How do you RUN, READ, REST?

 
I admit that I personally wasn't very active this weekend. I am hoping that Lacey had a better weekend than I did. I can't wait to hear about it!
 
Friday night I could feel a scratchy throat starting to develop, so as soon as I woke up on Saturday morning I took a spoonful of this stuff.
 
Have you ever had Buckley's cough suppressant before? It is awful but it works!  It taste like what I imagine Vicks vapor rub would taste like if you put a spoon in the jar and ate it! I am sure to hold my nose shut just like a child would as I swallow the mixture!
 
I was still a little sore from my run on Thursday, so I did muster up enough energy on Saturday morning to do some leg stretches with my Xfinity Band.
 
After that, the rest of the day ( I mean weekend) was spent lounging around with this sweet girl. My throat was not scratchy anymore but I continued to be drowsy, my head and eyes hurt, and I was sneezing uncontrollably.

While I was lounging, I got online and checked my local library to see what new books were available. Before I discovered blogging, I use to be a huge book reader. I use to commute a pretty far distance for my job, so I was no stranger to audio books as well. I was renting and buying books on cd all the time. Then I discovered that I could download books from my local library right to my I-pod, for FREE!  This was perfect for summers when I could sit out by the pool and listen to my book.  Bliss!  I haven't listened to an audio book for some time now.  In fact, I was thinking about it this weekend. Could I download a book on my I-pod and listen to it during my long runs?  I admit that when I listen to my music, half the time I don't really even remember the songs that play during my run. I may not even be paying attention to it!  If I were to listen to a book, would I be able to concentrate on the story going on? Would I be too concentrated on the story and forget about my surroundings and therefore compromise my safety?  Would I really slow myself down as a run because I am listening intently to the story ( I can tell that I do this when I drive. If I need to concentrate on something, like directions, I drive slower)?

How do you feel about running while listening to an audio book? Have you ever done it?

Just in case you are considering audio books ( for your run or your commute OR your upcoming flight to Disney) I'd love to share a few of my favorites!

Lacey and I both love all Danielle Steel books (Please don't judge us)!



Echoes is a historical fiction novel. It's set during World War II. Truly one of the best stories I have ever heard!

 
Another great audio book By Danille Steel is Bungalow 2. This one is a bit on the lighter side. Lacey and I both have actually listened to this several times on our travels.

 
Sophie Kinsella's Can you keep a secret was the first audio book I owned. This one is probably my all time favorite and I have listened to this one several times as well.  Sophie Kinsella's characters are always British and the storyline is always set in London. (Think Bridget Jones). Just beware that you WILL Laugh Out Loud when you listen to this! 
 
 
And then of course I discovered that Sophie Kinsella was the author behind the Shopaholic Series. I think there are 5 stories in this series (I still need to listen to the last one). These of course are a blast to listen too!
 
Have you ever read/listen to any of these books?  What's your opinion on listening to an audio book on your run?
~M
I hope you all had a great weekend!

P.S Did you know that Sophie Kinsella also writes under the name Madeleine Wickham? ( I read somewhere that Sophie Kinsella is her pen name because she didn't want her real name on the Shopaholic series because she wasn't sure how it was going to turn out.)


 




24 comments:

  1. I love to read! Definitely admit I don't read often enough, I've never tried audio books but I love the idea. Hope you are on the road to recovery soon!

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  2. I love to read! My absolute favorite series is Harry Potter, followed by Hunger Games. Game of Thrones and Percy Jackson series' are next on my list :)

    I don't know if I could listen to audio books while running. I think I would zone out and not pay attention. I am like you, I don't even always remember what songs play on my iPod when I run lol!

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    1. You and my husband have the same taste in books!
      Yea, I'm worried about the zoning out part!

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  3. A few bloggers that I read listen to audio books or pod casts! I was thinking of looking into it for training for a full but I am not sure. I love listening to music!!! It gets me really pumped!!!!

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    1. Yea, I'm thinking I might miss listening to music too!

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  4. I looove reading but I don't think I would be able to listen to a book while I run. I always zone out!

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  5. I tried to listen to podcasts for a grad school class I was auditing but it was hard to pay attention. Maybe that was just because the subject matter was a little dense and heavy though (it was for Care of Children in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies and the podcasts were on rehabilitation programs for child soldiers...) Now that I'm trying to up my distance to 10k and am supposed to do more long, slow runs maybe I'll try to do some fun books on audio. I've never read Danielle Steel or Sophie Kinsella fan but they seem like good recs for this!

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    1. Yea, I think "Fun" books might make a difference! Good luck with upping your mileage!

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  6. depending on my mood I have always run with either music or an audio book. I always only run with one ear piece in so I am tuned into my surroundings. I do find unless I'm in a dramatic part in a book my runs can be a bit slower - however on days where I was really struggling to get out the door a book helps me get through my run better than music because I have someone else's life to be in the middle of rather that "left, left, left, right, left". So far I have only used books that I have already read or listened too undistractedly. So I am not sure the distraction level if you were to chose a book you hadn't read yet.

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    1. Glad to hear that someone has tried running while listening to an audio book! I think you are right to suggest a book that I've already read/listened to before!

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  7. this made me smile. i loved all the shopaholic books - so funny and light! what are you reading now? i need some fun books!

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    1. I'm reading Married to the Mouse now. Not really a fun book. May I suggest Run Like a Girl. This is also by a British author.

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  8. I always use Buckley's when I'm sick. :) I hope you feel better! I've been fighting a head cold for a couple of days now... :S

    How sweet is that doggie?! :)

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  9. I used to read tons. Now I have a ton of books on my bedside table that I never get to. It seems blog reading has taken over my novel reading.

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    1. Yes, free time has definitely been devoted to blogs now!

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  10. OMG, I LOVE Can You Keep a Secret! I was laughing so hard the first time I read it! My hubby gets books on his iPhone, on Audible, to listen to on his long car rides for work. He likes it better than iTunes' for some reason.

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    1. If you thought Can You Keep a Secret was funny while reading it, you should hear it being read aloud by the narrator! It's even funnier!

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  11. I've read the Shopaholic books (I thought they were cute) but I thought Can You Keep A Secret was hilarious! I've never listened to an audio book before but I should start since I just cancelled my satellite radio in my car. Hope you feel better soon!

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  12. Thanks Jennifer. Yes, you need to get some Sophie Kinsella audio books. You will literally be Laughing out Loud in your car!

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  13. Hope you feel better! I never listened to any audio books or podcasts while running but somebody suggested it to me as an alternative to music to keep my mind preoccupied on long runs. Let me know how you like it. I've read the shopaholic books and enjoyed them. "lite" reading! :)

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  14. I replied to your tweet the other day. Just a little more detail of my experience listening to books while running. I always listen to a story I have read before. But I make it one that I haven't read in awhile so I vaguely know the story so if I miss a part I'll still understand what is going on, but don't remember enough to keep me interested. I'm currently working my way through the Harry Potter series. I do find that I run slower, but when I did my first half marathon last year I found that it kept me occupied during some of the long miles. If I'm working on my speed, I just listen to music, but some of the longer runs, I'd rather have a book. I've tried to listen to an NPR Podcast that I never heard before and found that I missed too much of it to enjoy. I also have a water proof iPod and find that I enjoy swimming a lot more while listening to books. There is nothing more boring then swimming laps in a pool.

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