To listen to music or not listen to music can be a contentious element amongst runners. Many like to listen to music as a "distracting element" to enable a runner to zone out and "be in their own world" during a run, whereas those who do not listen to music like to "take it all in". Here, the topic will deal with those not listening to music.

For many runners, running is an event in which one wants to be cognizant of his or her surroundings. Not only can one navigate around traffic more if one can hear vehicles coming, but one can also hear the peculiarities of a run. Undoubtedly, if one runs enough, one will hear various comments directed towards them. Some are run, some are random, and some are motivating. Quite a few times I have received motivational comments from people while out on a run. I would not receive those if I wore my MP3 player for the run. A little thing like that can go a long way as someone else wants to urge you forward. On the other hand, if you happen to run under a train while one is rumbling along, you will meet a very loud, violent, and powerful force meeting your eardrums. But, it adds something to your run and distracts you for the moment (plus it gives you more motivation to pick up the pace temporarily).

From wear the ambivalence comes as to whether or not to listen to music, is the "downtime" that comes with listening to music. When listening to music, you may have your absolute favorite song playing. But then what? The next song surely will not compete with your favorite song and your excitement is gone. That is from where the ambivalence comes. A few people do not listen to music because of ups and downs that comes from listening to a variety of songs. When the music is off, ostensibly the problem does not exist.

If you listen to music while running, perhaps you want to give a music-less run a try. Although too many people who run without an MP3 playing may be snooty, running without music opens up a new realm to your runs. The little things one picks up during a run makes it that much more enjoyable.