Great job to all who competed in Abe's Amble this morning - the weather was perfect, the crowds were motivating, and hopefully everyone got one more taste of fair food before they left the fairgrounds!
The chapter I'm reading now in The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer talks about associative and dissociative mental strategies. The dissociative approach can make the run go by quicker, whether you daydream and "space out" or listen to music on an mp3 player. However, if you want to enjoy running--for some people this is one of the highlights of their day-- then you don't want to "miss" them by making them go by faster. When you dissociate, your mind is no longer part of the training and all you are training are the muscles in your body.
Headphones are discouraged and even banned in many races for safety reasons. The most recent SRRC FootTrails edition mentions that forgoeing the headphones and focusing on how your body feels may actually make you run faster. This associative technique encourages you to concentrate on your stride, your breathing, and the way your feet hit the ground. It allows you to visualize the trail or course and the finish line. It allows you to connect yourself to whatever lies ahead.We know different approaches work for different people. Some people simply cannot get through a run without their music. I've found that in the company of others I can now turn my music off, but when I'm on my own - it takes everyone from Michael Buble to Def Leopard to get me through the miles. Sometimes a combination of these techniques might work for you as well. Today as I ran Abe's, I didn't wear my headphones, but found myself singing songs in my head (I hope) just to get up the tougher hills.
I'm not sure I'll be able to completely get rid of my music on my runs. I really enjoy my music and just having an uninterrupted hour to listen the shuffle of my mp3 playlists is as enjoyable as running sometimes! And music really does get me through the tough spots.
Whether to employ associative or dissociative techniques is personal, however, I challenge you this week to ditch the headphones for at least one of your runs and focus on the rhythm of your breathing, heart beat, and footsteps. Run with your shadow. And let us know how it goes.....
See you on the road!
Mary
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I will be out of town for the 15 long run. Is anyone running it during the week? I don't think I can do it by myself.
Mary, thanks, I'll see if I can find a good route for us to run.
Mary, this is Jenni G. I am having trouble getting my blogger account to recognize my password!
Anyway, I will volunteer to help with the "back of the packers" if someone faster will agree to run with those at the front. I don't have any water coolers, though. Can we borrow yours for Saturday? Maybe bring them on Tuesday, I can pick them up from you. If you can work on the route, I can get the water set up. If we run the trail, we can put them out at the Wabash/Stanford station, the I-72 curve, Iron Bridge parking lot, or all three, if we can. What does everyone else think?
Interesting posting on the using music while running. I was actually the opposite. For the first/last 8-9 years of my running, I never used music to get me through. Just my heavy breathing, loud footsteps and whiny thoughts going through my head.
This year, I tried using headphones while racing. Im such a rebel...but I kinda wonder if I have been disqualified in my races? I dont see any race points I have accumulated this past year.
Regardless, I actually raced faster or at least I think I do. I used a very high techno, dance beat to get me through the latter part of the race and it really feels great listening. Who would have thought all these years on what I have been missing.
Oh well, Im just a Chucky come late to the party and gets kicked out when he starts having a good time.
Hopefully I can catch you guys this weekend on your long run! Whowha!!!
OK, I'm back with a new display name, must have something to do with the lightning strike we had a few weeks ago...new modem?
Anyway, I just had to chime in on the headphone issue. When I first started, I walked my neighborhood for an hour a day. I had two small kids at home and that one hour by myself I used to relax, zone out, daydream, or listen to ANYTHING but Sesame Street or The Wheels on the BUS go 'round and 'round. I WANTED to dissassociate for just a little while! I used a portable CD player that had terrible radio reception. I wore it in a sort of "fanny pack" that would bump against my hip and kept turning itself off, or it would skip incessantly. MADDENING!! Course, I walked the sidewalks so safety was less of an issue back then.
When I graduated to running, the walkman became useless so I ran without anything for a LONG time. Last year, I bought my RIO sports cali, bought stock in Eveready batteries, and now my music is a piece of equipment just like my shoes. I can't imagine running without it and I am clinging to it for dear life. It works for me, and I am scared to death that ditching it will be the beginning of the end of my running experience. Part of the joy for me is the music.
