Readers’ Workouts — Armchair BEA Edition

Welcome to Readers’ Workouts, the weekly event where book lovers share workout stories, goals, successes, and challenges.

One of the Tuesday topics for Armchair BEA is “More than words” about books that don’t fit the traditional printed book mold, like audiobooks. I thought it would be great to talk about audiobooks for a Readers’ Workouts post since so many readers find them great company for exercise. Do you? What do you recommend to others?

Unfortunately, audiobooks are too slow and too long for me. What does work for me are podcasts. One of my favorite podcasts is often about books: To The Best of Our Knowledge. Do you have favorite bookish podcasts that I should queue up for my workouts?

I’m running a bit behind on my goal for 1500 minutes of exercise in the month — and it’s a bit late in the month to be confessing that! I’m spending too much time in my armchair for Armchair BEA. There’s still a chance that I can pull this off, so I’ll give it a shot.

How are you doing with exercise in May? For Readers’ Workouts, talk about your fitness activities on your blog (feel free to grab the logo) and link to your post below or join us in the comments! Be sure to visit the other participants to see how we all did.

Comments

Readers’ Workouts — Armchair BEA Edition — 13 Comments

Kathryn@Book Date on May 27, 2014 at 1:35 am said:

Joy
I do listen to audio to help me exercise and joined a Book Blogger’s walk group at the beginning of this year. It has been incredibly motivating. To know I am accountable and others are into it as well. Audio is slower there is no doubt about it. However I get through a few each year. Usually light ones that don’t take too much thought as my mind wanders as I walk! I have to haul it back!

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Vicki on May 27, 2014 at 2:07 am said:

I love listening to books on my iPod while on my treadmill or recumbent bike. I also listen while I do housework and cook. I’ve never listened to a podcast, but think I’ll check to see what books I can find and give it a try.

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tanya (52 books or bust) on May 27, 2014 at 4:16 am said:

I will have to check out that podcast. My favs are BookRiot and Literary Disco. I can’t get enough of them. WriteReads is a new one from Canada that i’ve been listening to as well.

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Rachel on May 27, 2014 at 7:19 am said:

The vast majority of my exercise is walking part of the distance to work (.6 – 1.5 miles depending on weather and how I’m doing) but I usually listen to StarTalk Radio podcasts instead of more bookish ones. I just don’t really know any bookish ones to listen to!

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Isi on May 27, 2014 at 8:12 am said:

I really needed information about podcast I might like, because I want to listen to more than audiobooks at the moment (I listen to them when I go to walk, which is great too). I’ll check this web you’ve linked.
May is been a difficult month: I have exams at the university and I can’t go to run in all the scheduled days.
Good luck for your goal this month; there’s still time!!

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Trish on May 27, 2014 at 10:37 am said:

I have listened to audiobooks on occasion while working out but mostly I prefer music. Though when I was listening to IT I did listen while lifting weights…but when I tried to listen to it running outside I kept seeing Pennywise hiding behind the bushes before the sun had risen. LOL! That put an end to my listening while running. 🙂

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Stephanie Scott on May 27, 2014 at 12:20 pm said:

For some reason I never got into podcasts but I always hear about good ones. I’ll have to tag your link and try it out!

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Becca Lostinbooks on May 27, 2014 at 4:01 pm said:

I don’t have a way to listen to audiobooks while I workout because I rent them from the library, as I don’t have money for Audible so no MP3s for me. I don’t know much about bookish podcasts, but I will check the one out you mention. I still miss Nicole’s podcast!

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- Joy Weese Moll on May 27, 2014 at 5:22 pm said:
  
  Some libraries have audio e-books available — so watch for that opportunity.
  
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Charlotte on May 27, 2014 at 4:48 pm said:

I don’t listen to podcasts myself, but my 13 year old sure is getting a lot of book recommendations from John Green!

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Rachel on May 27, 2014 at 6:29 pm said:

I can imagine myself listening to audiobooks while running or walking outside, but the reality is that I prefer music, especially if I am running. I do read large -print books or e-books with the typeface enlarged when I am on the treadmill though. My husband thinks I am crazy.

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Vasilly on May 28, 2014 at 9:34 am said:

I’m not doing that well with exercise though I have been taking walks with my youngest. I can’t recommend any podcasts but I know Aarti (aartichapati.blogspot.com) has several really good posts about podcasts.

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carol on May 29, 2014 at 11:47 am said:

I listen to audiobooks all the time at the gym or when I’m walking/jogging outside. It’s the only thing that makes “working out” any fun for me. I usually listen to light romances or mysteries. I’ve never tried podcasts.

Made it to the gym twice over the weekend and took a couple of walks with the dog. My plan for tonight is to run for an hour give or take, probably on the treadmill cause it’s a rainy day.

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