Entertainment

Sound tracks

O headphone, or not to headphone? That is the question.

Or at least it’s the question on the minds of tens of thousands of runners in Sunday’s New York City Marathon. Although the organization that spearheads the race, New York Road Runners strongly discourages the use of headphones in all of its races, music is a safety blanket for many.

“Music can aid [a runner],” says John Honerkamp, one of NYRR’s chief coaches. “Whatever gets you out the door.” And through the finish line.

Tom’s Touching Tunes

Even if he wasn’t running to benefit NYC-based nonprofit Education Through Music, the headphones would be on for Flatiron resident Tom Gonnella. “It’s nice to have something to distract you from the aches and pains, especially when it gets tough,” says the 28-year-old.

“I look for some inspiration from fast-paced songs during the middle of the run,” the NYC Marathon second-timer says of his music philosophy.

“ ‘Anna Sun’ by Walk the Moon is one of my favorites right now, and I can sometimes listen to it on repeat.”

His favorite lyric from that tune: “Racing down the hill/I am faster than you.”

Other melodies have a more personal ring. “Closer to You” by the Wallflowers, for example, was the first dance song at his wedding. “It makes me think of my wife, which inspires me,” he says. “Music is a big part of the reason that I enjoy running so much, so whenever a song connects to me personally, that’s a big plus.”

Ditching the earbuds for the sounds of the city

Who needs music when you have the city as your soundtrack?

“You don’t need to look far to find inspiration on the streets of New York,” says NYRR coach John Honerkamp, mentioning 130 bands, swollen crowds and 47,500 potential running partners. “Look at the view off the Verrazano Bridge, enjoy Fourth Avenue, take it all in.”

Gramercy resident Matthew Cohen, a 29-year-old who works at a hedge fund, admits he’s hesitant about not having headphones on for his first marathon. But he says he’s counting on the support and energy of the crowds to carry him to the finish line, and is hoping to get there in 3 hours and 45 minutes: “I’m told the atmosphere is so great on the course that listening to music would take away from the experience.”

Gaetana’s pumped-up playlist

Gaetana Capozzo will have her nearly 100-song playlist ready for the marathon, and pictures different points of the race for different songs — a remix of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” for mile 16, exiting off the 59th Street Bridge; Young the Giant’s “My Body” for mile 23 — but plans to reach for it only when crowds dwindle.

“I took up running in 2009 and it has literally changed my life. I owe it to running to complete the NYC marathon and to complete it strong,” says the nursing home social services director.

The Yonkers resident, who hopes to finish her first marathon in less than four hours, listens to empowering songs like Disturbed’s “Indestructible” whenever she needs a boost (“I’m indestructible/Determination that is incorruptible”).

“It tends to give me the push I need,” says the 40-year-old. “I’m excited for the experience of a lifetime, and want to relish in every aspect of it.”

Like most runners, Capozzo listens to music when she trains alone. “Having it with me in case I need it for strength or comfort is important to me,” she adds.

The songs on her playlist — never repeated — are ones that get her going and push her to run stronger. And each track recalls her journey to get there.

Pat Benatar’s “All Fired Up,” for one, reminds her “that you’re going to be where you’re supposed to be.”

“The marathon isn’t only about the actual day and the 26.2 miles,” she says. “It’s also about the training. My songs have given me solace during some runs and strength during the others.”