I run with an ipod sometimes. I used to hate people who did. These were people who couldn't love running for what it was, who just did it to keep fit and needed a beat to run to 'because it keeps your legs moving quickly'. People at work used to ask if I ran with an ipod, assuming I must because I ran so much. I used to laugh poliltely and say 'no, I can't concentrate with one. I don't really run for leisure, I just do the training that needs to be done'. Then I got an ipod nano thorugh a competition, and it fits in that little key pocket in your shorts, and so I thought I'd try it on an easy run to see if it wasn't TOO annoying. My earphones don't keep faling out, it's not irritatain, or heavy, and takes nothing away from your run. Now I despair if I see the battery's dead just as I'm about to leave for my morning run; and cry if I realise I've left my earphones at work and so will run the 1 mile there before a sunday run just so I don't have 2 hours with only the sound of my own footsteps for company. Currently, I only wear on steady and easy runs - anything faster and I feel like I should concentrate a bit.

I actually don't tend to listen to music that often, as that becomes a bit like background noise after a while, but podcasts are brilliant. They force me to listen to them and so can't daydream, and so they pass the time quicker. When you get so used to the same routes that you are on autopilot the whole way, podcasts are really good to at least take your mind off how long before you can stop running!

I like the Hamish and Andy podcasts at the moment - 2 really funny Australians who just talk crap on the radio all day and play pranks on people. Very very funny in places and has resulted in me burstig out laughing on my runs and gettng strange looks from passers by....! I also like Jonathan Ross, Jon Richardson and the Radio 4 comedy show, along with the Danny Baker 606 phone in. If anyone has any suggestions I'd like to hear them. I've thought about audio books, but looked pretty expensive on iTunes.