But here's what I love about running. It can be personal or social. It can be goal oriented or not. Individual vs. Team sport. Bottom line..it's whatever turns you on. Running with music is the right fit for me.
That's why I'm surprised this issue is so controversial. I have heard so much on both sides just lately. I totally see the point about safety in races. And we ALL run at our own risk. But, if it's true, I'll be really bummed if the SRRC has come to the point that they feel the need to disqualify runners using music. I have had such a great time meeting, training, and running with the group this summer. After so many years running alone, hanging out with others who share my enthusiasm and discoveries has been awesome! If there are that many people who feel that adamant about the use of headphones in races, well, I guess I can give it a try. I just hope the few folks who run with me understand that just knowing you are alongside me (or just ahead) is reassuring for me. Don't get me wrong, I like chatting or just listening to you guys chat, too. When I turn on my music, I am NOT tuning you guys out. I'm just using another tool to motivate my body to do what I need it to do.
Sorry I went on and on.
Mary, this is exactly how I feel and you said it better than I could. I just don't want to ever have to choose between running with music alone or running in a group w/o it. I think most of us readily give each other the space to be our own runners in our own way, "live and let live" and all that. Except when it comes to infringing on the safety of the group. For this reason alone, I will TRY to get used to running w/o my phones this week. I want to be able to race w/o the nagging feeling that others are annoyed by my headphones. I would rather focus on my successes than what I did wrong or, worse, having others think poorly of my behavior.
Before this summer, when it was just me logging the miles, racing etiquette didn't factor. Now, suddenly, the thing I used to look forward to is viewed negatively (in races at least and maybe on regular runs as well). I feel strangely aware that I am wearing headphones, in essense distracted in the wrong sort of way. What happened?
When running in the pre-dawn darkness, I am even more aware of my personal safety (weirdos, cars, etc.) So I too, have tried the one-ear approach, and it works well for hearing what you need to hear, but seems to defeat the "lost with no distractions" original reason for wearing headphones in the first place. Ask me sometime about my husband's cousin. He is now paralyzed after being hit by a car while he was jogging in the dark, wearing headphones. Every time I set out alone at 4 a.m., I am reminded of him.
I will try to have an open mind about listening to my body on runs...I guess maybe I am afraid of what it has to say....
Ah, another challenge! Ain't life a hoot?
Or "Ouch, you're hurting me!"
Or "It's time to play Guess What's Making That Sound!"
Or "Here's what I think about last night's Tuna Surprise, thank you very much!"
Or one half of my brain says, "you are freaking crazy" and the other half says, "Yep"
You all are cracking up!
Hey Guys, I can't believe you guys could talk so long about "To listen to music or not" I guess I'll put my two cents in. I usually run the long runs with my Ipod but I don't turn the music on until I get winded. On my short runs, I don't listen to music. Music does take the edge off and lets you relax and takes you back to great memories of when you first listened to that song. I know when I hear REO or Journey it takes me back to my first concert at Alpine valley. When I get into heavy traffic or I'm running on the road (which I try to avoid) I turn my music down so I can hear what is going on around me. I didn't run with my Ipod in the marathon because I wanted to experience everything around me. Which was fine until 19 1/2 miles. I could have really used "Who let the dogs out" at mile 20, if you know what I mean. I'm going to wear my Ipod this year for the marathon but only turn it on when I really need the dogs. I really enjoyed the first 19 miles without music.
O.K. now, I really didn't go to this site to talk about music but that was nice. Russ was suppose to comment on the blog about this weekend. I don't see his comment so I guess I will have to tell the group the plan for Saturday. Russ and I have a plan for a 16 and an 18 mile run for this Saturday. We are planning on running from Panera into Panther Creek around to Mathers then to Bunn Park (for the 18) the 16 mile run would stop before the hill on Stanford and turn around and go back down the trail. We were thinking on saving the trail run for the 20 and 22 mile run because it's a flat course and we will need that for our longest run. We can fill up at Caseys and use the restroom also. Casey's is in Chatham and thats the half way point. If anyone has any suggestions on this Saturdays run by all means post a comment :). See ya Saturday!
