Workout Music
I’ve recently taken up running, and since Allyson isn’t really up for running directly after work, I’m doing my running alone and at my own pace. The solitude has encouraged me to take my iPod with me on most runs, and I’m quickly discovering that my Mix List isn’t always the most appropriate choice for running.
Nearly anything by Morrissey, The Cure, The Mountain Goats, and The Smiths will make me pay more attention to the music than my run, and I can see the difference in my speed. In contrast, punk and hardcore tends to make me run too fast. Unless I’m trying to do some speed work, Minor Threat is a major no-no.
Thus far, I’ve had the best success with electronic music. I find that most anything by The Cruxshadows and MC Plus+ can really get me going for exercise, and while I haven’t tried it during my recent return to running, I used to really enjoy listening to Rollins Band during my high school workouts. Trance mixes with the same BPM make sure that my pace stays nice and even.
While listening to music doesn’t seem to affect my overall performance, it certainly helps my perception of how hard or easy a run is. If I have my iPod, I don’t spend nearly as much time watching the minutes tick by on my watch, and I actually approach a state that might be regarded as “having fun”. Which is actually pretty sick when you consider the stress I’m putting on my typically sedentary/comatose body.
Lastest Workout Soundtracks
- 2006-09-02: Wishfire by The Crüxshadows
- 2006-09-04: “So Much Drama in the PhD” by Monzy and Algorhythms by MC Plus+
- 2006-09-06: I forgot my iPod at the office, and the run soundly kicked my ass.
- 2006-09-08: Brainstorm by John B