Is Running with Music Natural?
I had an interesting conversation the other day about running with music. I was posed the question whether or not running with music could be considered in the realm of natural running. I had never really thought about it like that before. The discussing was lively, entertaining, and ended very amiably.
Unlike my friend who considers running with music a modern travesty, I do occasionally run with music. Admittedly I feel more natural and tend to run better without music yet on those long runs when I am a bit tired, cold, or unmotivated I like the company of some rock’n’roll. Some races, including all USATF certified races, have banned music from their sponsored races. They claim this is for runners safety since you don’t pay attention to your surroundings when listening to music. Which is true but banning it does seem a bit extreme.
Now I have read a slew of articles over the years citing the pros and cons of running with music. I even participated in a research study a couple years ago while in college where our heart rate was measured while listening to different styles of music. The categories were hard rock, classical/calming music, your own personal flavor, and no music at all. The study never got published but found that heart rates were lowest with classical and no music. I have also read plenty of published articles where speed and endurance were greatly increased when listening to music for cyclists and runners.
Research can be very difficult to discern and I don’t really care what the research claims about running with music, my question is whether is can be considered natural. Being an avid outdoorsman I hate nothing more than being in the backcountry or on top of a peak and hearing someone talking on a cell phone. For whatever reason this ruins the wilderness experience for me. Yet I can’t hear if someone else is listening to music. I am also an avid shoe minimalist. I am rather popular due to my habits of cutting off the heels of all my shoes as well as running on the local pathways completely barefoot. I tend to assume that minimal is better. Deep down I want to dislike running with music for the sake of it being totally unnatural yet just the other evening I did my local 9 mile loop rocking out to Airborne Toxic Event.
Do I need to repent? I pride myself about natural running, heck I host a website about it. Bu here’s my honest opinion. Call it justification, call me a fence sitter, or call me an elitist depending on your perspective but here’s my take:
Running is good. If the choice is between not running and running, then getting out and going for a run trumps every time regardless of your motivation. If music gets you out the door and on a run then great. I do unnatural things all the time. I use modified trail shoes for 80% of my miles, the rest is barefoot on asphalt or a treadmill, most of which is totally unnatural. However, the holy grail of running, the crème de la crème is going super minimal with no music gliding along a single-track with the smell of pines and views of mountains. All your senses are heightened in that moment and the euphoric feeling in indescribable. Nothing seems to stand in the way as you run to heaven. I’ve had similar experiences listening to music but I’ve also had some great runs in heavy beefy overly-supportive shoes as well, doesn’t mean it makes the run. The runners high seems more imbedded, longer lasting, and doesn’t crash when the next song comes on when running naturally, minimally.
Whatever you choose, whether you listen to music or not, it’s fine with me but take a chance sometime. Try going out without the Ipod and spend that time listening to your body. When the run gets tough, focus on your form rather then cranking up the volume. Don’t always rely on the music to get you that extra mile. But whenever possible…run, when in doubt…run naturally!
