Is it safe to run with headphones in?

I have just started running on pavements since it's dark and the park is closed. I keep the music quiet enough I can hear most other things going on anyway, and I make sure to look right around behind me at every junction before I cross. I also run at busy times so if something happens there will be help around!

Most people I see out on the trail running are wearing ear buds...just don't crank them up so you can hear other things going on

I see a lot of people doing it, but it isn't the best idea. On shared use trails they don't always hear cyclists coming from behind, even when they announce themselves loudly. On city streets they may be unaware of vehicles behind them or coming from a driveway.

czmiles926 wrote: »

Do people run on the pavements with headphones in?
I want to start running and I want to listen to music and use the C25K app but my mum always told me never to walk or run in public with headphones in because you can't hear whos behind you and you're generally less aware of your surroundings. Running without music sounds boring. I know my mum is a bit old school and paranoid about stuff like that but I just wondered what other people's opinions were.

Personally I don't listen to anything when I'm running, but there's not an issue.

Situational awareness and personal confidence are key to your safety. Your main risk is not being aware of a car.

I personally would not do it. It's important to be aware of your surroundings.

I wear ear buds but not so loud I can't hear what's going on around me.

You can buy ‘ bone conduction headphones’ that you hear the sound through your bones just behind your ears thus leaving your actual ears open to hear other noise eg cars, marshals instructions etc. At some races that permit use of only this style of headphone. Of course at some you’re not allowed any headphones at all, but this could be a good compromise for you.

AfterShokz is the market leader brand.

When I did listen to music while running, I would use Yurbuds. They are designed to allow ambient noise to still be heard and were inexpensive. The old style earbuds with foam work well at letting in ambient noise too. Many earbuds are the type that seal to your ear canal, so even with them on low they still tend to block too much ambient noise. Wearing just one, usually in your right ear so you can hear folks coming up to pass on your left, helps with this issue.

I've seen some folks with Beats over the ear headphones blissfully unaware of their surroundings or that someone was passing. I had to tap someone on the shoulder to pass on a narrow sidewalk because he never heard me behind even when I called out pretty loudly. I did have someone wear two earbuds in one of my 50k trail races on mostly single track. Even with the announcement about earphone use before the race, I practically had to shove him aside to pass.

I wear one earbud. I still get my music and Runkeeper stats, but I can also hear things around me.

Where I live a lot of runners, including myself, run with one ear bud in, the other one out and carry a personal alarm. Click a button and an ear splitting noise blares.