Are audio books the answer?

I suppose like everyone else I have good days and bad days when running. I can get up and feel on top of the world but then when I get out on my run every step seems an effort. Then there are the odd days that I feel lethargic and seriously consider giving it a miss that day, but once out I feel great. Luckily most days I am keen to get going and enjoy the run.

Since the lockdowns were introduced I have mainly been running solo with only my phone and a variety of music for company. I just go out and run with what ever my choice for music is for the day.

I run 5k every day but double that to 10K once or twice a week.

One of the (possibly controversial) topics I have seen on this site a number of times is the 30 minute/5K barrier so out of interest some time ago started to record my times, firstly just with my phone and since Christmas on my FitBit. I saw a great deal of variation in my 5K times, sometimes 30-40 seconds between one run and the next. Initially I thought that this was just the difference in the time I took to start and stop the app on the phone but my FitBit has shown similar figures. Surprisingly, the time it took did not seem to relate to how I felt the run had gone, some runs I had felt had gone really well were quite slow. It seemed that I am just an inconstant runner.

A couple of weeks ago I found my old iPod which has not been used since my daily commuting days and it still worked!! Half of the music tracks on it were from bands I don't even remember but what I did find was quite a few audio books that I have no idea where they came from. I started listening to one last week and got hooked.

When I went to go for a run, there was my iPod next to my phone so grabbed it, stuck the headphone in and off I went. Within the first 100m of walking I realised this was going to be awkward, there is a reason why bluetooth headphones caught on with runners!! At that point, I had a brilliant idea, thread the headphone lead down the arm of my top (as I was carrying the iPod in my hand). I should have gone home to do that instead of doing it while walking as I got some strange looks.

OK, so running with an iPod in your hand is not ideal but it worked. It was not until I got home that I realised I had gone past the point where I had my fall and had not thought about it. I had been engrossed in the book. One good point for books!

My husband found it just as amusing watching me de-wire myself and asked why I didn't just transfer the books to my phone. Of course I knew I could do that but he needed the practice so I left it to him.

The rest of the week had me listening to the twists and turns of the novel as I negotiated the twists and turns of the roads.

At the weekend I checked the times taken to run my 5Ks and they were surprisingly consistent for those I did while listening to the book. All 5 runs were within 10 seconds of each other, even the first one. OK, it is only over a few runs but a marked difference to my other runs. I am going to keep with these books instead of music and see how I go.

[Hidden]

I like listening to books when I'm driving long distance.

You can get free books on librivox..

Also look into podcasts they can be interesting.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I voiced two poems on Librivox a good few years ago. I ought to contribute again.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I’d recommend a flip belt to carry your phone, iPod, keys, mask or anything else you need and you can thread your ear plug cable under your shirt and through the neck.

Podcasts are also great for taking your mind off the run. And you can probably get these on your phone too. Have fun

[nowster Graduate10]

I usually listen to podcasts. Some are specifically made as podcasts. Some are BBC Radio programmes available as podcast.

[Juliet202 Graduate10]

I agree that listening to something absorbing that engages either the imagination or the intellect can really help distract the mind from ‘how hard this running malarkey is’. It depends on mood but I’ve taken to listening to philosophy podcasts - I don’t always understand it all but it certainly keeps one absorbed !!

[Hidden in reply to Juliet202]

Wow, educate your mind while getting fit!!

That has given me an idea, I have some foreign language learning CD's somewhere, maybe I will try one of those.

[Irish-John Graduate10]

I have three collections of favourite songs for running

Each is an hour and thirty minutes, give or take five minutes, long.

They help me keep my pace, gauge my distance, and a lot of positive memories come to mind. The bonus is, in long events - ten milers, HMs, and the one FM I've done so far - it really helps me to "know" I have run the distance already to the end of the songs - certainly kept me going in the FM

And, knowing them off by heart at this stage, sometimes they just lull me into the state where you are thinking of other things and really not realising the miles are flowing by

Kind of "Zen Running courtesy of Kate Bush and Co."

I wear what y'all there call a "bum bag" to carry my player, keys etc. Handy enough and its fun when you have to adjust it every now and then as you lose a bit around the waist - and its also an "Early Warning Signal" that you are backsliding if you find yourself having to let it out a bit LOL.

Wishing you many happy miles in your future

[Rising60]

You may also be able to download free audio books from your county's library service.

[WeavingWonk Graduate10]

I can't listen to music while I run. It messes with my feet. My feet want to run in time to the music. So depending on the tempo, I might speed up or slow down in time to the next song. I did music during c25k as I think the music on the podcasts (if it can be called that) is designed for the right tempo. I now always listen to books or podcasts.

[Hidden in reply to WeavingWonk]

When I di the C25K there were 8 of us in a group and although we did separate a bit, didn't get too far apart. I think that regulated our speed. We had promised not to leave anyone behind.

Once the lockdowns kicked in and I ran on my own, I just ran at a pace I felt comfortable with (while listening to music!!). I had got to about 8.5K by increasing by small increments. One day I ran with one of our group that had already mastered the 10K. I could tell we were running slower than I normally did but was amazed that we completed the 10K and I could have probably done more. It was then that I realised I should try to regulate my pace (but failed miserably). I tried different music, I tried hear rate monitors but nothing worked (including the heart rate monitors after a week, ebay crap!!). I did eventually got there but at my normal pace.

What I could see from my split times for a 5K was that although I would start off at a slower pace, half way through I just forgot and went back to my normal pace. I could see the first 2K were slower than the third and fourth and then slowed a bit for the 5th. If I just run without trying to adjust my speed, my first Km is the fastest, then I slow a little on each of the following.

I just checked the split times for my audio book runs and although the same is true, there is a lot less difference between each Km.