Running with music...

I swear I'm not anti- "listening to music while exercising", I listen to music when lift weights (not that I do that much these days) and I listen to music sometimes when I'm running.  Music can help one pick up the pace, motivate, and distract from the pain/boredom.  However, there are a few things I've never understood about certain situations with music and running:

• Running partners - I see it all the time.  Two people clearly running together, both with headphones in their ears.  What's the point of having a running buddy if you both pop in headphones and pretend like the other isn't there?  When I run with people, it serves a purpose.  Sometimes its for the conversation.  I've had some amazing conversations during long runs.  Sometimes its to have that person push me (or me push them).  While there's no conversation happening, there are verbal cues there that would be lost if each party has headphones in.  The only thing I can think of is that each person relies on the other to just get out the door, but neither really cares that much about actually running with someone.
• Group running - essentially this is the same as above, but with more people.  Why run with a group if you are going to isolate yourself with music.  I saw multiple times a week in my three years of involvement with RUN NYC.  It just doesn't make any sense to me (sorry Roz).
• Racing - Not only do I not understand racing with headphones, it can be unsafe.  I've personally seen runners with headphones, oblivious to their surroundings, almost get run over by wheelchair participants on a decline.  Runners screaming at those with headphones to move.  Outside of the safety issue, headphones completely ostracize you from a huge portion of the race experience.  Hearing the roar of the crowd and the random comments can be amazing.  Hearing the echoing footfalls on the 59th Street Bridge and the wall of noise from First Avenue in the NYC Marathon are both chill-inducing sounds, but hearing one give way to the other is a one-of-a-kind experience.  I can't imagine missing those kinds of things.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see someone out running with headphones than sitting on the couch.  If music is the only thing that gets you out the door, more power to you; I just don't understand it.