Made it out for a run today, despite the subzero temperatures here in NYC. Decided I’d throw together a “running mix” and take my iPhone along for some musical accompaniment, just to see how it went.
As you know if you read my post last week, I’m a “leave the music at home” kinda girl when I run. I’ve always felt that it’s worth sacrificing some music-induced motivational moments for the peace of just focusing on my body. Well, today I proved my own point (for me and my running, anyway): 2 miles into what was supposed to be at least a 5.5 mile run, my knee – which I’ve had problems with for some time – started to feel a bit tight, courtesy of my chronically tight IT band and hip flexors. By mile 2.5, I was in pretty serious pain, but the music caused me to push through it until about mile 3.5.
Not such a bad thing, right? For some people, those “pushing through it” moments are precisely why they run with music. Totally get it…I get an energy boost from good music too (obviously). The problem with it for me is that music causes me a) not to pace myself (my tightening IT band/knee was so painful by mile 3.5 that I was forced to walk/run the last mile…and obviously didn’t make it to my goal of 5.5 miles) and b) to “push through” situations that, unfortunately, cause me more pain later or even cause me not to be able to run for a few days. Not to mention that I definitely don’t feel as refreshed when I come back from a run with music vs. one without. Strange but true…and reminds me why I stopped bringing music in the first place.
So I’m curious. Do any of you have similar issues when running/working out with music? Or am I just crazy not to harness the motivational power of music to push myself as an athlete?
