Listening on the run

Some people find it odd that when I run I listen almost exclusively to NPR. One thing is that when I do listen to music, I find myself trying to stride to the beat, which is not always a good thing. However, it's more for the discussion of world events that engages my mind, taking me away from the running much better than music. People with whom I've discussed this who have then tried listening to NPR while running generally like it or at least stop thinking I'm weird for doing so. Yesterday, though, I may have pushed the bar further away from the classic running soundtrack: During my seven mile run, I was listening to golf on the radio.

Normally, I'm interested in golf twice a year. I usually try to watch The Masters and The (British) Open Championship. However this year, with the US Open being held just down the road at Pinehurst No. 2, the local interest has gotten me watching South African Retief Goosen try defend his championship on the diabolical domed greens, and since I had watched most of Saturday afternoon's action when it came time to go for a run, I scanned through the AM dial listening for very quiet people talking. Maybe if I did enjoy golf as a spectator more or had ever actually played around, it would have been better, but it was okay. I didn't turn it off until after the play was over, which was about 45 minutes.