Why I walk better with music - and why that doesn't apply to everyone

“Top physicians” give tips
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Why I walk better with music – and why that doesn’t apply to everyone

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The lines are from the One Direction song “Ready to Run”.
Photo: schnettler

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Viersen Music can make runners more efficient, explains sports physician Michael Fritz. Praise the neurotransmitters! Which songs are suitable and who music doesn’t help at all.

There’s that epic scene in “Rocky” where Sylvester Stallone first smashes some raw eggs into a jar, then downs all the goo down his throat, then sets off on an early morning run through the corners of Philadelphia that are never in will create a tourism brochure of the city. This is accompanied by “Gonna fly now”, composed by Bill Conti. Uplifting fanfares at the beginning, a beat that lashes out. The choir sings: “It’s so hard now”, later “Getting strong now”, even later “Gonna fly now”. To be honest: Without the music “Rocky” would only be half as good.

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Thats how I feel too. When I run, it runs better with music. Until the doctor comes. And there he is: Michael Fritz, specialist in general medicine from Viersen, specializing in sports, honored as “Top Physician” by the magazine “Focus”, for a long time oversaw our editorial team’s “Fit in den Frühling” campaign. Why does music work better? “Because you’re a run-of-the-mill runner,” says Fritz. Thank you very much, doctor! Great diagnosis.

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Info

Three songs to get you going

A guaranteed subjective selection, tested for suitability in wind and weather.

Peter Fox, “Two Legged Locomotive”Has pounding beats, fat bass and lyrics that are probably the most beautiful ode to movement in German hip-hop
gives.

Rolling Stones, „Paint it black“

Even though the song is more than half a century old: Charlie Watts’ drums push you while you walk and the sitar inspires you.

Metallica, „Master of Puppets“ The music is sweaty, the song eight and a half minutes long. You can make a lot of meters there!

The RP running series gives lots of tips and information. You can find more about this topic on our main page at www.rp-online.de/laufen

Previous topics:

– In Nettetal, children are introduced to running in a playful way

– A lap through Alt-Viersen: Five kilometers of running luck

– Schwalmtaler fell ill twice: Get fit step by step after Corona

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Which is true. It’s rare enough that I put on my running shoes. And then I really just want to work out. Until I fly “Music can inspire and motivate,” explains Fritz. “Especially if you run alone, that can be a big help.” Most runners have a step frequency of 180 (I have my doubts about that), so songs are good for running, whose beats per minute are divisible by 30. Otherwise? “Otherwise the run will be restless and the step will be sluggish.”

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Why does music help me? “Then adrenaline and dopamine are released, a whole biochemical cocktail of neurotransmitters,” explains the doctor. And when that circulates in my blood, it widens my flow channel. mean please what?

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“Down in the flow channel is what you’re good at. At the top, the channel is limited by the performance ceiling.” In other words, what you’re not good at. The area where it hurts. Where you feel short of breath when running, notice the effort. If the flow channel widens, you actually become more efficient. Because through the music you can hide everything else, you can focus. “You’re in a good mood, the rhythm carries you, you can run more relaxed and recover more,” says Fritz. Brilliant!

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And why doesn’t this work for everyone? “It doesn’t work for competitive athletes because they train to be successful in competitions and there’s no song in this world that fits the sequence of movements in an 800-meter run,” says Fritz. No wonder Rocky lost to Apollo Creed in the end — because of Conti’s film music! And there is a second group for whom music is counterproductive when running, says Fritz: “Highly musical people.” Because runners never exactly hit the rhythm.

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But running without music also has advantages, emphasizes the sports doctor. “Running has great therapeutic value, it can help against depression and dejection.” Especially when you’re running through the countryside. But that only works if you don’t isolate yourself. Fritz: “Because then you are no longer in harmony with your surroundings. Whoever listens to music no longer hears the birds chirping.”

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