Running With Music

I run with music in training.  Can't in races, but to be honest, there's so much energy I don't even miss it.  No worries, you'll be fine

I'm interested in this as well. I also run with my iPod as it keeps my mind away from the suck factor of running. I find myself obsessed with my breathing or inability to do so when I don't use the music.....

I like your "suck factor". When I'm billing customers I always consider the PITA( pain in the ass)factor. It covers my emotional overhead.
I've not been to any races that allowed music. Most of my racing is adventure racing and I'm new to tris but I think it's pretty much the same.
There's so much going on at the race that you won't miss it. Train hard and good luck

Edited by gullahcracker 2005-07-31 3:35 PM

I was concerned too when I heard i could not race with music. I thought I would need it but there is alot going on in a tri and I found I did not miss it at all. Still rely on it heavily for training. It's the only time I got to really enjoy my tunes. I don't find it distracts me that much from listening to my body. I'm a woman. I can multitask!

I read someone here a couple weeks ago that said that you should try to run without it. "NO FREAKING WAY" I thought, "you can pry it from my cold dead hands!"

The next day was last Monday. It was 80 degrees and 100% humidity at 6 am. I decided to only run three miles and it was too hot to wear earphones, even if they did fit in my ears. I was sweating in the air conditioning. So I went out the door without it.

The first mile was really hard. I missed my baby. I had to listen to my breath.. Then, I don't know, I got into it. I was so hot and it was so wet that I started concentrating on how much the run sucked and how good I would feel when I stopped that I forgot I was not wearing it.

I took Tuesday off the run.

Wednesday I headed out the door for my usual 5 miles and decided not to take the iPod and see how it went. Hmmm. didn't really miss it. Didn't run with it the rest of the week (I am music lover and listen all the time) and was OK. The real test was today. 10 miles, no tunage. I was concerned because I am a dawg slow runner and 10 miles is over two hours when I am taking it slow and easy. I did it. I actually liked my run too. There was no "suck factor" and never has been. In races you can talk to other people unless you are seriously trying to place in an AG and face it, most of us aren't.

Just try it. It's true, most races do not let you wear it but that is for safety reasons. You will survive and I bet even thrive. No one could possibly have resisted giving it up as much as I did and I did it! Will I go back to it? Sure I will. Do I "need" it to run? Nope. I bet you don't either.

Edited by nliedel 2005-07-31 3:48 PM

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my paniting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my panting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my panting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my panting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my panting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Call me a rebel, but I wear mine anyway. Hearing my panting and my feet hitting the ground is pure torture. It's not like I was planning to win anyway and I already have my T-shirt. If I get DQ'd for my radio...so be it!

Hey... did your button get stuck? LOL

Even Linus can go without his blanket for short periods.

If a person can't get up and stay focused during a RACE, then there's something wrong.

I agree with what Chris said in post #2 of this thread.

With all the iPods, Creative Labs and other personal music equipment I see people with when I am running and riding (yes incredibly some people where this stuff while riding a bicycle) I am starting to feel like an antique. I don't really understand the music thing for training.

The value of the time to myself to think and sort out ideas and problems whether while running or cycling or swimming is just too good to pass up. I like to hear how my feet are hitting the pavement or if someone is coming up behind me. I like to hear the gears jog into place and the tires on the pavement. The sound difference between my left arm and right arm hitting the water the sound of other swimmers coming in opposite direction or passing me. There is a symphony of sound in every workout that is so much better than something a major label has canned for mass consumption. It's even better at races.

at the gym, on a treadmill, yup, no prob, love my iTunes.

But for safety's sake, I hope NO ONE has their ears covered out on roads where there are other people on the sidewalk, psycho cars, psycho kids who think it's funny to creep up on you, etc.

It's not safe, and it's inconsiderate.

Enh, I dunno, Possum. I agree that it's probably not completely safe to be running or biking with music in your ears, but I think it's a manageable risk. Where I've run with my iPod is mostly long trails and fairly deserted country roads. On my 7-miler yesterday I saw, like, two cars total. Actually, I saw more dogs than cars, and more cows than dogs. Sometimes the cows just stare at you, which is weird.

Where was I? Oh yeah: I don't think you need your ears for every run, and some trails and country roads are not the same as city sidewalks. So, I think music for training is good. My iPod helps me to forget that I could walk rather than run. Music for racing is bad, and you won't miss it, and I never even think about it for my 5k and 10ks. Too much adrenaline, too much going on, too many people, and you want your ears for the road anyway.

Thanks for your input everyone. I've got a couple of easy runs this week. I'll give them a try with no music. Sounds like I'll survive - It just never occurred to me that players wouldn't be allowed. DUh!