Movement. Motivation. Music.
In the world we live in music is now more accessible than ever. Gone are the days of lugging around big heavy objects carrying cassettes and CDs. With our obsession with technology, we have MP3's and streaming services readily available almost anywhere, any time, with almost any song imaginable at our fingertips.Add to this the fact that music has an almost unmatched ability to get people moving, and tell me why you wouldn't want to run with music?
Simply load up your smartphone, MP3 player, or whatever device you have at your disposal, throw on some sports headphones, and get out and run. Load up a bunch of motivational tracks which energise you, keep you moving, keep you focused and alert, and, most importantly, do not annoy or aggravate you. Make sure your playlist or music collection is long enough to last at least as long as your longest runs, or be prepared to listen to your songs on repeat - then again, they'll all be tracks you love and energise you, so no real loss there.
If you're a Premium subscriber of a streaming service like Spotify or Deezer, you'll have unlimited access to tonnes of pre-loaded running playlists, or make your own, and access your music while you're out and about. If you're an urban runner you might be lucky enough to stream while you're out on your run.
I tend to choose songs which have a big, repetitive beat at a high bpm - for example drum and bass, electro, and rock. Monotonous down-tempo songs and acoustic ballads I've found to be the most detrimental to my flow and have me reaching for that device to skip to whatever is up next. However, everyone is different and has different motivations, so find the music that works best for you.
Equipment selection is also crucial - no one wants to take their 10" tablet out for a run - so choose something small and light (the iPod Shuffle is possibly the best device for runners) and pick some in-ear headphones which are comfortable and made for sports, and you'll have the best experience you can. I've had numerous phones fall through my short pockets on a run, and can advise not to try over-ear headphones unless you keep your head pretty still on a run. If you find the cable getting in the way, either run the cable underneath your top or invest in some decent bluetooth headphones, to minimise the intrusive nature of a wandering cable when on a sprint.
By being smart about your music selection, you'll find extra motivation in those times you really need it, when you're digging in deep and pushing through in those last few miles or going for a personal best. I'm not saying this is the only way to get out and motivate yourself out there, but you've really got nothing to lose here, so, what are you waiting for?
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