Exercise soundtracks enhance workout experience

A lot of things in life involve planning, including tests and vacations.

Even exercise soundtracks require preparation. After all, what you listen to and when you listen to it can affect both the productivity and efficiency of your workouts.

Going for a bike ride?

Try listening to your favorite rock album. According to a study at Nottingham Trent University in England, cyclists who listened to upbeat music while biking were able to pedal longer than those who listened to slow music, slow-to-fast music or no music at all.

Although fast music may increase endurance in cyclists, it may hurt the endurance of trained runners. In a story done by the University of North Carolina, trained runners were actually worse off after listening to fast-paced music. Experienced runners should stick to slow-paced music or no music at all.

But if you're an untrained runner, feel free to rock out. In contrast to trained runners, fast music may actually increase your endurance.

The difference lies in the rhythm of trained runners that the fast-paced music disrupts.

Weightlifters can reap the benefits of music as well. Fast-paced music has been shown to increase adrenaline, which aids in heavy lifting. In addition, music distracts you from fatigue, helping you to extend your sets and further muscle growth.

So music increases the effectiveness of your workouts. So what?

Well, according to an Ohio State study led by Charles Emery, music may also make you smarter as well.

The study showed that listening to music while exercising helped subjects perform better on a verbal fluency test.

The positive effects of music on exercise are more than just statistics University students have experienced the boon firsthand.

Chris Baker, a sophomore from Marietta, said, "listening to Christian Rock helps me focus less on running and makes it more enjoyable to run."

Chad Gazzola, a sophomore from Dunwoody, said, "rock helps me get that last rep. I definitely feel stronger when I'm listening to pump-up music."

Not into rock music? You don't have to be. Jonathan Irby, a junior from Stockbridge, said, "the other day I was in Ramsey and Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone' came on, and it pumped me up so much that I repped out two sets of shrugs with 275."

Whether it's Christian Rock or Kelly Clarkson wailing out on the Ramsey loudspeakers, turn your music on.

Pay attention to the speed of the beat and pair it with the right kind of exercise. Perhaps by Spring Break you may be both smarter and fitter.

- Daniel Hanna is a columnist for The Red & Black.
Originally published in the Red & Black 8/30/07