Running With Music

Have you ever run or worked out while listening to music? I'm sure we all have at some point! I have a special iPod designated specifically for running. It's an old blue iPod shuffle I bought in the 5th grade. It seems so lame yet simple. I really love it because for those reasons. I don't want any extra weight or complicated settings. All I need to do is click a button to change the song and click again to pause my music. I love running with music because it makes my runs more interesting. Aside from running different routes, changing up my music also keeps me motivated. I'm not allowed to run with music in during Cross Country season but during the summer I update my playlists every week to keep things current. Music is a life saver on long runs. If I didn't have music to run to, I'd have to listen to myself breathe 10 miles. I can barely stand hearing myself breathe hard in a race only 2.5 miles long let alone on over distance runs/ recovery days!
Some people would disagree and say that running with music actually hinders their pace. The beats per minute can easily sync with your pace. If you're listening to a fast song (For example, Rap God by Eminem) you're more likely to run faster to match the beats per minute. Some people are really thrown off by the variety of beats per minute a song has and don't like the fact that it won't necessarily guarantee a consistent pace.
This leads me to my next point, if using a special playlist (or ipod in my case) only fill it with upbeat songs. I am a huge fan of Ed Sheeran but I wouldn't run to his songs.I listen to Ed Sheeran in the car or before bed to mellow out. I'm also an even bigger fan of 5 Seconds Of Summer so I  obviously have a bunch their songs on my running iPod to listen to. (I can run a solid 4 miles by listening to only 5 Seconds Of Summer before I run out of their songs and maybe 5 on a good day) Also it's pretty likely that if I'm not listening to 5 Seconds Of Summer, I'm listening to Hoodie Allen, G-Eazy or Jake Miller. I love variety. From old songs to the most recent songs, from Florida Georgia Line to Nirvana, chances are I have it all. Bottom line: I LOVE running with music. (413)