I know that there are running purist out there that consider it a distraction to listen to music while they are running. They tout concentration on form, awareness of your surroundings and safety as reasons that music should be avoided. I am not here to pass judgment on anyone that has the will to exercise regularly, nor will I condemn the motivation that they use to do it. I am simply here to share what has worked for me. I love running to music, and I could not imagine doing it consistently any other way.

For me to really be honest and open with you, I must share one small dirty little secret. I do not actually start to enjoy my run, until I am at least 10 minutes into it. In fact, most of the time I have to push myself to start. Does that mean that I don’t love running? Perhaps not as much as some others, but I do love the satisfaction that I get from running. I also love the health benefits that come along with it. By the time I reach the 10 minute mark I feel relaxed and confident that I will achieve my goal. That is a feeling that I do enjoy. My worries and troubles seem to disappear, at least for a while, and I feel that my mind and body are in complete sync.

By now, you can tell that my relationship with running is somewhat ambivalent at best. However, my relationship with music is one of absolute certainty. I love music, I always have and I always will. In fact, it would be hard for me to imagine a world without music. When I dread changing into my running clothes and lacing up my shoes, it is the music that motivates me to push forward. Knowing that the rhythm and the beat will be my constant companion gives me the support that I need to get started. Whether it’s Jay-Z urging me to “bounce with me, bounce with me,” or Katy Perry declaring that “I am a Champion,” having the right music provides the soundtrack that I know will get me to the finish line each day.

The other purpose that music serves for me is setting and helping me to maintain my running cadence. I deliberately create my playlists at a BPM (Beat per Minute or tempo) that will synchronize with the steps per minute that I want to target. This cadence will keep me from over-striding. So, in a sense, when I run, I am not just listening to music; I become the music. I know that as long as I maintain my form and continue to put one foot in front of the other at the pace that the music is setting for me, I will reach my goals and reduce my chances of injury. Of course, I do all of this at a suitable volume so that I remain aware of my surroundings and preserve my hearing for as long as possible. But for me, a music source and headphones are as essential to my run as proper shoes and clothing. The music is truly my motivation and the run becomes my dance.