I recently posted on social media that I don’t run with music, and Y’ALL…people were not having it! 🙂 I used to run with music and I’ll still use it when on the treadmill to avoid wanting to stab my eyes out. Kidding. Kind of. I get it though, running can get boring. Some people need something to motivate and pump them up to get started or keep going. That’s cool. If music works for you, that’s great. However, there are some reasons to try running without music. You might be surprised.
Running without music is safer
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Running unplugged allows you to hear what’s going on around you. You’re more likely to hear traffic, animals, other people, any number of potential obstacles that exist in the world. This is especially important when running in the dark and running alone. I can’t tell you how many times I run up behind someone on the sidewalk or trail, making as much noise as possible so they know I’m there, saying “on your left”, etc only to have them shriek as I ran by, because they had their music up.
Running without music helps you listen to your body
One reason I stopped listening to music while I run, is I found myself running to the beat instead of running according to feel. For instance, if you start out with an upbeat song that gets your blood flowing you could be putting out too much energy at the start and tire too soon. There are sites out there that will help tailor your music to your desired beats per minute. I gave that a go, but in the end I still found myself going out faster than I wanted some days and not pushing to my full potential other days.
At first, the thought of listening to your own ragged breathing might be alarming, but not only will you get used to it, you’ll learn how to breathe more intuitively and keep your heart rate in check.
Relax on your run
Ok, some of you might be laughing at me here. Running and relaxing in the same sentence? It might seem like an oxymoron but running without music and other distractions allows your mind to wander, often focusing only on the run and the beauty that surrounds you. This can be quite relaxing and even therapeutic. Let yourself unplug, even for a short time in your day.
Many races discourage music
Getting used to running without music can help set you up for success if you run a race. Some races discourage music to make sure you hear safety announcements, other runners, etc. Some actually prohibit running with headphones altogether. Many races do have on course music which can help break up any monotony. If you really find this idea terrifying, try a scenic race route and make sure you take it all in!
Let running solve your problems
Sometimes, as my mind wanders I find myself coming up with solutions to problems or roadblocks in my life that I haven’t been able to get past. There’s something about getting outside, zoning out and being in the fresh air that can really give things a new perspective. Are you ready to give it a try? 🙂
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