I started listening to audiobooks a few weeks back when someone on the CR forums mentioned them - I run by myself and on trails and I find it really great way to pass the time.... I'm almost through Ken Folletts latest (20+hours) and put in way too many miles. I've been purchasing thorugh audible.com but I may try to find stuff at local library... I'm an avid reader, but don't get much time to do it, so this is a great thing for me....my only fear is that it inspires me to run too much (I did 90ish miles last couple of weeks). Any other audiblites out there? Ray

Ray, This is a good tip for the long runners here, and the wanna-be long runners. Obviously it has worked for you, and that is the best kind of tip. Dark Horse

I like to listen to http://www.steverunner.com/. His "goofy little podcasts" usually last about an hour and run the gamut from race reports to profiles of famous runners to rants about Chicago 2007.

Ray - I am in my second year with Audible.com. I was sceptical when my husband gave me a Creative Zen for Christmas, but I am hooked at this point. I don't think I could afford enough books for 90 miles/week ;-). I only listen during long trail runs and occasionally on the treadmill when I don't have other suitable distractions. I enrolled in one of the programs - the gold I think. I don't know if it saves much money, but it does make purchasing a breeze, and the subscription seems to last a whole year. I 've become pretty selective - I try to find unabridged books with at least 12 hours playtime and preferably 15 or more hours. I just downloaded a James Patterson trilogy with 22 hours - woohoo! I am also a voracious reader, so I try to stay away from my favorite authors. Happy listening! Sue

I love to hook up to an audio book for long runs--it's how I get myself out the door on some days when the weather is bad or I'm just feeling lazy! I agree with you, Barb and Holly; the reader makes a huge difference. Sometimes I'll even select something if I particularly like the reader, even if the book looks iffy (of course, I take mine out of the library, so if I don't like something I don't feel at all compelled to continue with it.) Recently, I listened to a radio show, maybe Talk of the Nation, where folks were discussing if a book you listen to "counts" as being read. I think of course (who is counting, anyway??)--I certainly wouldn't go and read a book I'd listened to, although I have stopped listening to a book because I realized I wanted to read it. (The Thin Place, by Kathryn Davis is one of those. My standards for what I listen to are much lower than what I read, and every once in a while I realize that I'd appreciate a book lots more if I read it. I wish I'd stopped listening to After This, by Alice McDermott--she's a favorite of mine, and I think the audio format obscured the very distinct sketch-type style she used. I'll even do abridged version on audio. A few of Chris Bohjalian's novels worked well; can't remember if they were abridged. grins, A

I also just finished T is for Terror and after going through the rest of that series I have to say that is NOT the voice I had in my head of Kinsey Millhone.

I'll have to get these. I love those books. Who narrates them/voices Kinsey Millhone? Podcasts were my saving grace when training for my first HM, but now that I'm sticking to trails for my long runs, I don't listen to them as much. I need to be able to hear if a wild animal is charging up behind me!

My wife, also an avid reader, hates it when I talk of listening to books - she thinks that listening rather than reading is somewhat blasphemous. Just like the hard core runners who would never put on headphones for a run... Ray

I've gotten alot of guff from runners at events on the island about listening to my iPod while running and I'm not sure why. I keep it at a volume that allows me to hear the environs around me and to take part in conversation. I never wore an iPod before two years ago and I find it nice to listen to music or an occasional podcast. I will have to try an audio book. Chris

I have got a french course which I have on my mp3, I listen to and repeat while running, did the first lesson today, good job it's along empty country trails. I think it's called Pimsler. Roy