People are usually surprised when they see me carrying a portable audio player (for music and podcasts) during runs.

Smartphones are too clumsy (not to mention pricey) to be carried in your hand or pocket while running, and phone bands do not complement sweaty arms very well. Plus, I’d rather be unavailable by phone while working out anyway.

A cheap MP3 player with an SD card has served me well for a few years now. So there is definitely something to be said for devices that do one thing well.