# Should you run with music or without? Canonical: https://zestasy.com/wiki/music-or-no-music/ Section: Zestasy Wiki > Movement · Updated: 2026-10-14 · Publisher: Zestasy *Zestasy Wiki: our reference answers. Checked for facts and sources; less curated than the magazine.* Either is fine, and the best answer is often both: music on some runs, silence on others. Headphones can make a familiar loop feel lighter, but they reduce what you hear around you, so keep the volume low or choose open-ear headphones near traffic, and check race rules, because UK races under UK Athletics rules restrict in-ear headphones and many organisers ban them. Some runners would sooner leave the house without shoes than without a playlist. Others think headphones are a crime against birdsong. Both camps are right, about their own runs. ## What music changes Music turns a run into something with a soundtrack. A good song can carry you up a hill you were planning to walk, make a dull loop pass quicker, and give an early morning a bit of swagger. A rhythmic playlist can also nudge your stride into a steady beat, which some people find helps them settle. The trade-offs: - **You hear less.** Cars, bikes, other runners, dogs and the person shouting that you dropped your keys all get quieter. - **You may run faster than you meant to.** A great chorus can pull an easy run into a not-so-easy one. - **You notice less.** Less of the place, the weather, your own breathing and how you actually feel. ## Staying aware when you do wear headphones - **Keep the volume low** enough to hear a bicycle bell or a voice beside you. - **Try one ear only,** or choose open-ear or bone-conduction headphones that leave the ear canal uncovered. - **Turn it off near traffic,** at crossings and on shared paths with cyclists. Our guide to [running in the dark](https://zestasy.com/wiki/running-in-the-dark/) has more on being seen and staying alert. - **Skip headphones on unfamiliar or lonely routes,** where your ears are part of your navigation. ## What the race rules say If you are entering a race, check the rules before you plan the playlist. In the UK, England Athletics explains that under UK Athletics rules, in-ear headphones cannot be used where the course is shared with other users, and that bone-conduction headphones are the type approved for road races. Individual organisers often state their own rules on top: Abingdon Marathon, for example, permits bone-conduction headphones and says that other types, including in-ear headphones, lead to disqualification. Elsewhere rules vary by country and by event, so read the race information and follow what the organisers say on the day. When in doubt, race in silence; the crowd is louder than any playlist anyway. ## The case for silence Running without anything in your ears is a different activity, and a good one: - **You hear the place.** The church bells, the swifts, the waves, the café shutters going up. - **You find your own pace.** Without a beat to follow, your breathing and footsteps become the rhythm, which makes easy runs easier to keep easy. - **Your head wanders.** Plenty of good ideas arrive on silent runs, along with a few terrible ones. Our piece on [what to think about while running](https://zestasy.com/movement/what-to-think-about-while-running/) is for exactly these runs. - **It is social.** Running with others usually works better with ears open. ## Other things to listen to Music is not the only option. Podcasts and audiobooks suit long, slow runs, because a good story keeps the pace conversational. Some runners keep one show only for running, which makes heading out the door more appealing. Language lessons are a classic: an hour of Italian verbs is far more bearable at a gentle jog along the sea. ## A simple way to decide - **Long easy run on a quiet path:** podcast or silence. - **Short, dull loop you know by heart:** music, low volume. - **Busy city streets or after dark:** silence, or one ear and very low. - **Running with friends:** silence, and talk. - **Race day:** whatever the rules say, then probably silence. ## FAQ ### Does music make you run faster? Many people feel more energetic with music, and a strong beat can nudge your pace up. That can be fun on a short run, but on easy days it is worth watching that you are not drifting faster than you meant to. ### Are bone-conduction headphones safer? They leave your ears uncovered, so you can hear more of what is around you, which is why some race rules treat them differently. You still need low volume and attention near traffic. ### Is it rude to wear headphones in a running club? Not rude, but most club runs are social and many clubs ask members not to wear them in groups. Check with the run leader; our guide to [finding a running club](https://zestasy.com/movement/finding-a-running-club/) has more on club life. ### What should I listen to on a long run? Something you can listen to for a long time without it pushing your pace: a podcast, an audiobook, or a calm playlist. Save the anthems for the last stretch. ## Sources - [England Athletics: Shokz partnership (headphones and UK Athletics rules)](https://www.englandathletics.org/about-us/our-partners/shokz/) - [Abingdon Marathon: Race rules](https://www.abingdonmarathon.org.uk/race-rules) ## Related - [How do you make running feel less like a chore?](https://zestasy.com/movement/make-running-less-of-a-chore/) - [What should you think about while running?](https://zestasy.com/movement/what-to-think-about-while-running/) - [How do you run safely in the dark?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/running-in-the-dark/) - [How do you feel safer cycling in traffic?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/safer-in-traffic/) - [How do you prepare for your first race without making it your whole personality?](https://zestasy.com/movement/first-race-without-obsessing/) - [All Movement answers in the Wiki](https://zestasy.com/wiki/#movement)