How do you set tempo (runners)?

[freemouse]

I am just curious about how other runners set tempo. I don't like listening music while running so I play drums inside of my head, like "ti da da da ti da, ton ton da da ton.......one....didadia....two......didadia...thr ee....." something like that. Do you guys have tempo thingy too? :hi:

[Jinga]

Sometimes I get into a tempo with rythmic breathing. However, my pace is usually set by how fast my dog decides to pull me. I much prefer running outside, but feel headphones would be dangerous. It would be more fun to run to music though.

[zoebird]

four count inhale, four count exhale. that's how i do it.

[Jes]

I run to music. Go iPod!

[Brandon]

I run to music. Go iPod!

Same story here. It's much easier for me to run with music.

[annabanana]

I just kind of go with the flow (which I know is not helpful advice :p) I start going and listen to the ryhthm of my footsteps on the path when I first start out, and that's enough for me to set the tempo. Usually I am thinking about all the things going on in my life, and if it's been a hard/frustrating day, the tempo's a bit faster. If I'm not hyped, it's a little slower. But if I intentionally go faster (for training reasons, not because it feels good) I run according to my breathing pattern.

Hmm, now I'm not really sure if I actually answered the question :think: I'd like to run with music, but then I find that after I finish a few songs, I start thinking, "It's only been (number) minutes?" Which is kind of discouraging :p

[freemouse]

thanks for sharing guys :)

I like to set my own rythm base on how I feel at that moment so music doesn't work too well for me. Do you get spaced out after a long run? I tend to get into a daze after several miles and I love it ! :dunce:

[CaptainSwab]

I'm similar to Anna. My pace usually depends on how my day went. Lately my pace has been very slow so I need to find a way to get hyped up! I always think about things that happened at school with my students and how I could have handled situations differently.

Sometimes I have a song stuck in my head and run to that beat, but I agree about the walkman thing. I don't use one.

Freemouse, yes! I get that daze too. Its weird. You are running but you don't really know whats going on and then you wonder how you got to where you are. Thats the best feeling in running!

[Brandon]

I've heard that feeling described as "runner's high".
I get that feeling too. :hamster:

[eggplant]

I just naturally get into a rhythm without music or counting or anything. Sing with me... :bobo: I've got rhythm, I've got music. I've got my guy, who could ask for anything more? :vebo:

[holly golightly]

music for me but thats not how youre "supposed" to do it :) ahh well. when i do run w/ out an ipod im like Captain and its usually how my day went, which luckily, is normally very good :)

[psala]

If I don't think about my breathing when I run, it tends to get "off" which can lead to abdominal cramping, for me at least.

I try to base my breathing on my stepping, so usually its:

start inhaling
step
step
step
start exhaling
step
step
step
start inhaling
(etc)

When I'm tired or out of shape I usually drop to two steps between in/exhale.

I don't know much about the technicalities of running/breathing, but this works for me.

[brownieB26]

I'm much like Captain and Anna, I usually just fall into this pace and/or tempo depending on how I'm feeling. I use running as a way to just tune out for an hour of my day. I'm usually going over what happened during the day, how I'm going to space out my homework, what I'm going to wear the next day, etc. I don't have a portable music device (no iPod for me :() so I usually have to sing to myself!! :D