Well, it's not THE question, but it is a question: When running, is it better to run with music or without? I do not know. Why do I ask? There are many many important people in my life, chances are, if you're reading you are one of them, and don't let the fact that we may not talk, chat, or text each other more than once a year be a basis for how important or unimportant you are. For argument's sake and the sake of boring many of you with mundane details about my personal life and the friends I have, let me say that there are three people in my most immediate of circles that are of the utmost importance to me; my girlfriend and my two cats. Yes, I consider my cats people. If you don't understand why, go get a cat and live with it for 8+ years and you'll understand that the emotion, attitudes and mannerisms of your cat is much akin to a person. So, I very much consider Widget (the oldest of the two and the introvert) and Burr (the extremely large attention whore extravert) people, or as personified as two pets can be. Judge me if you like, but if you do you have already lost.
I digress, as I often will in these ramblings.
One of the three people, my girlfriend, who may be referred to by such terms as Ms. Awesome, The Almost Doctor, or whatever term of endearment fits my fancy that day, is studying abroad for this month of June in the year of our Lord 2012. She is tucked away nicely in the bustling city of Moscow studying theatre at the Moscow Art Theatre School. As a sort of send off, I lent her my iPod with enough music on it that if she hit play and let it all go, she might get through all the music 4 times while she's away...so, for the month of June I am sans iPod. I have other devices by which I could play music on my runs, I suppose. But, I thought this might be a good time to get back to my roots and run like I used to run way back in the day when it was all I could do just to wait for work to end so I could go run. This was many many moons ago.
What I've found is that my runs seem to be less hectic. I do admit having music does often inspire me, but I also find that I tend to keep time by songs. For instance, if I know the course I'm running, and I most often do, and I know where the mile marks are, if I find it takes four songs to get from one mile mark to the next, but five songs for the next, I stop relaxing during the run and start working against myself. I've only been running now about 3 weeks (that's thinking generously) and I do rather like not being shut out from everything around me as I run. I like hearing myself breathe. I like hearing how my feet are hitting the road. I like hearing the traffic, the sounds, and I think I see more without the headset in or on, if you prefer. I don't think running with music is at all bad, and I am more than sure I will do so, but I don't think it is as necessary as I once thought it was. I don't get bored without music, I think. I enjoy that.
Tonight was a good run. It was broken up into several different segments. I ran about 1.75 miles total. I had to stop when I got to Ms. Awesome's apartment. I needed to check her mail and make sure all was well with her domicile. I even weighed myself on her scale...too soon. We'll touch on that topic much later. Then I ran back home. I had to stop twice for traffic, but never for more than like ten seconds of so. The weather was perfect. There is almost no humidity out tonight so it was actually brisk in the shade and just warm enough in the direct sunlight. I have to admit, I almost didn't go for a run tonight, but I'm so glad I did. I feel really good about it and myself.
Now, dinner and relaxation. What to have?
Oh, hi everybody, welcome to the Satellite of Love!
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