Why is listening to music a hobby jogger move

I mean listening to music isn't that weird. This isn't even unique to running/working out. I like music, and if I'm doing something where listening to music isn't negatively impacting the activity then why wouldn't I want to listen to it? Or listen to a podcast or audiobook? I have a lot of books I want to read.

These are all things that I want to do, but I only have limited time in my day, if I can tie things I enjoy together into one activity of course I will. Maybe if I was somewhere nicer or at a race I'd prefer to be more immersed in my surroundings. But listening to an hour+ of my own breathing isn't some experience I'm dying to have every day.

I listen to music when racing so I don't have to hear everybody I pass huffing and puffing trying to keep up with me for that 50 meters until I drop them.

Most days in the summer I run while listening to my favorite mlb team on the radio.

Jim Ryun brought a radio with him on some runs

Multiple times I've seen Molly Huddle running with one earbud in while on easy/recovery runs in Flagstaff. Good enough for the pros, good enough for me. I listen to music on easy runs.

The definition of a Hobby is "an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure." So by definition, if running isn't a fixed job for you and it's something you fit in and prioritize in your schedule around the work that pays the bills, then it's a hobby. Based on this, most runners are "Hobby Joggers"

The term is just used by the so called "sub-elite" runners that feel superior to other runners and need a little distinction so people know they aren't officially pros, but they take running very seriously in their lives. Fact of the matter is, I make more money every year by posting bullshit on Instagram for brands than they do running. That speaks to how insignificant their running "Hobby" is. They're the same as Hobby Joggers, just very insecure.

Jeez, just do what you want.

I’ve hit he OTQ twice in the last 2 years, and I, along with everyone I know at this level, listen to whatever they feel like.

It’s 2019, and there are way more important things to worry about, so just get in the work and stop worrying about what’s in your ears.

I assume that the thinking is the along the lines of "serious runners" love running so much that they don't need any other distractions or entertainment while running, and anyone who would prefer to listen to something rather than savor the purity of the run clearly isn't as serious.

Personally when I'm doing more serious running--like speed workout days--I don't want to be carrying anything extra or wearing anything extra. Also, when I'm doing short runs I value simplicity and don't want to complicate things by messing around with any extra gear or equipment. So usually the only time I listen to anything when I'm running is on long easy run days, because that's the only time that I'm running long enough to feel like it's worth messing with extra gear and when I'm not trying to run hard enough to care about wearing extra stuff. I guess the other time I would be likely to listen to music is if I'm in the gym on a bad weather day running on the treadmill or trying to take it a little easy on the arc trainer.

Slightly off topic, but what annoys me is all the people who listen to music while racing. Why even sign up for a race if you're just going to isolate yourself in your own head and not be open to interactions with the people around you? You might as well save yourself the money and hassle of dealing with traffic and parking and go run a time trial by yourself. I'm the most anti-social loner most people will ever meet probably, and even I recognize that racing is social experience and wouldn't want to ruin it by isolating myself from it.

Truth is, 95% of us go outside, run, and never interact or even see another person. So being all hardcore and running without music to "stay in tune with your body", or because pros don't do it, is for nothing. Because in reality, no one cares. No one even notices you when you're running or remembers you ten seconds after you slog on by, better yet if you had headphones on or not.

Needing Molly Huddle's approval to use headphones is BS. And thinking not listening to music will reduce injury, is nonsense as well. Listen to music if you want, or don't... no one actually cares. It's just running.

I think of people who are exercising against their wills, forcing themselves to be active to lose weight, as the main consumers of music while exercising.

Obviously there are lots of exceptions, but you don't see too many serious athletes in any sport looking for a distraction from the sport they love.

I used to run with a tiny radio. It was about one inch square. It only did FM/AM, if I'm remembering that correctly. It broadcast the music into the air, no headphones or earbuds option. I only put it on a very low volume. It had a clip. Don't know where it went :(.

Ear buds are bacteria traps and will injure hearing over time.

This is how music was listened to on the go back in the days:

https://i.redd.it/s7gctq27l1i51.jpg

So, serious runners from that time never got in the habit of listening to music on their runs.

If you don’t have $500+ worth of electronics on while running, does it even count?

fattyatthegym wrote:

If you don’t have $500+ worth of electronics on while running, does it even count?

exactly. I can tell a serious runner by what he puts into it. And a serious pair of earbuds completes the look. I mean, who else would be dropping such serious coin unless they were serious about it.

Dumbest thing I’ve read today.

gotta love the elitists in here.

if im by myself, im plugged into a podcast. if im with people, no audio.

Listening to music adds a little challenge to your road run because you can't hear the cars behind you.