Music choices?

[Runningbackwards]

Hi everyone.

I run about 8-10 kms a week and find listening to music helps me keep my mind off any aches or lethargy in my body. Whilst it's important to be more aware of traffic when you have headphones in, I find it helps me.

I have a playlist consisting of music such as Nirvana, Linkin Park, Foo Fighters etc.

I was wondering if you guys/girls listen to music when you run or do you find it distracting?

If you do , what do you listen to?

I'd be interested to know what genre people find more helpful when running.

Thanks in advance.

[Roxdog Graduate]

I always listen to music. I went through a patch of not using music and I do turn it off to listen to the birds singing sometimes, or when I'm in a beautiful place.I tend to listen to very chilled out music most of the time, no running to 'motivational' music as it's a bit hectic.

My favourite track when I'm on a long run which is getting a bit gruelling is Grace Jones Nightclubbing. I also listen to Hawkwind or Underworld.

[Prof1 Graduate]

I always listen to music too - don’t think I could run without it! It’s always Arcade Fire on shuffle - I find their albums really motivate me. Occasionally I’ll put Kings of Leon on too - the music spurs me on!!

[Maz1103 Graduate]

I just randomly add things to my Spotify playlist if I hear something I like. I love music to listen to, but always wear one earbud so I am aware of traffic etc.

[Cmoi Graduate]

I love music, but couldn't possibly suggest a specific genre that you'd find helpful, it's too personal and my choices are eclectic, to say the least. I can run for hours to Renaissance sacred choral music, most people would hate that. I can hammer along to fast-paced 70s pop and rock, but find some electronic and big beat dance music panic-inducing. Some people like to run to a specific bpm playlist, I don't.

Just pick music that motivates you, and keep it low enough that you can hear what's happening around you. Happy running!

[Over60sRunner Graduate]

Good old fashioned rock and roll, rhythm and blues, a bit of jazz, and even some Northern Soul and 70s/80s rock and pop.

No particular beat, just whatever I like gets added to my Spotify running vibes list 😁

[nowster Graduate]

When I ran to music, it was a random selection of tracks dating from the 1940s to the early 2000s. Later I often listened to the radio, "Marty in the Morning" on RTÉ Lyric FM, but only when Marty Whelan was presenting. He's from a similar mould as Terry Wogan.

I nowadays run to spoken word podcasts, except if I'm running on Friday afternoons.

If it's between 1pm and 6pm on a Friday, I listen to the music-led show from Mike, a friend who volunteers for the local radio station in Truro (based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital). I'm in Manchester, so I listen to the online stream of it.