Running the distance with your iPod

iPod /

If you exercise regularly – and of course you do because it's good for your health – you might be among the many who view their iPods as an integral part of their workout. Whether you're in a gym, chugging along on the treadmill or among the elements for an outdoor run, chances are you have a pair of those classic white earbuds in.

Scientific American contributor Ferris Jabr recently reported that multiple research initiatives have shown that music can optimize a workout. He referenced a 2012 review of research from Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University in London, known to be one of the top experts on the psychology of exercise music around the globe, who wrote that music could be viewed as “a type of legal performance-enhancing drug.”

“In the past 10 years, the body of research on workout music has swelled considerably, helping psychologists refine their ideas about why exercise and music are such an effective pairing for so many people as well as how music changes the body and mind during physical exertion,” wrote Jabr. “Music distracts people from pain and fatigue, elevates mood, increases endurance, reduces perceived effort and may even promote metabolic efficiency. When listening to music, people run farther, bike longer and swim faster than usual – often without realizing it.”

Running, ensuring safety and breaking iPods
The national governing body for distance racing, USA Track & Field, decided to ban athletes from using portable music players in 2007 in order to ensure that all runners were safe and no single runner gained a competitive edge over another, Jabr noted. In a recent article for CoolAge, contributor Ashok Nath noted that listening to music while running is a particularly hot topic in the runner community. Nath explained that while there are “purist runners” who use running to become in sync with their bodies, there are many who can't run without their iPod. Even so, there are many races around that world that ban music.

“Runners must be cautious that they are not missing out on warning cues that, if not heeded, may lead to injury,” Nath wrote. “Not to forget, the inability to hear calls from other runners, car horns and the like. In general, the positive effect of music as a mood heightener is undisputed.”

As Nath emphasized, the numerous positive effects of music has many runners continuing to look to their favorite mp3 players when hitting the trail, and they need to be extra aware to avoid causing any injuries to themselves, others or their device. For any iPods that quite literally hit the dusty trail while out for a run, turn to iResQ's iPod repair services to get you mobile once more.

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