Music for your Feet

Like other sources of distraction, like breathtaking scenery or beer-guzzling spectators, an MP3 player can have an impact on your running performance.

You can use your iPod to experiment with how different modes of thought affect your running experience.

Here are a few great ways to find out what makes you tick – and get your feet tapping to your own running beat.

To relax, unwind:

Create a playlist that will help you tune into your surrounds by tailoring your song selections to the are you’’re running in.

Pick songs that reflect the landscape, like an upbeat tempo for urban runs or mellow tunes for more serene rural settings.

To stay motivated during a long run:

Occupy your mind so the kilometres fly by choosing songs likely to trigger reflection or downloading podcasts of your favourite talk shows.

To stay focused on a workout:

Queuing up songs that turn on your competitive fires and remind you of being at a race – the excitement, the adrenaline rush. If you feel like you’re in a competitive setting, you’ll be more likely to push yourself to your limits.

To hammer out a quick, hard pace:

You’ll want to be in tune with your body. For this run, pick music with a sharp and steady beat, that matches quick leg speed. While running, tune in to your footfalls, your arm swing, your breathing.

To race your best:

Compile a mix that encourages you to tune in and out. An upbeat song can cue you to do a ‘body check.’ Songs that relax you or that you can sing along to will prompt you to zone out.

VERY IMPORTANT: Wearing headphones or earplugs while running means you can’t always hear approaching vehicles, cyclists, fellow runners or dogs, or a would-be assailant, so make sure you only run with an MP3 player in a safe area that you know well, and be extra vigilant with your eyes.