I did a search, but I was not able to find any information pertaining to my question

Does listening to music detract from the mental aspect of running and training? Does music take away from mental toughness?

Thanks for the help

Please, explain yourself further.

Listening to music is an easy method of producing adrenaline in the body. I suspect he's wondering if this adrenaline rush he experiences while listening to music will detract from his mental toughness during indoc, in the field, etc, since he will not have access to an mp3 player or the like to listen to while he's training to produce that easy adrenaline rush.

I have always been a big fan of trying to train without music, but it's not really something you need to worry about a great deal. Running and lifting can get tedious. Music helps to break that, and if it's the difference between you working out or not working out because it's so dull without the music you can't stand another 5 mile run, then music is by far the best choice. Just know that you won't have it at all times, and you'll need an alternate way to get that adrenaline rush when you don't. Listen to that favorite song of yours a few times before you leave for the day so that it's stuck in your head. Best advise I can give yah.

I agree with SERE but would also add that music is a "distractor" also...this is one of the reasons that formation runs (any Service) often include "Jodys", or cadence songs...it takes one's mind off the pain and helps keep the pace. Listening to music does basically the same thing (so be careful or your pace may be WAY too quick).

Although cadence songs aren't normally as adrenaline producing as Ozzy Osbourne, they do help to take your mind off the miles, facilitate teamwork, and improve your stamina (singing and running is harder than just running)...you will get some strange looks though if you're running alone and screaming the lyrics to 'Crazy Train' as you trot down the road... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thank you both very much, you answered my question exactly. I have found that while listening to music I tend to pick up the pace and go an extra mile, and I always wondered if this was the "cheap" way of trying to push myself. Music does take the mind off the pain, and I wasnt sure if I was cheating myself (as in I needed to experience the pain to overcome it.)

Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.

I agree music breaks up the pain a bit but get this. I am an AETC Instructor at Goodfellow. They told us we can no longer wear headphones during PT. If their reasoning was safety on the roads I could understand, but they said that listening to music while running is dangerous for the hearing because of the vibrations running causes. Im a frikkin linguist, if anything is bad for my ears its my JOB!!!

I'm not quite sure I buy that. I've been running with music for as long as I can remember and my hearing is just fine. People worry way too much about little garbage like that. Sounds more like an excuse to get people off headphones to me.

Once again SERE and I agree (scary)...however I think the bottom line for AETC (and every other MAJCOM out there) is the safety part...I have never heard from any source that running causes vibrations that could somehow hurt one's hearing while listening to music...I'm not sure where they get their info, but I'd suggest you "inquire" as to the source...

TE,
The issue has more to do with music volume then running vibrations. People tend to play the music loud, this is causing greater hearing damage (because of the headsets). Now to me (a simple person) the solution is to avoid playing the music at full volume (the volume is too loud if the guy next to you can sing along), this also translates into a safety issue because people (not looking as they cross streets) can't hear cars, and are being hit.

A little common sense goes a long way.

killakeepa, we have never been allowed to wear headphones during pt except when you're on the running track. Something stupid probably happened to one Airman (remember to capitalize the 'A' now) a LONG time ago, so now everyone suffers. AETC calls it a safety issue; I call it survival of the fittest.

Why do you think we wear reflective belts at 2 in the afternoon? Because that's low visibility. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I know we've only been allowed to wear them on the track. I understand that because a)there are few sidewalks here and b)sometimes students will do the damndest things (both running and driving and well, pretty much everything else that has to do with normal human functioning). But now they came out and said we cant even wear them on the track because of these vibrations that could "deafen" us.
The person who made this rule is, I believe, the same person that said wearing blues everyday when it is 125 degrees outside in West Texas looks more professional and is condusive to a better learning environment. There is nothing like sweat stains and polyester to give my brain a jumpstart!!!
Ok off the subject, but I'm asking around to find out on what grounds this rule about headphones was established, and from what evidence. If they tested the linguist instructors here then that may be the cause, because thousands of hours of static going directly into your ear canal zaps the hearing away like no KISS concert ever could...its not the running with headphones, its the J.O.B. But I dont care I dont run with headphones anyways HA!!!

so making it simple for Manny, is music good or bad when you are training alone? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Good if you like it...bad if you don't...as I've said before...guys need to start to make decisions for themselves...and not rely on someone else's opinion...advice is one thing...cut and dry "this is the way it is" is another...

Here is a novel thought that I wondered why no one addressed before. It is possible to get CDs and Cassette tapes of Jodies from all kinds of services that you can run with. It helps keep a good time for distance work, and takes your mind off pain that you might feel just running alone.

As far as safety is concerned, this is a practice I do, but do what you want. If I run with a headset, I get the tiny earphones that fit in your ear alone (opposed to the ones that wrap around your head). I only use one of them and cut the other one off. This way, I can hear traffic and other noise distractions just for safety purposes. Just an FYI

PS: Can you tell that I have been given the "Safety LT" job?

Any PJ cadences?

Never underestimate the power of the Jodie to unite a team. That is one of the reasons cadre make you sing Jodies- it gets you all thinking (even at a semi-subconcious level), singing and staying in step AS A TEAM!
The more things you do together as a team, the more you think and act cohesively under stress and in training. Team Work-being part of a team, doing your part, helping your buddy, putting your personal comforts below the needs of the team are what make small units work. It's what Special Operations Forces are all about. One of the most important things Instructors can instill is this sense of team. The Jodie is just one of many tools.
There is nothing a hate more than seeing a group of young trainees in the same uniform heading in the same direction in a loose pack, out of step and bullshiting as they go. If you can't sing (as in Hurlburt Field at 0600 because you'll wake the swing or night shift flyers/maintenance guys) at least stay in step.
Notice I said "Group" not "formation". I can't bring myself to call a gaggle of individuals smoking and joking as they jog back to the barracks after PT or to their next training event a formation.
I know, I'm old and crotchety. You can't go everywhere in step all the time. Now, if in the midst of your training day, you are all wearing the same PT gear, are heading to and from the same training event/activity, for the same purpose, maybe just maybe, you should consider yourself a TEAM and try to look and act like one. Try staying in step and singing some good Jodies. You'll feel better and I won't blow a fuse next time.

There is a CD that i bought and use everyday of Air Force jodies and most of them are Pararescue. It inspires me to think of why im doing what i am doing. Ill post the exact name of the CD later. I think it is just called Run with the sounds of the Air Force, or something to that effect. I bought it a the BX, so it souldnt be hard to find.

I ran the other day without my headphones. It sucked. I realized how reliant I had become on them, so I gave my MP3 player away. I wish I hadn't now. It seems I am having to learn how to run all over again. But my performance is starting to get to where it was with the music. No music during the PAST and other evals anyway, right?

I don't know, I find once I get past the 4 mile mark the music I'm listening to kinda just becomes more background anyway. Regardless of how many thousands of songs I have on my MP3 player.