Spooky Silence

I took my new AirPods 4 for a spin on the treadmill this week, and honestly? It was kind of spooky.

The active noise cancellation is no joke, it completely shut out the world. Usually, when I’m running, I can hear the rhythmic patter of my footsteps, the faint whir of the treadmill belt, maybe even the gym playlist bleeding through someone else’s earbuds. But this time… nothing. Just silence, my breathing, and the music in my head.

It felt weirdly floaty, like I was running through a vacuum. No feedback, no sound of impact . . . just motion. I didn’t realize how much I rely on the sound of my steps to pace myself until it was gone. It made the run feel different, lighter, almost eerie, but also kind of peaceful.

Still, there was something nice about being so sealed off. I zoned in completely. No distractions, no background noise, just me and the run.

I’m not sure if I’ll keep the noise cancellation on every time, though. There’s a strange comfort in hearing your own footsteps . Its proof you’re moving forward. But for now, I’ll call it an experiment in quiet.