Should kittens run to music?

[CaptainEgg]

I have just completed my first run. Huzzah! I have been thinking about doing this for almost 6 years. Im planning on leaving it a little less (one day) before my next run 👍. What do you think about running without music? Is it better not to rely on it?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

If you wish to run to music there are many on Spotify, I recommend Jancanrun's playlist, they are for a slightly older generation, mainly oldies music for runners, it's up to you, you might want to listen to rap, heavy metal, classical, there are so many genres, types of music you can choose from, on the other hand, if you wish to run 'naked', no not that kind, but without any apps or music, that's up to you.

[MarkyD Graduate]

The great benefit of running without music is that you get to hear all of the outdoor sounds - birds, children's laughter, cars driving up behind you. And you get to hear your footsteps - which should be light, but sometimes our footfall is loud and noisy. Also, if you go on to run any road race under UK Athletics rules (with any stretch on a public road), you'll not be permitted to wear headphones.

The great benefit of running *with* music is that it can alter our mood - the right uplifting, "power" song at the right time can get us to the end of a run. And there is the tendency to synchronize our cadence to the beat of the music - again, and good enabler.

I was more troubled by your comment "planning on leaving it a little less" before your next run. You have read the guidelines for C25K haven't you, and you do understand about the required rest day, don't you?

[CaptainEgg in reply to MarkyD]

Thanks! I was planning on leaving it a little less than six years (ie one day instead) before my next run 😂. I would like to learn to run without music if possible so I think I’ll carry on without it!

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to CaptainEgg]

Sorry for my muppetry. I now see what you meant about the 6 year wait and the one day between runs.

[SeeJillRun Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

I still hear all of the outdoor sounds even with my headphones in. I keep the music quiet enough that I can hear my footfall n I love to hear the birds singing too. Plus there’s the safety aspect too, it’s best to be able to hear what’s going on around me. Call me paranoid but I’d rather be able to hear if someone’s coming up behind me

[SlowLoris]

I used the podcasts which have their own music. The upside is that they are set at the right tempo and composed specifically for the process. The downside being the songs are dire. After using the post grad podcasts for a while I just used Spotify.

Now I run without music as it messes with my cadence a bit.

In short, do what works best for you.

[CaptainEgg in reply to SlowLoris]

Oddly enough I went to see a band called SlowLoris last year 😄. I think I’m going to give running without music a try to start with!

[Anna675 Graduate]

I completed C25K without music but I did have my OH to chat with on a lot of runs. Since I graduated I used the C25K+ podcasts but agree with SlowLoris ...the music is awful 😂 I now run with my favourite Spotify playlists when I’m on my own but prefer to chat to my OH when our shifts allow it.

[Jazio Graduate]

Mix it up.... as the runs got longer I found music helped me keep going... I graduated last week and am now trying to do 3, 30 min runs a week.... sometimes with music and sometimes not .... I do find I have a better pace if I listen to music though...