No Earbuds for 40 Days

I have decided to give up listening to anything on my runs for the next 40 days. It's time for a break from this habit for a little while. I do this often, particularly after a big race when I go out to quiet myself and ground myself to what I'm about and to reflect on where I've been.  

I mostly listen to podcasts during my runs in the winter and in the summer I listen to music. It’s kind of a weird thing I’ve noticed about myself. Perhaps its the stories that get me through winter and the motivation of the music that moves me in the summer. And I don’t listen to anything while racing. I’ve tried before only to find myself more engaged with the race than whatever is pumping into my ears. I used to run without listening to anything when I first started trail running. I was very busy learning how to run on a new surface. Now I'm revisiting this practice and bringing you along. 

So excited, can't you tell?

Day 1: I didn't run today. Crushing this goal.

Day 2: I jumped on the treadmill with Spotify pulsing through my earbuds. What the heck? First day and I’ve already blown it? I’m not even disappointed with myself. Because it was snowing again and I needed to run. A combination of listening to James Bay, watching Bill workout and some dirt bike video he was watching got me through. 

This is the best view I've had in a while. 

Day 3: Today’s run was outside.The weather has cleared for a brief time before more precipitation tomorrow. Out I went, sans headphones. I did notice right away it streamlined my prepping and leaving for my run. I didn’t have to untangle a mess of cords or thread them through my clothes. I didn’t have to debate which podcast to listen to and wait for it to download. I simply stuffed my phone in my pocket and that was it. I cannot say I had any lightbulb moments. I thought about a lot of things, as I normally do, even though as I write this now it feels more like a shower moment where you’ve had something brilliant come up and then can’t remember it five minutes later. 

Day 4: Treadmill time again. This time I was determined to not listen to anything but instead of being a quick transition out to the garage where I will stare at the same pull-up bar that taunts me, I was thorough with my running prep and did a few odd tasks around the house before finally getting going. Procrastination is real. With my workout on a post-it, I got started and once pass the warm-up, I found I was involved enough in each part of the plan, I could get through an pretty intense workout without music. Plus, I paid attention to the tension in my body as I pushed the pace, working to let it go while keeping my form in check.

Duct tape formally used to attach iPad to console but also workout sticky notes. Workout sticky notes because math.

Day 5: When Sunday night kinda goes to crap and Monday turns out sunny and dry and you get a text from a friend needing a long run, you go for a long run. You listen, you talk, you  get a little sunburned. 

Day 6: I thought of everything today and was amazed at the space my brain needed to wander. I spotted a Cardinal tucked back into the woods, catching only a flash of red. As I was wondering how I saw him, my ears picked up a call that started singularly but turned into to stereo the closer I got. I thought maybe it was some sort of electrical pinging or kind of construction noise. I stopped and listened to the stereo performance, first my left ear and then to my right. Carefully I scanned the trees, trying to locate what my ears had found. By luck, I came to rest on a Blue Jay. I could have missed his performance.

Day 7: No run today. 

I’m willing to let my mind and spirit wander where it needs to go. I’m curious to see what happens in the upcoming days.