Without music while jogging, many fitness athletes feel less efficient when running. Not without reason, because the right sounds and melodies can actually have a positive effect on motivation and performance. ISPO.com explains.
Music – for entertainment and for an optimal training effect
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Music while jogging: motivation for sport
Jogging without music? For many fitness athletes, this is out of the question. Whether it’s a high-intensity ten-kilometer run or a relaxed lap around the block – without an MP3 player and the right headphones in your ears, training clothes are more and more often left unused. It just seems easier to really burn out to the sounds of your favorite music. And this feeling is not deceptive, because studies show that the right music can have a positive effect on our performance. But not only while jogging, but before that.
Many know this: The workout is imminent and you feel weak and sluggish. This is mainly due to the so-called vagotonia , in which our body is put into a kind of resting state by the vegetative nervous system. Pulse and blood pressure are down and the body is otherwise busy, mostly with digestion and regenerative processes. Music stimulates our system anew. We are mentally and physically more ready to take up the upcoming training. This is also confirmed by a study by several sports scientists, including Marcelo Bigliassi from Brunel University in London, which was published in the “Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research” in 2015. Music before training means a measurable increase in performance.
Music while jogging: improve athletic performance
The right tones also ensure increased motivation during the workout. The study mentioned takes a 5K run as an example and came to the following conclusion: Music appears to have a measurable effect on our performance only at the beginning . When listening to our favorite songs, the brain first connects positive feelings or memories, our mood lifts significantly. Thanks to this endorphin release, pain tolerance also increases, so that we perceive exertion less intensively. However, the initial euphoria gives way to the more dominant physical symptoms as the training progresses. If the load and intensity increase significantly, our body focuses more on the exhaustion signals and the influence of the music decreases.
Jogging songs: Our recommendations
As already mentioned, personal preferences play a decisive role in the selection of songs. Nevertheless, we would like to give you a few songs below that have the right speed and motivate you to exercise:
- Dire Straits – Sultans of swing
- Huey Lewis And The News: Hip to be square
- Ozzy Osbourne – I don’t wanna stop
- Iggy Pop – The passenger
- Phil Collins – Sussudio
- One Republic – Counting Stars
When it comes to music, just try it out and see what motivates you the most.
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Listening to music while jogging: preferably in the right beat
The choice of music and its rhythm also plays a role. A study by California State University in Fullerton from 2012 showed that the increase in performance among the subjects was significantly higher when they selected the music themselves. A comparison group had to train to given songs, but could not achieve a statistically significant change in performance.
The right rhythm is an advantage for the respective training unit. If the beat and step sequence are in sync, our motor movement patterns improve and performance increases. But beware: Newcomers in particular are often more motivated than is good for their health. If you are not fit enough, you quickly run the risk of overexerting yourself by enjoying music . Checking your breath and pulse regularly can help.
The influence of the rhythms can also be used after fitness training. What initially had a stimulating effect on the autonomic nervous system is now said to have a calming effect. To achieve this, calm melodies are the order of the day. With their help, the pulse and breathing can return to their original state much more quickly, which also has a positive effect on the regeneration processes and thus also on our health.
Of course, personal taste always plays a role in the effect of music. “Soft” songs tend to excite some techno fans, so they will hardly achieve the desired effect. The individual feeling for the right sounds hardly deceives us. You should only try it, because the right music is worthwhile in terms of our well-being and the training effect.
Conclusion
Music motivates to exercise and has a performance-enhancing effect. However, you have to be careful not to overdo it while running and don’t get too caught up in the music, as this will lead to overexertion.
FAQ
Do you have any questions? Then you should definitely take a look at our following FAQ!
Jogging songs: which ones are best?
There is no “best song” because music is a matter of taste. However, it is not conducive to training if you listen to slow or even “soft” music.
No motivation for sport: does music help?
Music increases motivation, but it is not a magic bullet. Anyone who is active in sports must be “Why?” know and act accordingly.
Spotify: Doing the right app for sports?
Whether it’s a classic music player or apps like Spotify – your favorite sports music can be played in a variety of ways. Anyone who uses an app is more flexible, but should use the premium version so that there are no ads after every third song.
