It is absolute arrogance and nothing else that drives these “real runners” to such a hard stance on a simple subject. What’s simple about it? This.

Any person can get hurt in any circumstance at any time regardless of what they’re doing. To think otherwise is foolish. There have been people run over by cars in their very own living rooms while watching television! Does it happen a lot? No. Can it happen? Well, it has. So obviously it can.

I run with headphones. I am always aware of my surroundings. I can hear everything going on around me. If someone speaks to me, I can hear them. If someone yells from a distance, my head turns. Why? Because headphones don’t necessarily make you deaf to the world. I’ve seen runners out there not wearing headphones trip over things or run into other pedestrians because they simply weren’t paying attention. I’ve seen the same from people wearing headphones. I’d say it’s about 50/50. So this whole debate is pure crap.

It comes down to attentive vs non-attentive people. Headphones might play some small part in it, but all I need to see is one “real runner” do something so stupid as to run into traffic or knock over a mother with a stroller to think “Wow, I wear headphones and I’ve never done that.”

“Real runners”. Claiming a title like that simply for the fact that you don’t wear headphones? haha. Are you serious? A real runner is any runner who gets out there and works hard to be the best runner they can be while simultaneously enjoying what they do. Oh…. and other serious athletes, not just runners, mostly train with music. Whoever said they don’t is lying to make a case that isn’t really worth debating in the first place.

I’m gonna go read a book without glasses so I can be a “real reader”. Have fun, kids.

I realize that most readers of this post will disagree, you are entitled, but these are not your reasons, they are mine. I feel that they have been neglected in the above discussion.

1. The tempos of the songs must impose themselves into your pace. I like to pace myself to how I feel rather than a song.
2. There is a lot of good thinking time in a run, which a podcast or book or song would seem to eliminate. Sure you can think of something else, but then why use the ipod?
3. It is just another thing to carry with you. I hate carrying my keys, let alone a rather heavy piece of tech with things dangling all about, fussing with volume, changing songs, adjusting, etc.
4. If I do need music, I will just listen to it in my head. This may be something that is not an option available to many people.
5. Yes, it does seem dangerous to me. Not like being a lion tamer dangerous, but more dangerous than not using them.
6. I do not want to be distracted from my task. I love that it is hard. I love that it is lonely. I love the fact that I can run 5, 10, 26.2 miles with nothing but my shoes, my wits, a couple public drinking fountains, and maybe one of those energy packs. Yes, clothes too. And nobody go to the shoeless thing… just don’t go there.

Yes, I know it’s crazy, but it’s my kind of crazy.

“We can tell you who does NOT—runners who are serious about their training and racing leave the headphones home. Not at the track, not on the trail and not at the races.”

Do the likes of Ryan Hall, Josh Cox, or Hal Koener ring any bells? All of these athletes use headphones and take their training seriously. I would like to see their 20-30mpw butt toe the line.

Yes, headphones may be unsafe. They may disconnect you from your running. But they can be an invaluable training tool.

Usually, the only time I don’t use the treadmill is when I do races, which are also pretty safe, since there are generally anywhere between 60 to a few hundred people in them with me.