I never listen to music when I run. I'm comfortable with my own thoughts. I do like scaring the heck out of Ipod wearers though. I have yet to come up behind some one wearing one that is even the slightest aware of their surroundings. They always jump when I go around them. Always. You need to keep your wits about you.One young lady spun 180 degrees in the air with a look of pure terror when I told her I was "on your left". Great fun!

I just started running a few weeks ago. Ive been doing the C25k, so I have to listen to my ipod to hear when to walk and when to run. However, I used to walk every single day and I HAD to have music or I got bored.

Music and running is a very big topic. I run in college and what I do when i go for 15 mile runs i put some music on to not get so bored, but if i am doing a work out or doing a run that needs to have a certain pace i will never put music on. NCAA races dont allow you to use music so I would rather train in the same conditions as my race. So i think music helps me get through really long runs but it does influence the pace.

I will run with music, and without it.  But, you can get very dependent on an MP3 player for your runs, and get into deep trouble when you sign up for a race that bans them.  They can be a huge distraction from traffic, passing runners/bikers, etc., but that's also the beauty of running with music.  You can drown out the whole world.  I'm not so much listening to the music, as using it as white noise.  I get lost inside my head, thinking through all of the problems that have been weighing heavy on me.  And, the not so heavy stuff, like what I'm going to cook for dinner, wear on that date tomorrow night, or what I'm going to get my grandmother for her birthday next month....Music is a way to lose yourself in your run, and forget about the hard work your body is doing, or how many miles you have left.  This is why I love running with music if I'm going on a solo run, and get kind of sad if I realize my ipod battery is dead as I'm walking out the door.  However, if I'm running with others, or in an area where I need to be aware of my suuroundings (a new park, or a wilderness area where I may run into creatures, or a sketchy part of town), I will leave the earbuds at home, and just enjoy the sounds of nature, traffic, life :-)

If I can listen to music, I am all for it.  Normally when I am on my own I am running to heavy metal or hard rock...the tempos help change up the pace.  Plus it helps me clear my head, however I still remain vigilant to my surroundings, especially when I am running on the streets.  Now on the other hand, when I am pt'ing my Marines or running with my peers, headphones are a NO-GO on base.  But that is where good ole Marine Corps Cadence comes into play.  If the Marine calling cadence can sing a good tune it motivates us all.  Cadence forces you to breath and pace your breathing plus keep everyone in step so you are not tripping over the feet in front of you.

I have the same problem as TweetyPie with small ears.  The apple ear buds do not fit in my ears.  I usually end up buying the kind with the little plastic caps that come with an assortment of sizes so I can pick the right size.

Monkey in the Middle,

Have you already registered for the Hollywood Half?  If so, I'll see you there!  There's also a brand new Rock N' Roll Half in Pasadena that I'm running too; it's in February.  Happy training!

...I can't run with music, for some reason; I find my pace changes with each song change, so it ends up being one more thing I have to concentrate on.  I wish I could, because music motivates me during almost any other activity!

I need three things when I run:    Music, Water and Gum.   I also have the luck of needing an inhaler when my allergies kick in causing ashtma conditions.

I have ran without music before and it's do able, but I trained wearing ear buds and I am just to use to it.  When I can strap on my running shoes and blast Rage Against the Machine in my head for 30 minutes it makes life a little similar.