Who Am I?

I am an avid runner and have been running since I was 15 years old. I began running low to medium distances while on my high school track team, running the 800 meter and 1600 meter races (I was a sub 5 miler and a 2 minute 800 runner). In addition to the track team, I also joined the cross country team. After high school I still wanted to run and decided to start doing road races. I have probably ran a couple hundred 5k races (16.29 PR)along with many 10k's as well. In 2009 I decided to step up my game and try to tackle my first marathon. I will be honest; the only reason I did this was because my father ran a few and I wanted to show him that I could do what he did. I trained poorly for my first one and regret it. If you are going to run a race, train like you want to win. I still continue to run marathons and other distances as well, and every race is a chance for me to better myself.
I started this blog to hopefully communicate with other runners and to shed any knowledge I may have about the sport that can help other runners. I believe running is the best sport and can be a great stress reliever. I encourage all runners to spread the word of our sport and show people why running is so good and why the community of runners has such great people. You can follow me on twitter @byrne1324 or find me on facebook- Shaun Byrne

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Running To The Beat

     You are doing you long run for the week. You are almost done, but you are starting to feel fatigue set in.  Everything in your body is telling you to quit and walk.  Then through your head phones you hear a beat, you start to nod your head to the beat. Soon you forget about the fatigue and now a rush of adrenaline comes over your body.  Instead of slowing down you start to pick up speed.  You finish your run!
     Music can be a powerful thing.  In fact studies have been done showing  that music can help you with your workout.  A good song should be upbeat somewhere between 120-140 beats per minute.  It should be a song that makes you want to get up and move. Obviously you wouldn't want a slow song that is going to make you more tired. 
     Every person has a different taste of music.  Take me for example I like all types of music.  I mainly prefer hip hop, but that does not stop me from listening to rock and even country.  A person looking through my itunes might think I was a little confused.  But when I am on my runs I use my music to motivate me.  I have a set list called "running" and it is songs that will pump me up on my runs. 
    When I first started running my problem was I would listen to music that I normally would listen to on any given day. The problem is I don't listen to music for the beat, I listen for the lyrics.  Mos Def, Blackstar, Aesop Rock are a few of my favorites.  If you listen to them though they are not upbeat songs, so when I was running I wasn't being motivated by the music.  After a while I started to hear songs that had good lyrics and had a good beat.  It was a perfect fit for me, lyrics that mean something and a beat that could get me going. Most of them happen to be rock, not sure why but they seem to work best for me.  But in my playlist you will find some hip-hop, some rock and even some 80's song ( don't judge I am an 80's child ). The songs are handpicked for a specific reason. Some just for the beat, some for the words but with a good beat, and some just make me think of a certain thing or place that motivates me.
     Normally when I run a marathon I will start with no head phones on.  I want to enjoy the whole experience. The crowd, the other runners, and the scenery, but at some point I will get tired and fatigue will set in. At this point is where I turn to my music.  I turn up the volume full blast and shut out all my other surroundings and I let the music carry me to the finish.  So next time you're on your run and you get a little tired try letting the music carry you a little further.

*Here are some of my favorites on my running playlist*
Frontline by Pillar - this is my all time favorite great lyrics and a great beat
Help is on the way- Rise Against
Lost in the echo- Linkin Park
Till I Collapse- Eminem- anything be eminem seems to be good and when you ask most people what they                                           prefer alot of people will say eminem
We Won't Back Down-Burning Yesterday- great lyrics and great beat
....To Be Loved- Papa Roach

Do you listen to music when you run? and If so do you think it helps you through runs? What songs help motivate you?
     
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 7, 2014 at 9:02 AM

    I have an entire playlist on my iPod for running. It's a little over two hours worth of music so if I'm running a half I won't have to hear too many songs twice.
    Some favs:
    Maroon 5 - Moves like Jagger
    Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines

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    1. UnknownFebruary 7, 2014 at 10:03 AM

      My playlist is set for a marathon, this way I don't hear a repeat as well.. Do you think the music really helps or do you think it's just a mental thing?

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