maybe this is it wrote:
Because when you race you most def wont wear headphones and will need to concentrate on the race. The same goes for training, instead of being distracted by music in order to "drown out" your long miles, learn to enjoy the drawn out process that requires plenty of concentration. With headphones in one tends to lose track of how they feel and their concentration is on something other than running. Youre running, so enjoy and embrace the RUNNING part of it and focus focus focus
This is for elite runners anyways. Concentration is def an art that comes with being an elite runner
What you're describing here has long been known as association (focusing and tuning in) versus disassociation (tuning out via intentional distraction). Concentration doesn't just come with being an elite runner, it's one of the components that make an elite runner.