Every time we lace ’em up and hit the road, there’s a decision we have to make before we step out the door: Take the headphones or leave them at home.
If you’re someone like me — who is simply incapable of washing a single dish without some 90s song playing in the background — you’re almost always packing the music for your workout.
It’s a welcome distraction. That’s the best way I can describe running with music. Sometimes an upbeat tune will inspire you to pick up your pace, while a slower song can help you relax and shake off tension. If you’re into maintaining a steady pace while actively engaging your brain, try listening to a podcast.
No matter how you consume it, the media we process to our ears will usually bring a certain level of entertainment and help the workout pass faster.
But like I said before, it can be a distraction. You have to have razor-sharp traffic awareness, and not just for yourself, but also for the drivers on the road who are often more distracted than we are. If you’re running in tight quarters on a crowded trail, you have to have that same kind of consideration for your fellow runners, hikers, and riders. If someone is shouting “Passing from your left!” and you can’t hear them, you might just find yourself in a nasty collision. Many races flat out ban the use of headphones, and I can’t say I blame them.
I love running with that “welcome distraction” in my ear as much as anyone, but I also understand that there is a time and a place for it, just like anything else. My rule of thumb is to leave my AirPods at home if I’m headed to a group run, race, or an hours-long trek in unfamiliar territory where the loss of a phone battery can have very real consequences. My second rule — keeping volume to a minimum — should be common sense, not just for the sake of your eardrums, but the world around you, as well.
Taking a break from headphones can be hard if it’s the only way you know how to run, but if you give it a chance, you might just find that taking in the scenery and having a conversation with your fellow runner is also a proven way to make our runs more enjoyable.
No matter how you like to take in your run, stay safe out there and respect your surroundings, my running friends.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
Rain, shine, or snow, runners always seem to find their way to the starting line.
That was certainly the case for Greencastle’s Matthew Smith, who did not allow weather to be a deterrent at last weekend’s Run to Read Half Marathon in Fairmont, W.Va.
Competing in cold and snowy conditions, the 45-year-old Smith clocked a time of 1:31:32 to finish sixth in the field of 160 runners.
Bill Dann, of Chambersburg, was also competing on the 13.1-mile scene, posting a 1:31:19 at the North Park Half Marathon in Allison Park. The effort earned Dann third place in the 50-59 AG.
Finally, a pair of Chambersburg women traveled to Bay Lake, Fla. to compete at Walt Disney World Marathon weekend. Amie Lynch (2:12:59) and Danielle Rhoads (2:12:57) both ran the modified half marathon race, which was shortened to 7.12 miles due to the weather. In the days prior to the race, Rhoads also completed the Disney World 5K in 57:53 and the 10K in 2:00:41.
And now, a look ahead:
Luau 5K/10K: Saturday, Jan. 27, 8 a.m., in Manheim. Start thinking warmer thoughts with this Hawaiian-themed race, put on by US Road Running. Register for the race on runsignup.com.
Jacobus 5 Miler: Saturday, Jan. 27, 9 a.m., in Jacobus. Dallastown Intermediate School will serve as the new backdrop for this race, part of the York Road Runners Club Winter Series. Learn more at yorkroadrunners.com.
Run Your Ice Off 5K: Sunday, Jan. 28, 1 p.m., in Chambersburg. Cap off IceFest with this competitive race, which begins in the center of the festival and runs down Main Street. Check out the event on timberhilltiming.com.
Also: Viking 5K/10K (Saturday, in Akron); Frozen Foot 5K/10K (Sunday, in Elizabethtown); Chilly Cheeks Trail Run 11 Miler (Sunday, Jan. 28, in Reading); State College YMCA Indoor Triathlon (Sunday, Jan. 28, in State College).