Pam or Russ, can you guys map this out with directions? I've never run over there before and need to study the route beforehand or I will definately get lost! A map will help me figure out where to put water for the group, too. Do you think we will still need it? Not sure how many will be running with us on Saturday, now that Abe's is over. Is there anyone else out there who would like a few extra water stops along Pam and Russ's routes in addition to halfway?
If you can stand just one more comment about headphones for running, here's mine: When I'm running by myself, I want to hear traffic that's coming my way. I've logged a lot of miles in predawn hours on streets where drivers never really obey posted speeds, so I want all the warning I can get about oncoming traffic.
Also, during the Lincoln Memorial Half in April, I literally had to whack a woman on her arm to get her to notice that a TRUCK was coming up from behind us. I'd yelled "CAR BACK!" three times but she hadn't heard me.
You don't suppose she was just trying to ignore me because I obviously couldn't tell the difference between a car and a truck, do you?
I plan on being there on Saturday to do the 16. Jenni G - I'll be hanging out with you at the back. Are we still planning on meeting at 6:30 or earlier?
There wasn't much water drank at the stop where Terry placed water. Do you think we need to do this beside at the trailhead? It seems the fuel belt works pretty good. Let me know if there is a good place to put additional water, and we'll take care of it.
Hooray Mary F! I'm so glad you will be there with me on Saturday!! I'm looking forward to the picnic tonight and seeing all of you for our victory dance! I will be bugging several of you for pictures so don't run when you see me coming, just humor me and I will eventually go away!!
PS...I ran this morning 4 miles sans phones and really enjoyed the quiet. Maybe I CAN do this sometimes...
Tim's Two Cents (or maybe a quarter)!
Do whatever makes you get your butt out the door and run!
I have run with music only a few times, but I do know that it helps you pass the time on long runs and it will get you pumped up...which is a good thing.
In my mind, though, the main item is SAFETY. I know a lot of runners who run without headphones and still don't get over to the side of the street or up on the sidewalk when a car comes by. I think if you run against traffic and near the curb on busy streets--or on sidewalks--you will be OK even with headphones. Running on the side also leads to fewer drivers flipping you off!
Runners just need to be smart out there. Remember: car vs. runner...car wins.
As for the club banning headphones or people being disqualified...well, I don't think that will happen and I am disappointed this has kind of become a topic of discussion with our club. It is an insurance issue, but as a race director myself, I would never pull someone out of a race for wearing headphones or pushing a baby jogger...even though it says so in the waiver.
I just started wearing the headphones this season and only since marathon training. During our last long run together, I did get tired and zoned out. Probably wearing the headphones was not a good idea at that stage because I was not paying attention to the traffic. This gives everyone something to think about and to remember to stay safe out there.
See everyone tonight!!
"This year, I tried using headphones while racing. Im such a rebel...but I kinda wonder if I have been disqualified in my races? I dont see any race points I have accumulated this past year."
Sorry if I made it sound like I was actually disqualified for using headphones while racing...I was just saying that in a sarcastic tone in my own inner voice while typing. - LOL
To tell you the truth, I really dont know how the actual point system works and when I try, its still confusing for me. But I am not worrying about that...to many slender sleek looking rabbits in my age group. Guys like me have no chance in winning my age group, but I do have the distinction of being the fastest Filipino world record holder from my block.
Happy Running to all with headphones or not!
Well in that case (considering I have Katie Mcafee in my group), if my brother wants to be the fastest filipino in his block, then I want to be the fastest filipina in my block! HA!
You go girl! Since I would have to take 5 min. off my mile time to beat Karen Rogers, maybe I can be the fastest Italian/French/Irish/Polish person. Hopefully, nobody has that mix. I'm the fastest melting pot on the block! Hey baby, I'm somebody on the block!
Pam, you crack me up! :)
Remember Mary, I am a former Lincolnite and that guy that is never sober on your corner is probably my ex-boyfriend! LOL! (No comments from YOU Chuck! As he is thinking, "I KNOW it is!")
But considering our posts should be about "running" it probably is him as he does "run" a lot~~~ well~~~ from the cops! HA! (Okay enough about my skeleton's in the closet!)
Okay, I'm done... :)
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