I, too, take notoriously long showers and find them to be one of the best places to think.<p>In regards to your question about listening to music being considered consumption: I think it really depends what type of music listener you are, or what your particular motivation for listening while running is. Listening to instrumentals for the purpose of increased concentration is probably not the norm. Most people who listen to music while they run do so for the reason frederickcook stated: they'd be bored otherwise.<p>Or at least they'd claim it was boredom. Really I think it's the complete awkwardness of the absence of some sort of distraction, and it's just easier for people to say "I'd get bored" versus "I'd feel so awkward". However, on the other side of that initial awkwardness lies a new level of clarity. For me, the 45 minute mark on a slower-paced run is the only time I have better obvious-in-hindsight solutions than in the shower.<p>(that being said, working a demanding day job while planning my exit strategy into a startup leaves me no time to run...at a time in my life when I need that clarity most!)