How to Listen to Podcasts While On a Run

So you're a runner--but not one of those intense runners that has one of those Nike iPods that lets you track your speed and distance while you "virtually" race people. You're one of those more laid-back, leisurely joggers that is kind of tired of their music, wants to switch it up a little, and can afford to add some extra time onto their mile split (if it means being able to run relaxed and listen to something new). Which begs the question--what kind of podcasts can you listen to while you run?

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• athletic gear
• a good pair of running shoes
• an iPod or other mp3 player
• an adventurous spirit (optional)

1. Think about how far you're running. How much material do you need? Podcast episodes are usually pretty long, which works out for distance runners. Let's say you want to run four miles. Find a podcast that lasts about 30 to 45 minutes, and you'll know exactly when to stop. Running 20 miles to train for a marathon? Might need the entire RSS feed.
2. Think about what kind of topic you're looking for. Are you looking to catch up on news? Do you want to listen to live music sets? Learn about travel? There are a lot of options. Think about what you're in the mood for.
3. Think about your environment. If you're running on a treadmill, perhaps you can afford to listen to something that requires more concentration. (You're in a controlled environment. You're not technically going anywhere.) If you're running on the streets at night, maybe you should be paying attention more to your surroundings. On second thought, if you're running on a treadmill but you are uncoordinated and trip easily, stick with the lighter fare that won't give you dramatic reactions.
4. Think about your own general mindset when running. When you run, is it easy to concentrate on what you're listening to, or does your mind wander easily? Pretty trees, hot girls at the gym, the meaning of life, what he really meant when he said that. This may determine whether you want to listen to something more intellectually intensive, like a language-learning podcast. How cool would it be to take the time you spend exercising to multi-task and brush up on your Chinese skills? However, it takes a lot of mental power to learn a language. You don't want to end up with something that you're just going to tune out anyway. Be honest with yourself. Can you handle it?
5. After you've made your lovely selections, plug in your iPod to your computer and upload your podcast(s).
6. Put on your running shoes, don't forget your keys, and try not to get lost.

Tips & Warnings

• Timing is just a convenience factor. You should always pick extra amounts of podcasts to have on your iPod, so you have a lot of options to listen to. That way you can say: "I don't really care about what Terry Gross is talking about right now. Skip!"
• Also, with extra podcasts, even if you're only done with half of an episode when you're done running, you might have something fun to listen to while you stretch too.
• Always stretch after you run. It'll prevent injuries.
• And, drink water to avoid dehydration.
• Know what you're listening to. For example, these TV show podcasts sometimes require you to synch them up to a particular episode of the TV show, so it works like a DVD commentary. These podcasts are kind of useless for running. You end up listening to the cast of Scrubs talking about how fun that thing was to shoot and how they didn't know that person could do that--except you have no clue what they're talking about.
• Pay attention to the road if you're running outside. Don't get so caught up in a podcast that you run a red light.