What do you think?
Do the earbuds stay in when you run? even tempo runs?
Where do you put it when running?
Not to hijack your thread. . .but I’ve never understood this need to have a soundtrack to training. First and foremost, unless you are on a track, its a safety issue, and that’s why it isn’t allowed in races. But beyond that. . .why do folks need something distracting them from the full experience of their own body? My experience from the few times I’ve tried it is that music distracts my sensations generated by the training experience on my body.
What do you think? LOVE IT!!!
Do the earbuds stay in when you run? even tempo runs? Yes. Just did a long run yesterday with some intervals in the middle and no problem. In fact, it’s great for timing the intervals…run hard for a song, recover for a song.
Where do you put it when running? I carry it in my hand. There is a strap you can get for your upper arm, but I can’t stand things touching me when I run like that. Besides, if I carry it in my hand, I can look at it easily.
clm
I have never understood the need for people to think their way or experience is the only way.
Don’t misunderstand me, Cathy. . .I don’t think my way is the only way. I just want to understand other’s methods to their madness. If my post sounded condescending, that was unintentional.
I used to run with my iPOD until the jack for the earphones broke. Now it doesn’t work at all and Apple wants $249 to fix it and $49/hr to talk about fixing it. Screw Apple and their iPOD. The design flaw in the jack has been fixed in the iPODS they make now but they’re still not made for active people. They’re great if you travel or listen in your car but I wouldn’t buy one hoping to run with it (it will skip because it has a hard drive unlike a RIO for instance that uses flash).
Just my experience. Also, a guy at work’s iPOD just went dead after 2 years. He thinks that’s acceptable and bought another one. I don’t agree. I now use a RIO and love it.
Actually, I was kind of curious myself. The last race I did, I came in to T2 with another guy who was wearing an MP3 on the bike. My fiance has one and she won’t run without it. I’ve borrowed it and it does make running (jogging?) go by easier, but I decided that if I can’t/shouldn’t wear it while racing, I might as well get used to not having it. When you are running in an ironman, what do you think about, anyway?Probably another reason I haven’t stepped up to that distance - yet (other than being chicken).
I run with mine all the time. Just clip to your shorts. The earphones stay in great (I use the ones that came with it, not the “earbuds”). I set up an “on the go” platlists before the run, start the first song and I’m set for the entire run. The Ipod is the head of the class of MP3 players.
Greg - I love my mini. I use the armband while running and it works fantastic - never skipped once. The earphones, on the other hand, I’m still working on. I used the earbuds (which I think you mean the ones that come with it) for a while, put the socks that come with them are pretty cheap and they would occasionally fallout. I just got apples inner-ear phones this weekend for $40, and they suck. Clearly made for chilling out, not while running. Still experimenting with earphones, but dont let that detract you from the mini. No other mp3 comes close. Checkout ipodlounge.com for more.
TriGuyBri - I have my zen moments swimming, cycling, doing laundry, but not running. To do anything considered long milage, outside of race conditions, I need some distraction. And music is the way. 30 minutes of solid tunes might mean 4 miles I wouldnt have run otherwise.
Graig,
I cannot say enough about my IPOD mini. I absolutely love it. I’ve only had it for a bout three weeks, but I’ve worn it on a long ride and during runs. It has not skipped one time so far. I either hold it or clip it to my waistband of my shorts, which has not been a problem. But, I recently researched armbands and have ordered one from marware.com. It is called the sportsuit convertible mini. It is a little pricey at $35, but of all the ones I researched it consistenly got the best reviews. I’ll let you know my thoughts after it comes in, if you are interested.
As for Tribriguys comment that it distracts you from the sensations of your body, he is absolutely right. Which for me on the run is a very good thing! And, I don’t keep the volume up enough for it to be a safety issue. I don’t use the earbuds - I’ve never liked that style of earphone. I picked up some made by Sony that rest over your ear. They work fine for me. It is not Hi-fi sound quality with those earphones, but that is not what I need while running.
