Do you listen to music? In the dark...do you use a light?

Lots of valid opinions here,

Lots of valid opinions here, varied as you can see. I would be hesitant to run in the dark (or dusk) without good light, even on terrain I knew well, because of the risks inherent with BFR, which is why we all watch the 5-10 feet in front of us like we're expecting land mines or IEDs.



On music, I'll share more. I run best with a running partner so we can push each other, encourage each other, and provide good feedback to each other. But I can't always find a running partner.

Sometimes a quiet run is just what the doctor ordered for thinking things through or for letting most of my mind wander while a small part of it focuses totally on the next 4-10 feet in front of me.

And sometimes, particularly when I want to run hard and fast, music provides the perfect soundtrack for that. I prefer to have high-energy music that will track with my pace (which is around 210-220 steps per minute, so I look for ideal music in the 105-110 beats per minute range, which I can keep cadence with in double-time - you just don't find much music with a 230 bpm cadence). I can also run with really high energy music that doesn't fit the cadence and take the energy while ignoring the cadence, but not everyone can do that. Here are a sample of songs in both categories that work well for me (I've tried to include something for everyone):



High Energy, not necessarily the right cadence:

Anything by Boston (except "Amanda") - varies

Van Halen - "Panama" - 145 bpm

Kris Allen - "Live Like We're Dying" - 96 bpm

Steven Curtis Chapman - "Remembering You" - 170 bpm (3/4 time)



Cadence in the general ballpark:

Level 42 - "Something About You" - 107 bpm

Sting - "Fields of Gold" - 105 bpm

Steven Curtis Chapman - "Dive" - 112 bpm

Whodini - "Haunted House of Rock" - 110 bpm

Abba - "Dancing Queen" - 102 bpm

Prince - "Let's Go Crazy" - 101 bpm

Steven Curtis Chapman - "Live Out Loud" - 100 bpm

Needtobreathe - "Something Beautiful" - 100 bpm



Just a start. Find a free online metronome, go to walmart.com music online (or iTunes for Apple fans) and set them running concurrently to figure out songs' tempos/cadences/paces.

Enjoy!

I don't ever listen to

I don't ever listen to mechanical music - I'm not so inclined and don't own any of the technology. fwiw, when I ran my first 1/2 Marathon back in early May, they had bands playing at 5 or 6 spots on the course. I could have live without.

I do sing and recite long poems sometimes, but not during races, usually.

I don't think I will go out to run at night or in the oh-dark-hundreds. That's when I sleep, if I'm at all lucky.

I stopped running with music

I stopped running with music when I went barefoot so as to be more aware of the sound of my feet and other sensations. To keep my cadence around 180 to 200 I sometimes sing I Think I'm Turning Japanese or Radar Love quietly to myself for a minute or two.

I listern to  Metallica -

I listern to



Metallica - Anything

Nickelback, anything

Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas, Newer has more rock, Older too many balads.

Old Van Halen is just good all around. Van Hagar is good too

I found Old Metallica to be probablyu my favorite. Ride the Lightening is #1

LavaRunner wrote:I listern

LavaRunner said:

I listern to



Metallica - Anything

I found Old Metallica to be probablyu my favorite. Ride the Lightening is #1

Click to expand...

Lava, you know whats up!

Barefoot Gentile

Barefoot Gentile said:

LavaRunner said:

I listern to



Metallica - Anything

I found Old Metallica to be probablyu my favorite. Ride the Lightening is #1

Click to expand...

Lava, you know whats up!

Click to expand...

I was going to say the same thing, wow I was not expecting that. But good on you.

Makes me want to pull out some of my old albums (yes, not itunes but actual lp's)

Jonny00GT

Jonny00GT said:

Incidentally, my wife and I are running a 5K sat in Plano, called the Firefly. It starts at 9, when it's good and dark and we all got black shirts and 2 led constant or flashing arm bands. This should look really cool or really crazy to passers by!

-Jonny

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I ran the Firefly too! was my first barefoot 5k. the sprinklers kinda messed with me a bit as my soles were pretty soft. course was odd...i'm sure next one will be improved. i liked the night-race though.

i only saw one other barefoot runner, don't know if it was you or not

I ditched my headphones along

I ditched my headphones along with the shoes, but when I WAS listening to music while running it was one thing: Jimi Hendrix.

Jonny00GT wrote:I walked

Jonny00GT said:

I walked around barefoot before the race, but slipped my Komodos on for the run. I'm not quite ready for a full race barefoot. The sprinklers were nice!! How'd you do? It was a madhouse!! The water station was a joke and the up and backs were a nightmare! We started all the way at the back. I passed a couple of VFF runners, but didn't see any Barefooters. Must have missed you...

I'm running our next race barefoot, come hell or high water! July 10th around white rock. Where do you run? We're in McKinney and just joined the McKinney running club today. They are doing a 5k through down town McKinney soon, I think...

-Jonny

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I wasn't really quite ready for 3 miles either, I just said screw it. I just got my VFF so i wasn't ready to try those, and hated the idea if running it in my normal running shoes. looking back i wouldnt have registred for it but i did...so bF was my best option even though i was a bit undertrained

It ended up ok. I ran very slow, 12 minute pace...the sprinklers actually did me in i think as it softened my feet quite a bit. i actually laughed when i ran past the water station, a mess indeed. i stayed clear of that cause didnt wanna get stepped on or get my feet even more wet

I am out in Lewisville/Flower Mound area.

LavaRunner wrote:I listern

LavaRunner said:

I listern to



Metallica - Anything

I found Old Metallica to be probablyu my favorite. Ride the Lightening is #1

Click to expand...

I was going to say the same thing. Very nice selection LaVa! All of the old Metallica is wonderful for running, but my favorite running Metallica song has to be All Nightmare Long! That songs gets me fired up... or it used to when I listened to music when I ran. Haven't listened to it since making the transition to barefoot. Might bust it back out when I get my form down!

Very interested in many of the selections on here actually. I'm going to have to check them out!

will do man! don't have

will do man! don't have anything scheduled for now but I def will sooner than later