Thoughts: Audio & Music while running.

Thoughts: Audio & Music while running.

I suppose we have all tried it-- listening to music or other audio while running. Why does it seem to have such a strong impact on some, and almost none on others? Well, I have a theory. It all boils down to thought.

During different moments of the day, we find ourselves in different levels of thought. Sometimes our minds are focused heavily on the task at hand. Other times we think about one thing while doing another. Lastly, sometimes we zone completely out of reality-- lost in space, if you will.

For some runners, the activity of running is intrinsically exciting. For these folk the thought of running, the mechanical control of the body and breath, and the resultant forward motion is enough to keep the mind actively focused on the act of running itself. These people simply love the act of running. They do not need, nor do they want, distractions of music or other audio. They are much happier focusing on the task at hand.

For many other people, however, the joy gleamed from running comes from the output of the activity not the required input. They enjoy running because of how it makes them feel. Whether they seek relief from stress or simply desire to accomplish a distance or time goal, the "feel-good" aspect is less connected to what one puts into it, but what one gets in return. Therefore, music and or other audio can help occupy the mind, removing focus on the required physical effort, and allowing the resultant benefits to takeover.

Lastly, I feel, those who prefer to "zone-out" primarily fall into the second category. However, they simply don't want and/or need the aid of external audio. These runners simply occupy the mind either with internal thoughts with emptiness.

So what category do you fall into. I would say that most runners will find themselves tossed between the different viewpoints from week to week, day to day, or even multiple times during a run.

Myself? I find myself listening to music or audio during most runs. For me, the thoughts and ideas (specifically not the beat/tempo) are what excite me. When I am actively outputting my own responses to ideas presented to me in either song or speech, I perform better. I become excited and naturally have better form and pace. Contrarily, when I attempt to focus on my form, breath and forward momentum, most of the time I find myself suffering. However, every once in a while, when I feel extra motivated, the self-sacrificing mentality of overcoming the pain and boring through the hard parts are overwhelmingly addictive. In those moments I find my absolute best performance (at least perceived) and most rewarding feelings of accomplishment. For me, though, those moments are less frequent.

So, what's your stance on this matter? Do you listen to music and/or other audio? If so, why? Do you prefer music, audiobooks, comedy, or other types? If you don't listen to music, what do you think about during your runs? Do you focus only on your physical output (breathing, foot-placement, posture, etc.)?