The other great thing about the IPOD mini is that it holds more songs then you could ever use and it has a lot of versatility. Want to play it in the car? You can buy an accessory that will allow it to play over your car stereo. Want to play it on your home stereo system, buy a cable and you can do that too. I don’t mean to sound like an Apple employee or stockholder. I am neither. But, I’ve been very pleased so far.
Also, fyi I have found ipodlounge.com to be a good resource for product information and reviews.
The earbuds are terrible. Buy new headphones such as Sony or whatever. That is my only criticism. Beyond that, it rules. I don’t think it is safe to run with it outside but it is fine for the treadmill or indoor trainer.
I agree on outdoor runs being unsafe with music. I only do trail runs with the iPod as well as treadmill/trainer workouts. I see people running all the time in heavy traffic with earphones on. Crazy.
I use the Sony MDR EX70LP ear bud headphones. They are similar to ear plugs in that they have squishy foam at the ends, and conform to your ear canal. They are good because they are comfortable and do not allow much sound from the outside in. However, you have to be VERY, VERY, careful about where you run. You probably will not be able to hear many outside noises, even at relatively low volume. They work great, but for some situations maybe they work too well. I use them only on the track (because for me the track is boring) where I won’t get run over by a car from behind. They work well, but read Sony’s precautions before you use them.
I also use the remote control, which controls volume, track, and play/pause. In fact I think it’s necessary with these headphones so that you can adjust things quickly.
I’m looking to by an iPOD strictly for use on my computrainer during those cold winter months…recommendations as to model? and what about headphones? or ear buds? thanks
The mini is only one model but comes in five or so colors. There are larger ipods (i’m not a techie so cant tell you gigs or anything like that), but simply put, they can hold 5,000, 10,000 or more songs while the mini holds 1,000. I find 1,000 is more than enough for me, and since i use it primarily for the trainer and treadmill, etc., the compactness was the way to go.
See above on earpieces - everything from apple stinks, its trial and error for what works for you.
Don’t misunderstand me, Cathy. . .I don’t think my way is the only way. I just want to understand other’s methods to their madness. If my post sounded condescending, that was unintentional.
I think running with music is a beautiful thing. Once I finally tried it, I smacked myself on the head for running in silence for two years. I’m quite sick of hearing my feet slap on the ground and my own panting. A little Jack Johnson is a much nicer sound.
I don’t wear it on the bike for safety reasons, but it’s a non-issue when running.
OK. That’s the way I read it, and I read it before my full morning coffee consumption. 
clm
Just for all of the people who are getting ready to buy a mini-IPOD and slap it on for their next race, be aware that it’s a USAT penalty. Very dumb to be zoning out in a race with headphones on.
I decided that if I can’t/shouldn’t wear it while racing, I might as well get used to not having it.<<
No you definitely should not use it in a race…penalty for sure. I usually just use mine on long runs. And I don’t run in heavy traffic (unless you call hundreds of runners along the SF waterfront heavy traffic).
When you are running in an ironman, what do you think about, anyway?<<
Ha! Lots of stuff. Let’s see, at CaliMan, at first, how glad I was to be off the bike, then ticked about the 116 miles. Later, it was saying hi and thanks to all the men who caught and passed me on the run (whom I had passed on the bike) and who told me how great I’d ridden. Then, how much I really would have liked to throw up so I could take in something besides water. Quite a few thoughts of “NICE BUTT!” (gotta have something to keep your spirits up). Later, trying to do math to figure out splits and trying to figure out if my friend Pieter would pass me on his way to finishing before I hit the second loop (we had a bet about this). Wondering how friends in the full and the half had done/were doing. Towards the end of the race in the dark–trying to figure out how far ahead the glowsticks were that I could see and if I could catch them. Plus, thanking the volunteers at every aid station. Never a bored or dull moment.
clm