Did you know that running to the beat of the music can actually make you a better runner?
If you’re a runner looking to improve their cadence, researchers discovered that the right music playlist can actually improve your overall performance. On top of the mood booster and healthy distraction that music brings, tuning in on the specific beat and rhythm can encourage how fast you take your strides.
According to researchers from the Netherlands, “Their idea was to let music direct an increase in running cadence — the number of strides per minute. A shorter stride and quicker turnover keeps the landing foot under your centre of mass, reducing impact stress on the lower body while improving efficiency by easing up on the breaking forces of every footfall.”
After conducting tests on a group of runners, the researchers found that the upbeat music allowed runners to increase their cadence by 8.5%, whereas no music actually slowed them down. While this momentum won’t last forever, the music does naturally push runners to go a little bit more than they probably would before slowing down completely.
In conclusion, if you’re looking to get faster feet, you might want to consider listening to a playlist with a faster BPM tempo… Happy running!
