Music on the course

Stolen from www.timtim.com

On my way to work this morning I was thinking about music. Actually, I was thinking about why I am not a fan of going from any point A to any point B, be it walking, running, or taking the train, with earbuds in my ears. Okay, let me rephrase that. Of course, I started to think about it with why I don't listen to music on my runs. If you flip back a few pages to the beginning of this blog you will read that in the beginning I did listen to music on my training runs and during races. I quit doing it, though, because it was a hassle to deal with bouncy wires and sliding earbuds, and I never had the money to buy a decent pair for my workouts or the patients to find the best routing of the wires from my phone to my ears. Why did I never make it a priority to figure it out or spend a few bucks (like I would when it comes to shoes, shorts, or gloves)?

I hate using the car. Every time we go West to visit family I am dreading the accumulated time I would have to sit in a car just to do simple errands or going on a trip. I don't drive so I always end up being the copilot but it is the fact that I am very restricted when it comes to interacting with my surroundings that makes me not look forward to taking the car. When I sit in the car all I have are the other people in the car, the radio that is usually playing nonstop, the stale air that gets blown around, and that seat that gets more uncomfortable the longer I have to sit in it. I cannot just stop and look at something that caught my eye. I can't touch a fence or the leaves of a tree or the flowers that I think look interesting and need my attention. All I hear is road noise, whining kids (okay, a bit unfair to my kids because they are actually very good kids when it comes to road trips), the same music over and over, and the sometimes forceful conversations just to bridge the time. I feel isolated and forced when I have to use the car.

When I put music into my ear on my commute, on my walks or runs, and during my races, I feel the same kind of isolation. When I got a new iPod many moons ago there was a time when I listened to music every time I stepped into a train or walked to/from work. It got old very fast and I started to leave it at home. I love music but I don't love it that much that I would want to shut out my surroundings. I love the latter a lot more because it empowers me and all my senses are available to enjoy life around me. Even though the homeless guy begging for money or the group of subway acrobats shouting "It's showtime!" are annoying but they complete my experience. I would not want to miss it.

And during races? Besides the usual recommendation from race directors to keep the volume at a level so you can hear instructions and warnings I think listening to the sometimes thousands of running shoes hitting the asphalt instead is a lot more entertaining and especially motivating.

Keep on running, and try it without music once.