My friend and I decided to go on a one hour run over the weekend. As I was getting ready, I picked up my iPod and said, “Are we bringing iPods?” It is always a question I ask when I run with a friend. I’ve asked this to my friend Melissa, who trains and races with me. I’ve asked Meghann when she ran a race with me. I’ve asked my adorable baby brother when he ran with me in the Floridas! I never want insult a friend by bringing an iPod when they were planning on talking and catching up; at the same time, I don’t want to be the one without an iPod when they plan on rocking out to their own music!
So I always ask.
“My iPod’s not charged.”
Oh.
A plea:
“My new iPod plays music out loud! Look! We can both listen!” as I pressed play to Guster’s Amsterdam filling up the room.
A cheap attempt. Obviously the tiny tinny iPod sound wouldn’t hold up on the street with cars and other city sounds. We both knew I was grasping at straws. I had to admit defeat. No iPods would be used during this six-ish mile run.
Why was I nervous? Sure, I could run without music. I’d done it before. On our 11 mile training run, Melissa, Ashley and I ran the first nine miles with no music before deciding to pop in our earbuds and zone out for the final two.
But we had our iPods that day. We had the option of listening at any time. There’s a certain level of comfort in knowing I have my music, even if I don’t actually use it. At least I know it is there. The only other time I didn’t even bring my iPod was when I ran with my brother in the Floridas, but I was running a little less than four miles so it was what I consider a “short” run — anything under one hour. But this weekend, we planned to run for about an hour, making this a “long” run in my book. And the idea a long run without the option of my music made me a little nervous.
(On a “short run” race with friends — no music. See – I can still be happy!)
So we set out. For the first mile or so, I thought I might go insane. I kept thinking about how long this first mile was taking and how I would have to do about five more just like it and how would I get through it and would I have to give up? I remembered my reward at the end of the run: breakfast. And of course, how great I usually feel after a run — but would I still feel so great? I tried to focus on my breathing; in on the left foot, out on the right. And once that first mile I was done, I stopped missing my iPod. In fact, I stopped caring about it at all. The run was awesome!
I was not in pain. I was seeing new sights. I was weaving around people participating in an AIDS walk. I was talking to my friend. I was also not talking to my friend. My knee was not hurting. I was thinking a lot. I even had that Guster song Amsterdam stuck in my head, so I kind of had my own little soundtrack of one. Aaaaand now it is stuck in my head again. Great.
With all the novelty of the run — running with someone new, running in a different place, strategizing how to best dodge the AIDS walkers (and then dodging them as fast as possible!) — all helped make this one of the most non-boring runs I’ve ever even had.
Really, running with another person is always better than running alone for me just because someone else being there, going through the same thing at the same time, is entertaining in its own way. When I run with friends, the run flies by.I still like to run by myself a lot of the time and zone out to music and be on my own timetable, but in general I’ve found that my runs are much more interesting with a friend. Even if we don’t say much.
I’ve read a number of times that it is important to run without music sometimes. You can really just think without distraction, work things out, let your mind drift, listen to your own breathing, listen to your feet hit the ground, establish a rhythm and a stride that you might not have otherwise. And lots of races — especially marathons — frown upon or even straight out ban the use of headphones. In fact, my friend over at iRunnerBlog recently wrote a post about just that!
Of course, my thoughts are much more fun when I have my music since a lot of my running music is pretty ridiculous/humorous. And that is when I get the best ideas for blog posts. And when I think lots of funny thoughts that make me think I am a hilarious person, even if I might forget most of them as soon as I get home. Â I also look forward to my playlists — they really motivate me!
(But I really do love my music!)
That said, I think both sides have their strengths, though I do not agree with any decisions to ban headphones from a race. For a long race, I need all the motivation I can get. When I’m running with friends, on the other hand, that is all the motivation I need!
Do you like to run with a friend or by yourself? Do you ever ditch the iPod at home?
21 comments on The Sound of (Running) Silence
1Pingbacks & Trackbacks on The Sound of (Running) Silence
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[…] June 6, I reflected on running without music. And we all know how much I like my running […]
Amanda
June 8, 2010 at 12:31 pm (14 years ago)I love running with friends especially on longer runs. It really helps to make the time go by. I never bring my ipod when running with friends. I dont listen to music during short races. I will bring my ipod for half marathons but I dont usually turn it on bc I like talking with other runners. I also make sure to run at least 1 run a week without music.
Margaret
June 8, 2010 at 12:34 pm (14 years ago)I usually run by myself with my iPod. When I was training with my roommate for the More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Half-Marathon though, we left our iPods behind and usually chatted during the run. It definitely made the time go by more quickly! I’m not sure how I’d feel about running a marathon by myself without my iPod though — I’m pretty sure I would NOT enjoy it, so hopefully headphones are allowed at the Chicago Marathon!
Mallory
June 8, 2010 at 12:50 pm (14 years ago)You should try to work in a picture of you running into every post. I think it really brigtens things up around here 🙂 I think you are at your shiniest in those pictures!
Rachel Wilkerson
June 8, 2010 at 12:57 pm (14 years ago)I def have done a few ipod-free runs and it can be really nice once in a while!!
