Alright now, here’s one place where Pam and I have a minor disagreement. When we venture out to the local forest preserve path, Pam sometime runs long, slow distance while I tend to stick with my sprints. And with my recovery walks in between, we finish about the same time.
But when this happens, Pam plugs into her IPhone, installs her earbuds, and listens to her favorite oldies podcast while she runs long. I on the other hand, prefer to avoid such distraction in favor of tuning into and exploring my own thoughts and ideas, experiencing my own body in motion, my own breathing or inability to catch it.
I confess that Pam is certainly much more in style in this regard than I am. Most runners that I see striding along the local streets and sidewalks these days are hooked-up, plugged in, earphones or ear buds, IPhones in a pocket or strapped onto a bicep and they’re listening to whatever or whomever they care to listen to.
On the other hand, the luddite in me says, “No way amigo!” I’m suspicious of technology. I feel like the robot is in control of far too much of life already. Why should I give up an hour with myself, my own thoughts, ideas, etc. to yet another frickin’ machine? I simply choose to avoid this particular high tech distraction.
On the other hand, I (Pam) find that the music energizes me in a way that Mother Nature doesn’t! That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate the beauty of my surroundings, but the music doesn’t close me off from the world. I have no problem smiling at the sight of a coyote sitting on the side of the path, or pointing out a deer to Rick, as he’s catching up to me. Perhaps the music heightens my senses in a way that is unappreciated by my husband.
But sprints are another story for me when I’m with Rick. Because they are short and sweet. I lose my headphones. The sound of his counting our steps is a rhythm all unto itself.
I call my cross training routine Troxing. Treadmill to boxing the big bag, rest a minute then repeat. I use music to set the pace then time the punch. It works for an old fella that was never a runner nor been in a fight ��
ReplyDeleteIf I’m out with my camera, I don’t
ReplyDeletelisten to anything and focus on my surroundings. When I am resistant to getting my walk in, I am more apt to listen to podcasts, as it helps make the time and workout a smoother and more enjoyable experience.