If you’re a recreational runner, just trying to stay in shape, do you know that it can sometimes feel boring to spend hours on the pavement. Many people decide to listen to music while they run. Others choose audiobooks or podcasts.
This may seem like an easy choice to make, but it actually comes with some very significant pros and cons. Let’s look at why it may be a good idea and why it may be something that you want to avoid.
The upside
On the positive side, listening to music does make your run less boring. It takes your mind off of the physical effort, which may mean that you can run farther. Some people also indicate that certain types of music will get them more pumped up so that they can run faster than they were otherwise. In this sense, you may actually get more out of your workouts when you listen to music, so it can be a good idea.
Those who run races sometimes do warn against this. If you get used to running with music, you may not run as well during a race if you’re not allowed to wear headphones. But most people who run don’t participate in that many races and are simply trying to stay fit, so they’re more focused on getting more out of their daily exercise then getting into any sort of racing shape.
The downside
The problem is that this is only safe in a very controlled setting, such as a gym. If you’re going to be running on the road, then listening to music is a major distraction. It also cuts out road noise and insulates you from the sounds of sirens, horns, engines and much more. As a result, running outside with music is generally frowned upon because it vastly raises your risk of being struck by a car.
Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it would be your fault if you were hit. Just because you had headphones on doesn’t mean that the other driver isn’t responsible if they broke traffic laws and made a mistake. If that does happen and you suffer serious injuries, then you may need to seek compensation from the driver who is responsible.