TAKE OUT YOUR AIRPODS AND TUNE IN TO NATURE ON YOUR RUN

Whenever I tell people that I hate listening to music while I run, I am often met with

"You're crazy??????!!!!" or "Why would someone do that are you a psychopath?"

I understand the appeal of music while running. Music helps pass the time, and keep track of pacing. Music can motivate! If music works for you, don't stop. Heres my opinion on why running without music can make your workout much more enjoyable.

Living in the digital age, we are constantly stimulated. We stare at screens in class, we stare at them in our free time. If the phone is off, music is probably on. Now, podcasts too. Recently, I became aware of just how much of my time was spent with noise, and not just the hum of New York. Once aware of the never-ending stream of sound, I looked for a way to escape it. I tried meditating, and even just good old fashioned bordem where I stared at the ceiling and twiddled my thumbs. The constant, easy stimulation of the world around us makes it impossible to think.

Outside of reading, my runs are now my quiet time. When I first ran without music, I unlocked a new kind of joy. My mind felt clearer, and more at peace. I felt more present and noticed more details in the path I was on. Listening to music is nice, but it can funnel you down into your own mind. Running without music makes the time pass slower. It makes the work out feel more like a meditation than just something on the To-Do list. So, next time you run, try it without music. Let your other senses take over.

If you refuse to tryt this I hope your airpods die within your first mile.