MP3 players are dangerous to run with.
I ran up behind a woman wearing one the other day and scared the hell out of her. She had NO idea I was behind her.

What, did you go boo

Seriously though, if she was completely unaware of you she had her mp3 player way too loud, irrespective of whether she was running or not. Listen at reasonable volume and you can enjoy the music while still being aware of what's going on around you.

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Don

I find that most people don't hear me coming anyway; Mp3 or not. It can be amusing to hear the streams of shocked profanity as I pass and head off into the distance... especially when they come from the so-called "hard-guys"

I've owned Walkmans since they came onto the market in the late 70's; but I never took to running with them. I think that they (for me) somehow detract from the purity of the running experience (yeah, I know this is likely to solicit many a raised eyebrow and utterances of "Bo*^ocks"...).
...I think that I must be the running equivalent of a Luddite... coming from a running time way back before the present day "aids/crutches" of Mp3's, treadmills, Garmin, Polar, gait analysis, cross-training, and even, er, on-line forums (are we being stifled or even held down by the sheer weight of information available to us?). Heck, there were only a couple of specialist running shoes available at the time... (I remember being taken for my very first pair of proper running shoes. It was a little shop outside Bury. Reebok shoes. I think that some of the shoes may even have been made on the premises!)
Erm... sorry about all that... but I do get the impression that a majority of people seem to be sadly dependent on technology to influence/motivate them to get out running... (or not, in the case of the seemingly ubiquitous treadmill...).

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I RUN, THEREFORE I AM

(When I don't run, I'm NOT)

I'm not dependent... I've only just started using MP3 players for when I had to use the treadmill over the winter and now on my long runs because I dunno... I actually find it helps me concetrate (treadmills are so boring, I'm lucky I don't fall asleep mid-run!). I've always used music as a way of helping my mind stay focussed when I was an undergrad during revision... It's hard to explain really, but I think music keeps a part of my mind occupied that would otherwise wander so the rest of my brain can happily stay focussed on whatever for loooong periods of time... and in the case of being out running for a couple hours - probably lead to sheer boredom or frustration, especially seeing as I have a lot of work in the lab I could be filling my time up with, instead of running. I always ran without it before now, so it's not essential... I just like it, especially when going through more urban areas. I turn it off when I get out to the woods and trails though, I love the sound of the birds, the wind, and the lil brook that flows past the trail...

I do truely respect your stance though, and understand it totally. I wish I could devote my everything to running... but I'm driven with my work, and it's hard to switch off, or even justify not doing it for what is essentially a hobby... as much as I love it.

I use this one.. http://www.amazon.co.uk/TeckNet-Build-Earphone-Adaptor-Official/dp/B000EHQHWY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202239008&s r=8-1

Its cheap and cheerful and does me for my runs. I've also got an armband pocket that it sits in. I think that the armband thing was a couple of quid from ebay.

I'm cheriton and i'm an addict but only to on lie forums and gate analysis (five bar fetish)

"lie forums"? Does this mean you've been making it all up?

The only gate analysing I do is when I come across a closed one and have to decide how I'm going to get over it without damaging myself. Or the gate.

__________________
I RUN, THEREFORE I AM

(When I don't run, I'm NOT)

Runner`s World had a new mp3 player in this month. 1GB Built into the headphones so no wires[yes!] and waterproof. Mi-sport mp3 headphones. They look ideal. Anyone tried them?

I run with my Ipod shuffle and use sennheiser headphones which "lock" in to your ear...very comfortable and have never fallen out yet, £22 worth spending.

Im currently looking at ordering these though: http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4449

No cables!

O.

Yes I`ve tried models like this. With this design unless they are sweatproof they can break down quickly. Sweat accumulates a little more around the ears. I tried two and each lasted literally 20 minutes, although I was indoors on the treadmill. Maybe they will be better outside or if your a "glower" not a "sweater"