Go it alone

It seems that between all my kayaking and running I’m finding myself out there on my own. Not that I’m complaining – I get to set my own pace, wander if I see something of interest and simply spend time decompressing from the stresses of the work week.

There are so many random, funny and odd things that go through my mind when adventuring outdoors. The problem is that at some point I get bored of myself (yes, it’s possible) and all those thoughts. That’s when I started packing my iPod as essential piece of gear. When I’m out for a run I’ve got a case that allows me to clip my iPod to my clothes and I’ve also got a band that goes around my arm (caution: can cause strange tan lines). I’ve even got a waterproof case for when I’m kayaking.

Problem solved? Kinda. Now I’m completely over my playlists and even the surprise of shuffling songs. After a few hours out on the water I’m just not into it anymore. That’s when I had the bright idea of downloading an audio book onto my iPod – brilliant, if I do say so myself. I took to the water and listened to the first 3 hours of Life of Pi. It definitely helped me through my usual paddle and kept my brain going the whole time. I highly recommend it!

I’ll give one obvious warning though. If you do choose to wear an mp3 player while taking part in your favorite outdoor activity – please make sure you’re being as alert as possible. On the water you’ve still gotta look out for other boat activity. On a run you’ve still gotta be vigilant about your surroundings, cars and other runners/cyclist. I try to accomplish this by only putting in one ear bud. So far, so good.