Running with music?

Question

When I run with music it keeps me motivated. It definitely pushes me to higher physical limits and sets a faster pace during my training. But come race day will it effect the way I run? Will I run slower without the mental push from my music? I'm wondering if it's better to not listen to music while training, so come the day of my race I will be more mentally prepared and not relying on my music. Anything helps!!

-Thank you

Answer 1

I personally think that you shouldn't listen to music while you are training because you won't be able to listen to it while you are racing. But it shouldn't make much of a difference because when you are racing your adrenaline will pull you along during your race. That is while most people tend to do better while racing. If the music really does help you keep focus you may want to try thinking about your favorite running song in your head while you are racing to get the same focus and push. Your thoughts play a major part to how well you do in your race. But if you really want to be mentally prepared for your race, I wouldn't listen to music during your training and try thinking about different things while you are running and see how that affects the outcome of your run or workout. Then you can determine whether or not you want to listen to music while training still.

I hope this helped :) Good Luck!

Answer 2

The reason music motivates you and increases your physical ability is because its a focus. You don't think about how tired and sore you are, you think about the music. To keep that up during the event, you have to find a new distraction. You can play a song in your head, or just repeat some stupid saying over and over while you run. As long as your not thinking about your body's weaknesses, you won't give into them.

Answer 3

Music helps you dissociate -- essentially divert your mind from your running. If that's what you need to do during a race (as opposed to "associating" and focusing on your body), you should probably train without it as a crutch, at least occasionally.

If music improves your training and what you get out of it overall, there's probably no need to toss it entirely. The more you take your racing "seriously" (and the more you can't use headphones in any given race), the more you should make sure you have adequate training without the music.

If you use the music all the time and suddenly race without it, you can actually get a bit disconcerted when you're racing and hear your breathing, other people, etc.