Let's Talk Music

Do you run while listening to music? 

Really? 

Me too!

I know a few runners however that do not and sometimes depending on who I'm with and where I am at I may forgo the music as well. If I am with a group, I tend to leave it behind. If I'm with 1 person, I will most likely have one ear bud in on the opposite side as to which my running partner is on. I want to be able to still have a conversation with her, but sometimes having the 'beat' in the background helps keep me on pace. This is a good thing as sometimes I tend to just take off and then find myself a little too winded. 

Why do I want to talk about music? Well, I love it and it's a runners topic. Over the past year I have been getting myself a musical education. I decided I needed more upbeat playlists...that Country music just couldn't give me what I needed to run with. What was I thinking?!!! I LOVE Country music! I am a die hard Country music fan! How in the world could it not give me what I need?!

Many people listen to many different things. I know some people that workout to Frank Sinatra! Sorry but that just don't do it for me. I've realized there are certain times and places that I need specific music...most of it is Country. Sometimes it's contemporary Christian, sometimes it's pop, oldies or rock n roll! It depends on the situation, location and event.

If I am in the gym and I need to go hard - then I need songs that like it or not make me mad. I need that little bit of anger ignited...one particular song that seems to do that for me is: Kelly Clarkson's Mr. Know It All. I've no idea why that song works for me, but it does. 

However, I've found when running I do not need the same type of music. I need gentle beats, rhythmic beats and songs I enjoy singing along to. Weird right? I thought to run faster, you needed faster beats per minute and perhaps you do. Some songs however are a lot faster than they appear and some are slower than you imagined. You think, "Oh that Country song is too dang slow!" Then low and behold you go to jog.fm and type it in only to learn that the slow song is actually good for an 8 minute mile and has 121 beats per minute! Who knew right?

I really like a Country group called Shenandoah. I was listening to them on Spotify the other day and I was just listening to them over and over. When I thought I wonder what paces these songs are good for. So over to jog.fm I went. I was shocked. Most of the songs I looked up were good for under 12 minute miles. I was impressed. Here I'd researched songs I'd never heard when all along my "slow Country songs" totally had it in the bag!

You can take the girl outta the country & she may even start running marathons and acting crazy, but the one thing you can't take is the country outta the girl. It just don't work. 

Perhaps you think some of the same things about your preferred style of music as I did. If so, don't be so quick to jump ship. Look up what you know, what you like and what you love. Find out the BPM, test the songs out on a few runs or workouts, if the song irritates you remove it. Before long you'll have a playlist you love and you won't have spent a fortune on songs you 'rarely' listen to. 

I did find a few new songs I like...but when it comes right down to it Country music matches the rhythmic beating of my heart & I love it. 

Listen to what you love and it will move you.