For many years, I have trained while listening to music. Many people have criticized me for doing so, and, at one point in my "career," they convinced me that I should stop doing it because "real runners don't train with music." I have become wiser since then.
I started listening to music while I ran during winter break of ninth grade. I had received a "running walkman" (a walkman with a handstrap that made it more portable than a walkman without a handstrap) and Taking Back Sunday's first album for Christmas. I happily used both gifts. After listening to "Cute Without the E," I selected it as my running song and listened to it exclusively while training.
I grew in tenth grade, crossing the 5'4"/105lb mark. I also stopped cutting runs. My new body and training ethic allowed me to train with real runners (who NEVER listened to music while they trained). Reluctantly, I abandoned my walkman.
Eleventh-Grade-Me policed headphone usage on the PFXC/T&F teams. Big Ant policed it, too. Never again would I run with music.
I started listening to music while I ran during winter break of ninth grade. I had received a "running walkman" (a walkman with a handstrap that made it more portable than a walkman without a handstrap) and Taking Back Sunday's first album for Christmas. I happily used both gifts. After listening to "Cute Without the E," I selected it as my running song and listened to it exclusively while training.
I grew in tenth grade, crossing the 5'4"/105lb mark. I also stopped cutting runs. My new body and training ethic allowed me to train with real runners (who NEVER listened to music while they trained). Reluctantly, I abandoned my walkman.
Eleventh-Grade-Me policed headphone usage on the PFXC/T&F teams. Big Ant policed it, too. Never again would I run with music.
2 real 4 headphonzAs a college sophomore on winter break, I decided to re-try running-with-music. I was unmotivated to run alone. So, in typical winter fashion, I waited to run until the latest possible hour, went to the gym, and hit the treadmill. Fourteen miles and eighty minutes of Bloc Party's "Flux" later, I realized that running with music was The Way.
Since then, I have trained while listening to music, podcasts, and the TV. Occasionally, I have run without headphones.
"Running-with-music," for me, has always meant repeating one song for many consecutive runs. Each time that it has been time for a new song, I have tried a few songs and then settled on one. "Kissing Families" by the Silversun Pickups was my running soundtrack for many, many runs (perhaps three seasons worth). It was the perfect song for the speed at which I ran. Today, I am sorry to write, Elliot Smith's "Angeles" keeps me at the right pace.
By listening to the links, you ought to be able to gauge my fitness levels from different times in my life. Surely, doing so will alert you to the degenerate state of today's fitness.
Since then, I have trained while listening to music, podcasts, and the TV. Occasionally, I have run without headphones.
"Running-with-music," for me, has always meant repeating one song for many consecutive runs. Each time that it has been time for a new song, I have tried a few songs and then settled on one. "Kissing Families" by the Silversun Pickups was my running soundtrack for many, many runs (perhaps three seasons worth). It was the perfect song for the speed at which I ran. Today, I am sorry to write, Elliot Smith's "Angeles" keeps me at the right pace.
By listening to the links, you ought to be able to gauge my fitness levels from different times in my life. Surely, doing so will alert you to the degenerate state of today's fitness.
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