    I don't stick both headphones in, because I enjoy chatting with other runners on the road, and I like to listen to the things around me. So, if you see me...I'm the weirdo with only 1 earphone in!!
  • RippedNShredded
    RippedNShredded Posts: 30
    For me it depends on my mood. When i'm running with no music, i try and tune in to my surroundings, listen to cars, wind etc. When I need a little motivation I plug my ear buds and tune in to music that gets me going.
  • lclarkjr
    lclarkjr Posts: 359 Member
    I became a runner as an adult and I do usually listen to music when I run. I don't feel like it's a necessity for me, though. I can run without it. I ran my first 10K and my first marathon without music and did so out of choice not necessity.
  • jesienia
    jesienia Posts: 294
    I do listen to music while I run. I constantly have music playing no matter what I'm doing, so running is no different. And I started running 2 years ago, but this is the first year I've taken it seriously and do it almost everyday.
  • jessicamckay13
    jessicamckay13 Posts: 297
    Treadmill: yes, but only one earbud in. I can't stand not being able to hear around me, it totally freaks me out.

    Outside: eh, depends on my mood. If I do, it's only one earbud and I take my 90 lbs dog with me for security :)

    I didn't when I ran in high school, only when I got my ipod.
  • Beckabooflip
    Beckabooflip Posts: 3 Member
    I think that makes a lot of sense. I was never a runner as a child or teenager, in factI hated it. It wasn't until my late 20's I started running, and music for me is a MUST on a treadmill. If I am outdoors I can power through the first mile and a half, and then I'm fine. I love getting lost in the music and end up running an extra 2 miles!
  • aj_rock
    aj_rock Posts: 390 Member
    Music always seems to help, not in a distracting way, but in a rhythmic way. As someone who always had an unnatural gait, the constant time of the beats gives me something to gauge my own footsteps to.
  • stc74
    stc74 Posts: 297 Member
    As a driver I would appreciate street runners to take the ear buds out. I almost got one that darted in front of my car a few days ago. I stick with my treadmill since dodging logging trucks on my road is hard on the ankles when you have to hop in deep ditches.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    No music for me. The couple times I tried running with music was with a walkman and actual cassette tapes....if that tells you anything about how long ago it was.

    I ran for as long as I can remember (started track in 7th grade), although I wasn't a distance runner back then I'd still take the occasional 2-3 mile jog. Took a big gap after college (about 5-6 years of no running at all) before getting back to the occasional run. Now I have been running pretty solid the last 3-4 years.
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    Music pushed me to run harder so a deffo yes!
  • clioandboy
    clioandboy Posts: 963 Member
    Started running at 44, yep I listen to music, I don't have to I occasionally run without but I prefer to have music n I sing and dance as I run too! My neighbours love me especially when I have my psychobilly music playing, good job they don't know English coz some of the lyrics would make their hair curl ;)
  • joehempel
    joehempel Posts: 1,543 Member
    For those that are worried about not hearing cars....is the music really up that loud? I can hear everything around me even with my headphones on. And the music is still nice and clear. I never understood that.
  • clioandboy
    clioandboy Posts: 963 Member
    I just have the one ear bud in but yep even with 2 I am completely aware of my surroundings, in fact I would like to block out more external noise sometimes but I cannot!!!!!
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