Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Rambling

I got home yesterday and I was totally not motivated to run. Finally by quarter to 5 I had put on my running shorts. My roommate was messing around with his sound system and his iPhone which he uses to remotely play music from his computer on the stereo. He knew that I was struggling to get myself out the door for my run so of course he played all the pump up songs he had. Just as I was lacing up my sneakers he played "List of Demands" by Saul Williams (as seen on the Nike "My Better is Better" commercial). This totally got my ready to go, and I really wanted to listen to this song while i ran but I do not run with music. I have an ipod but its too big for running. My roommate suggested I buy a shuffle.

I am not sure about this though - I have heard it is really unsafe to run while listening to music and most of the time I like hearing the sounds around me. The super quiet of the dark mornings or the bustling at 4pm. I am now debating what to do - if I were to get one I am not sure I would use it and if I did I feel like it would only be once in a while.

After hearing that song, I pretty much sprinted my 3 mile run. My right shin felt super tight pretty much the whole way but otherwise I felt really good. I wasn't totally out of breath until about mile 2.5 and then I seemed to get a second wind! ( i love that burst of energy!) I feel really confident now about the race Saturday.

3 miles/20:48/6:56 pace

Tonight I am going to try and go swimming. Some personal situations have escalated recently and it has me really stressed out and I am still really tired. Right now I just want to go home and curl up on the couch in a nice warm blanket and read my book. Its supposed to rain all day today, and the sky is still dark, gloomy and foreboding. Once again my productivity at work is at an all time low!

14 comments:

Felice Devine said...

Wow. That's fast!
I usually don't run with music but, gee, if it could make me pick up my pace a bit, maybe I should!

Nicole said...

GEEZE Speedy! Awesome JOB! I wish music could pump me up enough to take off like that!

I have a nano, and i LOVE it. But i usually run on a treadmill and not outside so traffic isnt really a bother. When i do run outside, i run where its loud enough i can hear it, yet quiet enough i can still hear cars. I also have the nike+ for my nano. If you take the leap to get one, i say get that cuz the nike+ is a fun toy!

Great job!

Julianne said...

I have a Nano but I don't listen to it when I'm on my runs. I like listening to the sounds around me... Not that I'm always aware of my surroundings. Ha! But, it's such a hot topic these days. Both Runners World and Running magazines have written articles about the iPod bans in major races and etc. Veerrry interesting! Anyway, good job blasting through those 3 miles. Holy cow, that's fast! And I hope the swim helps tonight...

N.D. said...

Good job getting out there. You sprinted - I'll say!! You are soo fast! With the ipod shuffle, you could keep it low enough so that you can hear what is going on around you. And if you are running on a treadmill ever you could pump it up!

Brooke Hughes said...

I have an I-Pod but never really use it. If I do, I tune it out and end up thinking about my day or just zoning out. I love listening to the sounds around me as well.

Aron said...

wow that was one SPEEDY run!!!

i almost always run with my shuffle, but i keep it pretty low so i can hear things around me.

Anonymous said...

I don't know how you can run so fast! I don't listen to music when I run, unless I am on a treadmill. I like to be as aware of my surroundings as possible.

Hope things get better with the personal situations you are dealing with.

Melanie said...

I always run with my shuffle and I LOVE it. I just keep the volume down when I'm running alone so that I can hear things. I've never had any problems or felt unsafe. The music totally helps me run better.

Frayed Laces said...

I know it's safer to run without music, but I just HAVE to have some music with me when I run

Meg said...

I think the safety of running with music depends on where/when you run. If I run during the day on sidewalks, I'll feel okay with a nano. If I'm running earlier in the AM before it's too light, or on roads w/out sidewalks or on trails, I like to be able to hear what's around me.

Marcy said...

I'm with Meg. If there is no light out I don't bother to bring the player or I'll have it but not jacked in (if I'm going for a long run and it's going to be light at some point in time) I am too freekin paranoid LMAO!

ncrunner12 said...

I found your blog through Julianne's, looks good.

Holy cow that's a fast run... great job! I run with a nano and really like it, I've heard in the past how music is unsafe and is banned from events and I say that's crap. As long as you're not one of those jack asses you see at the gym blarring Megadeath so the whole place can hear it I think you’re fine. Keep it loud enough to hear it and get the needed motivation but no so loud you can’t hear a car passing by.

I also agree with Nicole, the nike + is great. Keep up the good work.

The Laminator said...

Wow...that's an awesome pace. Very speedy indeed.

As for the music thing, I run with a shuffle...but only when I'm running alone, and never in races. I think it's fine, but like all things, it can become a crutch for some where they can't imagine running without music. But otherwise, in moderation, running with music is pretty enjoyable.

Unknown said...

That was sweet of him to play good music so that you can get pumped up!

That was very fast! Were you breathless at all? I'm still trying to figure out how people run faster...since I am working hard at 8:30. I know I need to just keep on training and one day I'll be able to do 7:00 without struggling!

Great job!