runners | (no subject)

(no subject)

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!

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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.

Don't get earbuds that are too good. I have those that have this... arch-y thing to hook behind your ear, so I don't have to push them all the way in.

I can even hear a bike coming up behind me...

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...

I run with a regular old Ipod and Yurbuds headphones (in size men's large) which do allow an amount of ambient noise to filter through and I never have the volume up all that high to begin with. I usually run on heavily travelled bike/pedestrian paths and I have been surprised a few times by bike riders who got too close, but I think that would have happened anyway.

When I run with the ipod, I usually run with podcasts or audiobooks. This year I've been listening to lots of This American Life, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and I've made my way though the original Hitch Hiker's Guide radio drama from the BBC and also Corraline (Neil Gaiman). Somehow, it seems to me that listening to someone is marginally less distracting in terms of watching out for traffic than music, but that's just me. Since these things are never allowed in triathlon and often not in races, I just got used to running without music and then when the long runs became ridiculously long, podcasts were the way to go...

To sum up - I love the idea of apps that monitor ambient noise, the one-ear solution is a great one, and I just muddle along with the low-tech solution of activity specific headphones that allow ambient noise to filter through combined with keeping the volume relatively low...

I also have to listen to *something* other than my own breath and thoughts to be able to run.

I go the same route

ell does. Noisemaker + Yurbuds. I find the amount of ambient noise to come through more than enough to avoid any cars or other motor vehicles coming my way.
Even with both earphones in.
I just don't have the volume up too high.
(I also don't listen to anything I might become fully absorbed in, because that way lie twisted ankles before road accidents.)

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.

Yeah, that's a good idea. I've got way too many earbuds floating around, so hopefully I can find some that don't block out all the noise but also don't fall out.

It's interesting that you say podcasts and audiobooks are less distracting than music--for me I think it might be the other way around. I'm feeling encouraged to give it a try, though. Thanks!

Thanks! I'm feeling encouraged to give it a try. And, yeah, I'll probably run into a tree if I'm not paying attention.

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