From the June 2012 issue of Runner’s World

Running without music can make you listen to your body

By Jen A. Miller

Every now and then it's worth trying something new to spice up your routine.

TRY Running Without Music
Good tunes can get us through a long, boring run, or drown out the chitchat of the people power-walking on the treadmills next to you. But music can also block sensory feedback your body is trying to give you, and be a distraction. For example, when you run with earplugs, you’re missing out on the sound of your breathing and your footstrikes – important clues that give you an idea of how hard you’re working, says Jessica Underhill, a personal trainer and running coach. “Runners should tune into their bodies more often,” she says. “It will help them be more ‘present’ in their workouts.”

Listening to music all the time, every time, means it loses its value, too. “You can become desensitised to its motivating effects,” says Ben Greenfield, an exercise physiologist, certified coach, and author of Run With No Pain.

Compromise. Greenfield suggests using music strategically. He listens to music only during hard speedwork sessions, for example. Or aim for two weekly runs without the earplugs. If you’re setting out on a long run but still need something to help you along the way, take the tunes but use them intermittently. If you tend to run solo because you don’t like chatting, find a like-minded quiet partner who will put in the kilometres without oversharing.

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