Music and Endurance

There is some evidence that music may increase physical endurance as well as keeping runners motivated.

The most recent research comes from Dr. Costas Karageorghis’s 20-year-old program conducted at Brunel University West London’s School of Sport and Education where participants were asked to run on a treadmill to the beat of various chosen songs by Queen, Madonna, and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

The results showed nearly a 15% increase in endurance while running in strict rhythm with the scientifically selected music. I’m still not sure what scientifically selected music means.

The explanation given was that “synchronous application of music resulted in much higher endurance while the motivational qualities of the music impacted significantly on the interpretation of fatigue symptoms right up to the point of voluntary exhaustion.”

The study results will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology.

One of the researchers will put this study to a real trial in a race, Run to the Beat that will feature live music during the entire race. Music was scientifically-selected and it will be played at 17 live music stations to accompany 12,500 runners.

Although not everyone can have live musical performances accompanying their morning run, it seems having upbeat, positive, and energetic music on your iPod just might do the trick.

The bottom line may be to turn on that iPod while you work out and it may improve your cardiovascular health!

I wonder what country music would do to the results?