I didn’t used to like to run with friends but it’s definitely something that has grown on me! Social-cizing!!
Scott
June 8, 2010 at 1:25 pm (14 years ago)Great post! Some of my best decision in my personal life and ideas for work and my blog come when I am running. I have this ongoing dialogue with myself that is much cheaper and effective than laying on a shrinks couch. Running 1 – Shrinks 0.
Dori
June 9, 2010 at 8:33 pm (14 years ago)You are inspiring me to try it on my own sans musicos!
MelissaNibbles
June 8, 2010 at 1:31 pm (14 years ago)I couldn’t run without my ipod. You are a much stronger woman than I!!
Jen, a priorfatgirl
June 8, 2010 at 4:14 pm (14 years ago)The longest I’ve ever run is a 5K and can’t imagine what it would be like to run any longer without any music. The music drowns out my own thoughts of giving up, stopping to walk or catch my breath and the little hissy fit that normally takes place. That said, I have run with friends and left my music at home but in those situations, talking normally occurred. I love that you asked if you should bring your IPod
Santana
June 8, 2010 at 4:24 pm (14 years ago)I sing puppy songs to myself while I run! Unless I run with a friend like you! Then I try to jump straight up in the air as often as possible, which is hard to do with any musical distractions!
Dori
June 9, 2010 at 8:33 pm (14 years ago)What is a puppy song?
Lindsey @ Eat, Read, Run
June 9, 2010 at 12:00 pm (14 years ago)I definitely like running with other people. But, I feel like I push myself harder when I run alone. I do some runs with an iPod and some without. If I’m running on the East River and I know I’m heading way up into the 120s, I don’t wear an ipod. I want any strange bystanders to know I’m fully alert and aware of my surroundings and not zoned out in my music.
I think that my reliance on my iPod has lessened over the past two years. I didn’t run either marathon with an iPod b/c it wasn’t allowed and once you’ve done that length sans music, everything else seems easy peasy to run without.
Bess
June 9, 2010 at 1:05 pm (14 years ago)This brings up a great dilemma! I personally prefer to run by myself with my iPod because the music really helps me stay in the zone.
That said, I do have a couple friends I can run with because we either both are of the “go your own pace, listen to your music” mindset, OR we run at a similar pace and socialize during the run.
I agree with you Dori that headphones shouldn’t be banned for long races…it should be your choice whether you want to rock out or zone out.
Bridget@PavementandPlants
June 9, 2010 at 1:15 pm (14 years ago)I much prefer running by myself. Sometimes I wonder if thats because I really do prefer that or just am scared I won’t be able to keep up. I’m also a lover of the ipod. Sometimes I run without it but thats a rarity.
At my first marathon, mile like 4, someone yells “STOP LISTENING TO MUSIC AND JUST RUN” at some ipod wearing runners. They weren’t in the way or anything that guy was just being a d-bag. It kind of put a damper on the whole thing. As long as you keep them low enough to hear stuff going around you, it should be a person’s choice.
Nora@LifeLifeEatRight
June 10, 2010 at 12:18 am (14 years ago)Hahaha I was just thinking this same thing a few days ago when I went for a run with my dad. I don’t even think it has anything to do with the music. I oddly think that having an “ear piece” in my ear is like my running security blanket. Weird, yes, but true! Love the blog!
Katherine
June 11, 2010 at 1:52 pm (14 years ago)I love the peace you have about running and the joy it adds to your life! I run alone mostly to get my thoughts out; even music can be too distracting sometimes.
Katherine
Nicole
June 12, 2010 at 8:49 am (14 years ago)I would love to run with an ipod but everytime I try (even got specail earphones for exercising that are suppose to stay in your ear) they fall out! Maybe I need to get a better brand. I usually run at night so I do like how peaceful it is outside. I always run with my best friend, my dad! 🙂
Heather @ Side of Sneakers
June 12, 2010 at 10:18 am (14 years ago)I run without an ipod every once in awhile just to mix things up. If I did it all the time I think I would get bored, but because it’s such a change from having music, I think it becomes motivating in it’s own way. 🙂
shelby @ eatdrinkrun
June 14, 2010 at 12:01 am (14 years ago)I find myself running with people/sans music about 50% of the time, and alone+iPod the other 50%. I think that’s the right mix for me! I definitely love running with other people – joining a club was the best decision I ever made! – but having some run-time alone with my thoughts (and music) is nice too.
Also, I love Guster. Good call.
diana@mymarblerye
June 14, 2010 at 9:37 am (14 years ago)I HAVE to run with music…it makes me run faster. I also like to run by myself. Running with someone tends to push me to go too fast and I burn out or I go too slow and I get ansy!
Ashley
June 14, 2010 at 12:06 pm (14 years ago)It was refreshing for me to read that you struggled with the first mile. I thought it was only newbies/strugglers like me who struggled like that if something was off.
That said, I don’t run outside with music, ever. It really creeps me out. In Pennsylvania, I had an awesome running buddy who’d talk my ear off and make the miles fly by. Here, I run on the track while my fiane walks.