Do you wear headphones while running outside?

[Anonymous]

Forgot to add that I'm no nationally-ranked marathoner. I consider it a triumph if I can run a 5k and if I don't fall over on my face on the pavement, much less on a trail.

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming you're not trying to be a marathoner or anything and just want to run for exercise. I always wear headphones, but I'm also very careful about it. Low volume, always run where I know there are lots people around. I love running with music. It motivates me and makes me run harder. If your husband is really worried, why dont you look into getting a buddy? Join a running club? Have him run with you too? Have fun and stay safe!

[Anonymous]

nothing to really add except that I am marathon training and have been running daily, with headphones, for 10+ years. If you keep the volume low and stay aware of your surroundings, there isn't any issue.

[Anonymous]

I generally do, but it depends on where I'm running. If I'm running somewhere even remotely isolated (like on a wooded trail), I don't wear them. If I'm wearing them, I keep the volume low enough that I can still hear bikes and cars approaching. The idea is just not to get so lost in your own little world that you'd be vulnerable to cars or attackers. (I always run alone, but generally on well-traveled paths and public streets, and never at night.)

I didn't start running with an iPod till last year, so I spent many years running and racing without the music. I'm not dependent on it. I run trail often enough (without headphones) that leaving the ipod behind is no biggie for a race. And sometimes I just prefer to run without music - it's more peaceful that way.

[Anonymous]

Obviously you will make your own decision, given that there are two opposing opinions being portrayed here. But just to weigh in, I never wear headphones while running. I run in sligo creek park and it makes me way too nervous to not be totally aware of my surroundings there. Although I have to say, I always see other women there running with headphones and it makes me wonder if either I'm too paranoid, or they're not paranoid enough. That being said, I wish I wasn't so concerned about safety because I do think it's way more fun to run to music. My ILs live in a gated community and when we go visit them I use my ipod and I love it.

[Anonymous]

For more info on why this is a bad idea - read "The Gift Of Fear" by Gavin de Becker.

When you are alone, all you have is your senses and instincts. Headphones block out the ability to hear things behind you and around you, where the bad guys are hiding.

In short, don't do it!!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it. I don't think it' safe And you don't need them. When i run inside, i am so bored I want to shoot myself if i do not have music on. But outside, there's so much to look at that I don't need the ipod.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I can't run without headphones. But I try to be smart about - run w/ sound low, on populated running paths, etc

[Anonymous]

When you are alone, all you have is your senses and instincts. Headphones block out the ability to hear things behind you and around you, where the bad guys are hiding.

I don't run anywhere where I will be "all alone." That is a bad idea, headphones or not.

[Anonymous]

I wear headphones while running. I figure the benefit of actually getting out to run for my health outweighs the risk. I run on busy streets, and not at dusk or dawn. I look in a million directions before I cross any street and always try to go the longest distances possible without crossing streets at all. Usually this means I run in a few loops that I've mapped out already so I know the distance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For more info on why this is a bad idea - read "The Gift Of Fear" by Gavin de Becker.

When you are alone, all you have is your senses and instincts. Headphones block out the ability to hear things behind you and around you, where the bad guys are hiding.

In short, don't do it!!

I agree with this 100%, although it isn't all about bad guys, it is also about surroundings in general (cars, for instance, as one PP pointed out about getting hit by a car).

There's an entire thread about how men have no common sense, but really, this should be common sense and is MUCH more dangerous than putting a dry cleaning bag into a small trashcan. Rationalize it all you want with the "it's not turned up loud" and "I'm not somewhere alone" but the fact is, just having the headphones on is dulling your senses. Would you want your teenage daughter to be out running with headphones? No? Then don't do it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Never - I love being away from technology. No music, no bberry, no cell phone buzzing every 5 min., etc.

Plus, when I was younger I got attacked by a stray dog. I didn't hear the collar jingle (which would've given me at least a heads-up) and it took a very long time to get over the incident.

[Anonymous]

You are placing your life in jeopardy when you run, walk your dog, etc., especially at night with headphones on. A man was murdered while his attention was distracted. He may have still been assaulted, but there is evidence that his attackers preyed on him under the assumption that attention would be diverted and it was, tragically:

"About that time, Rosenbaum, who was wearing headphones, paused to look around, Hamlin said."

The posters who have been lucky so far, whatever. I hope your stupid luck doesn't run out under the wheels of my car. I'm a runner too, and I never wear headphones.

[Anonymous]

I use one ear bud. This way I can hear what's going on around me and still have music. The one time I used both ear buds a man, a very large man, grabbed me by the shoulder. He said he had been trying to say something to me about my form but I couldn't hear him and he wanted to warn me about the safety risk. This was in the middle of the day on a busy trail.