As to whether it is worth listening to music while running, the opinions of athletes and coaches differ. Someone thinks that the music knocks the runner off his own rhythm and his tempo changes depending on the track being listened to. Someone prefers to run in silence and equates running to a kind of meditation, when consciousness is completely cleared. Music in this case interferes with many.
On the contrary, it helps me personally. All my tracks are selected in such a way that the rhythm practically does not change and I run only in accordance with my inner feelings.
Dr. Kostas Karageorgis, an expert on the effects of music on exercise, also believes that music helps. But not everyone and not always the same.
According to his research, music increases productivity by about 15%.
Adaranand Finn, assistant production editor of The Guardian and a marathon runner, decided to share his running experience with music.
Yes, music really helps to run faster, but there is one very interesting thing here «BUT». It turns out that the faster the pace of running, the less the impact of music.
Professional runners, as a rule, are «associators» — that is, they focus on their inner feelings. Other runners are «dissociators » (or something in between these two states) — that is, they need an additional incentive that would allow them to protect themselves from external stimuli and focus on running.
In this case, music is something like a drug. And, like any drug, its effect weakens if you start abusing it. What does this mean? Dr. Karageorgis advises turning on music only at the moment when you are already tired and really need support. Plus, listening to music with headphones for a long time can lead to hearing problems. Therefore, you should regulate yourself those moments when music doping is needed.
And, of course, the playlist plays a big role. The music should be rhythmic, suitable for your average running pace and, of course, like it. It is unlikely that music that annoys you will help you run faster.
It turns out that every year there are so-called Rock’n’Roll marathons — this is when there are stages with various bands playing music along the route.
I seem to belong to the second type. Music really helps me run faster and the kilometers fly by relatively unnoticed. One day I decided to run for the sake of an experiment without music. As a result, it seemed to me that the time between kilometers stretches endlessly and these unfortunate 4 km stretched for an eternity. Although I was running at my usual pace along the usual route. Nothing has changed. Except, of course, the lack of musical accompaniment.
The same applies to performing other physical exercises. Going to the gym without music or at least the company of a girlfriend puffing next to it is quite difficult. And about one single group fitness class just at the expense of the trainer (the electricity went out in the whole house) I don't even want to remember.
Moreover, I have already developed a funny reflex when I hear tracks from my standard running playlist, I immediately want to run :)
I wonder what type you belong to? Does music help you build, live and run? :)