This is my favorite time of year to run. Well, as long as the weather is fall weather and not an Indian Summer. We have fall weather right now. I went for a run yesterday. A little over 2 miles only. We had Gymboree at 11:15 and I wanted to make sure Jack had some nap time before then. I still cannot run the entire route along our lake because of construction.
Yesterday during my run I started thinking. I saw another mom running with her jogger. She had headphones on. I used to always run listening to music. There was no way I could run without listening to tunes. I spent a good deal of time with playlists or skipping past songs I felt interfered with my focus.
Then I had Jackson. I started trying to listen to music while on my elliptical. Usually not on my headphones. Just playing it from my phone so I could still hear other things in the house. But then he would be napping and I would be listening for him or trying to not cause a wake up. This was early on where he would not sleep very well. Now he is an excellent sleeper. Our cats fighting outside his room won’t even cause him to stir.
Slowly that music phased out. I would just work out hoping he wouldn’t wake up from his nap before I had time to finish and shower.
I started running again when he was around 4 months old. I was going by myself, headphones in ear, iPhone in hand. Tunes narrating my run. I did not really think about it. It was just what I do, that is how I run, that helps keep me motivated.
We got the jogger when he was over 5 months old. I never even considered using my headphones when I started running with him. I never even had an internal debate, to listen or not to listen. I didn’t even think to use them. I wanted to hear my surroundings, I wanted to be able to hear him if he needed something or dropped something. He will be 8 months in a week and a half. I did not even notice that I don’t run with music until I saw the other mom yesterday.
I got to thinking after that. I do not miss it. I really enjoy just being in the nature. The only sounds narrating my runs are ones I encounter naturally. It is kind of freeing not trying to find the perfect jam to keep you motivated. My thoughts motivate me, my time with Jack motivates me, the little baby weight I have left (I lost more weight, I am 125lbs now!) motivates me, staying fit motivates me. I don’t need the music.
I am not knocking music. We listen to it all day long. It is a huge part of our day. I sing and dance for and with him. I am a huge music person. But on my runs with my favorite running buddy, it is just him, me, and the world around us. It feels good. It is refreshing. I will have to thank him one day for opening my ears to all that is around me for that 30-40 minutes of the day.
Nicole M. VandeBoom 
I think that’s nice that you listen to natural as your playlist! If I lived right off of a prairie path I think I could do that, although I love listening to my music while I run, mostly because I keep up to speed with whatever song is playing. My neighbor has a 1 year old and I’ve taken her out in her jogger before and there is a built-in ipod attachment. It’s a Jeep jogger and the attachment is awesome! You don’t have to where earbuds but you can still hear your baby and the music and the baby can hear the music too! If we have kids I think I’m definitely going with the Jeep jogger…then again, since we are a Jeep family I don’t think Kristian would have it any other way. LOL
Yeah I have really been into quiet moments lately. I am not sure why. Sometimes silence is nice. Not just by myself or anything either. I think there is so much stimulation in life now a days that taking some quiet time is needed. Yesterday Jack and I cuddled in his room in the rocker for probably a half hour. It was after a 20 minute nap of his so I knew he would still be sleepy. It was still dark in there. I didn’t open his blackout curtains. I held him and he snuggled into me. I would sing and hum on and off. He was happy just sitting there and so was I. No tv, no toys, no phone, no ipad, nothing. It was one of the best 30 minutes I have had in a while. At night when Jason gets home we turn everything off and the 3 of us just play together on the floor. For solid feedings I turn everything off too. We even sit by the window and he eats while watching the creatures and the lake. We work on our sign language during then too. He focuses better. I feel like an old lady but I can see how overstimulated he gets and even me at times. I have thought about playing my phone while running so we both can hear it but the quiet is nice. We have so many other noisy times during the day. This is a major transition for me. I used to need to have music when running or even the tv on at all times for background noise. I have noticed lately that I need it all less and less. Like I said I am getting old! lol I don’t know anything about the Jeep joggers. But if you have tried it and like it then I’d say get that. We both love our BoB. It is wonderful and neither of us has even one complaint. We have even purchased a few add ons. Like the weather shield. LOVE IT! It keeps Jackson incredibly toasty on these cold mornings. He is never ever cold. Sometimes I even have to take his hat off because he is getting too toasty. It is extending the time we get to run outside.