Does music really make you run faster?

Music has long been recognized as a powerful tool to enhance our mood and emotions. It has the ability to transport us to different places and evoke a wide range of feelings. But can music actually make us run faster? This question has been a topic of debate among athletes, researchers, and fitness enthusiasts. According to sports psychologist, Costas Karageorghis, music can be considered as "sport's legal drug." He suggests that exercising with music can increase performance by up to 15 percent. However, it is important to choose the right music that matches the intensity and rhythm of the exercise being performed. Karageorghis also points out that music can help reduce the perception of pain and make exercise sessions more enjoyable. Many fitness centers, such as Fitness First, recognize the importance of music in workouts and play music in their clubs. Different genres of music appeal to different individuals, with popular songs like Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" being favored by male gym members and Abba's "Dancing Queen" being loved by women. While music is commonly associated with weightlifting and other repetitive actions, it can also have a positive impact on running. One notable example is Haile Gebreselassie, one of the world's greatest distance runners, who used the techno-pop song "Scatman" as a metronome when he broke the world record for the 2,000-meter race. However, it is worth noting that not all top runners choose to race with headphones. Karageorghis explains that research has shown that for most elite athletes, music is less effective. These athletes tend to focus more on their bodies and less on external stimuli like music. Therefore, while music may help amateur runners improve their performance, top athletes often prefer silence during races. To explore the impact of music on running, I decided to try running with music myself. With the help of a sports doctor, I created a playlist of songs specifically designed for running. During a half marathon race, I noticed that certain tracks, like Von Kleet's "Walking on Me," made running feel easier, while others made me want to discard my mp3 player. Ultimately, I managed to beat my previous personal best by 10 minutes, but was it solely because of the music? Honestly, I believe it was a combination of the music and the extra training I had put in. In conclusion, music can indeed have a positive influence on running performance, especially for amateur runners. It can provide motivation, distract from pain, and make the overall experience more enjoyable. However, its effectiveness may vary among individuals, and top athletes often prioritize focusing on their bodies rather than external stimuli. So, while music can be a valuable tool for enhancing running performance, it is not a guaranteed solution for everyone.