A couple of weeks ago, my earphones mysteriously stopped working. No clue why — they just gave up on me. Since they were still under warranty, I sent them back for a replacement. Two weeks later… still waiting.
While hoping for the best, I’ve been running without music. At first, I was nervous. I thought hearing my own breathing and footsteps under increasing effort would make my runs feel harder. But to my surprise… I’m kind of loving it.
I expected to struggle — to feel overwhelmed by the rhythm of my breathing under pressure, to lose motivation without a beat pushing me forward. But the opposite happened. Without the music, I’ve become hyper-aware of my body. I can sense when my heart rate is climbing too quickly and adjust my pace. I’m more aware of my breathing rhythm and running form, which actually makes my stride more efficient. Without music, I’m more in tune with my body.
For the first time yesterday since I got back into running last year, I truly felt my pace. No need to glance at my Coros watch — I could just tell. I adjusted my cadence, tweaked my posture, and naturally shifted from a 6’10”/km pace to 5’36”/km. I didn’t overthink it. I just knew what to do.
It took a full year of consistent running to get here. A year of showing up, even when it felt slow or hard or messy. And now, running 10K without music — something that would’ve been a total sufferfest at the beginning of 2024 — feels like a normal, easy session. I’m more in control than ever.
If I were to list my running goals, it’d look something like this:
✅ Lose weight
✅ Build a sustainable routine that fits with my life
✅ Improve efficiency
✅ Learn to run by feel ← just unlocked this one
[ ] Run faster (aiming for ~5’30”/km as my endurance pace — currently 6’10”/km)
I’ve still got work to do, but this small, unexpected shift — running without music — has made me realize how far I’ve come. And maybe… how much further I can go.