Soundtrack to Success

Occasionally I like to post my top ten training tunes to give my clients an idea of what I’m listening to when I’m working out, as well as, to give them some fresh ideas when they’re making up their own playlist (refer back to my blogs posted 01/10/2015 and 01/15/2014). 

On this same topic, I came across this article online last week - http://www.swimmersdaily.com/2015/11/01/tests-on-swimmer-reveal-listening-to-eminem-and-swedish-house-mafia-boosts-performance-bob-marley-not-so-much/ 

A research team from Hartpury University Centre in the UK spent three months monitoring the physiological effects of different music genres on British swimmer Ben Hooper ahead of his 3,200 km swim across the Atlantic in December. Eminem tracks including Lose Yourself and Without Me were shown to significantly increase both power and endurance during periods of prolonged and intense exercise.

Researchers found that music had to be both upbeat and hold a good tempo for athletes to maintain good performance, but found that music that also invoked an emotional response from the athlete provided that extra incentive to push that much more. Significantly more, by 10% actually. So if you want to run 10% faster during your next race try playing these tunes:

The Soundtrack of Success Top 10 Strong Songs for Optimum Athletic Performance:

1. Lose Yourself – Eminem
2. Not Afraid – Eminem
3. Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia
4. Hall of Fame – The Script
5. Remember the Name – Fort Minor
6. Stay – Sash
7. We Come 1 – Faithless
8. The Day Is My Enemy – The Prodigy
9. Without Me – Eminem
10. Back in the U.K. – Scooter  

The Soundtrack to Success Top 10 Sonds to Avoid for Optimum Athletic Performance:

1. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
2. World Looking In – Morcheeba
3. Tear Drop – Massive Attack
4. Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
5. Kelly Watch The Stars – Air
6. One Love/People Get Ready – Bob Marley
7. Passenger - Fleetwood Mac
8. No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley
9. You Can Get it if You Really Want it - Jimmy Cliff
10. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith

Listening to these songs actually required more effort when exercising!   So I’d save Bob Marley and Morcheeba for the party afterwards. 

People have always used music to inspire and move them.  Now we have science backing up just how effective the right soundtrack can be.  Obviously, individual people will have different emotional reactions to different songs. I’d like to challenge you to each make your own playlist based on music that is both upbeat, keeps a fast tempo, but invokes an emotional reaction from within you.  I’d love to hear what music motivates you!!