Oh dear, so I’ve just found out that the ultra-marathon that I am running in one week has banned earphones.  They weren’t banned before, but now they are. In fact, so new is this move that their safety video has a detailed explanation on how to use earphones safely, e.g. take them out around the aid stations and when crossing roads etc… but then at the bottom of the video, they say that they have changed their earphone policy and they are now banned ❌.

I mean it kind of sucks. I’ve done races without music or other in ear entertainment before, but I do like have the choice to dip into my smorgasbord of listening options.  I of course love soaking up the atmosphere of the race and I don’t have them in all the time, but I will rarely choose a race that has a flat ban on earphones.

Do you listen and run like me?  Here are some of my favourite things to have ready to play:

• Audio books 📚 – I love audible, and nothing beats a good book.  Plus, if you used your monthly credit on a book and don’t like it, you can return it and get your credit back.  Life is too short to suffer through a bad book on a long run.  So you pay a monthly fee for audible, and then  you get one credit a month, plus access to lots of awesome free content.
• True crime podcasts 🔎 – speaking of awesome free content from Audible, have you listened to West Cork?  So good, and there are loads to choose from all included in your monthly fee
• Laugh out loud podcasts 😂 – I’ve only just started listening to Shagged, Married Annoyed, but it has me in absolute tears, hard to catch my breath, just the thing I needed during my last 26 mile training run when the going got really tough.
• And just good ole fashioned music 🕺 – thank you Spotify for your endless suggestions of playlists based on what I’m listening to most, it’s so helpful to dip out of my tried and tested playlists and add a little pep to my steps with a little 90s hip hop on my 5th of 10 hill repeats

So as you can see, in lieu of running with friends or in a group, I’m always entertained and motivated for my runs with an entertainment option that provides the right amount of escapism to help me power through.

And power though is right.  I’ve been training for this 34 mile race from before Christmas, which was originally supposed to be in March, then maybe 1st May, and now April 17th 🤯.  I’ve ran over 500 miles and I’m ready to give it my best shot.  I’ve run most of my miles alone and close to home (thanks Covid).  So after stomping over the same ground again and again, alone, a bit of music (or whatever else) to keep me company does really help.

But now I have to run the whole thing, with nothing.  Yes there will be other participants and the scenery will be amazing, but I’m not sure how many and I suspect I will largely be on my own in the race (hopefully not getting lost, my other big fear).  I’ve ran the miles, I’ve done all the hill repeats I can muster, I’m tapering gently, but I’ve not practiced for it being just me, my mind, and sound of breath filling my ears. Will my mind be tough enough?   Should I use the rest of my taper earphone free to try and prepare?  Will they really be that strict if I pop in my earphones when nobody is around?   I’d love to hear your thoughts…