(no subject)

[thalia]

As my long runs get longer, it's becoming clear that I need to be listening to music or audiobooks or something while I run, in order not to die of boredom. The problem is, I do pretty much all my running on the street, especially right now when everything is still covered in a bunch of snow, and I live in a fairly densely-populated suburb with lots of car traffic. There aren't any long off-road paths near my house. I've always been nervous about using earphones while running with traffic around, because I'm afraid of not hearing traffic.

So I'm wondering, what's your experience? Do you think I could get away with having one earbud in if I stay on lightly-trafficked roads? Should I just bite the bullet and drive somewhere I can get a long run in on a path? Should I leave off the music and get even better at daydreaming? I'm running out of work problems to solve while I run. [g]

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

Comments

[lightgetsin]

If your music source is an IOS device, there are apps which will monitor ambient noise and kill the feed to your headphones if something is too loud. It may or may not work in a busy area -- you might have to set your noise threshold too high and thus negate the benefit, but worth a try. But otherwise yes, in my experience as a blind traveler in dense urban environments, the one-ear solution is perfectly safe.

[franzi1981]

Not just for iOS. In fact, this one sounds great:

http://evolver.fm/2012/08/14/the-best-android-music-app-for-not-getting-run-over-by-a-car/

It'll mix the outside sound that's above a certain level in with your music so you can still hear it...

[thalia]

Thanks--I had no idea that apps like that exist, and that might be just the thing. I'll have to give one of them a try.