"Run to the Beat" is a festive 13 miles (it's a half-marathon) with different musical stations less than a mile apart (there are 16 music spots along the way!) Even t certified music lovers and party-goers that are non-sport buffs, also flock to the area. After all, the O2 is an entertainment district.
Music, being a great motivational tool at the gym or when doing repetitive exercises, is the main ingredient of "Run to the Beat." Organizers who cooked up this event must have been inspired by the new breakthrough scientists are making about the amazing power music has over our mental and physiological performance.
Dr. Costas Karageorghis, picks the music being played in each station, based on the contours and physiological demands of the ground being covered, to help the runners when they need to be pushed further by the challenge.
In a research report released by Brunel University, it said, "Listening to the right songs before and during exercise will not simply reduce feelings of tiredness, it will increase performance levels by up to 20 per cent." To illustrate this point, James Cracknell, English rowing champion and double Olympic gold medallist, said he has Red Hot Chilli Pepper's "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" album as an integral part of his pre-race preparation. This also brings to mind our own Michael Phelps and his ubiquitous pre-race iPod.
Dr. Karageorghis says,
1. Music can narrow attention and divert your mind from sensations of fatigue
2. Music can be used as a form of stimulant prior to training (loud, upbeat music) or as a sedative to calm feelings of anxiety or nervousness (soft, slow music)
3. Synchronising work rates to music increases performance levels. Music tempo regulates movement and thus prolongs performance
4. Music can enhance the acquisition of motor skills and create a better environment in which to learn new skills.
While Dr. Karegeorghis claims that he has tried this on his own athletes and have gained positive results,
he laments, "there's no definitive playlist for today's gym goers or tomorrow's sporting heroes."
You'll be surprised to find out that 20% increase in performance isn't the only positive thing you'll get, especially when using iMusic!
