Using A Workout Playlist To Run Faster

I have read several articles on running and whether or not having a playlist with more upbeat music helps you increase your running pace or not.  There are good arguments on both sides, but I wanted to add my two cents on this topic.

I have noticed that when I used previous workout lists, I tended to run slower, only running 11:50 to 12:00 miles.  An example of one of my previous workout playlists is below:

One of my previous workout playlists

I love praise and worship music, but my problem is that the beats were too slow and I believe were affecting my running times.  So I decided to make some new playlists, this time with much faster music.

New Christian Workout Mix. Notice the different styles including rap, rock and pop.

My Pop Workout Mix.  Notice I have different eras and genres.

My Rap Workout List.  Yes, I actually do like rap.

My Rock Workout List.  This is really the best one when it comes to beats per minute.

 If you look at my run from last night, you'll see that I had a much faster pace and I will attribute that to the fact that I changed up my workout list as last night I listened to my rock list.  Tonight I will try my pop list and see how that goes.

My advice to you, for what it is worth, is to build a list of music you enjoy and like, somewhere in the range of 150 to 190 beats (or more) per minute and run to it.  Compare your times running to the faster music you like to the runs listening to the music you used to listen to, or in some cases for those who normally do not listen to music, to the runs you ran without music.  I would be very interested in hearing if your minutes per mile increased or decreased and by how much.

I would also like to know what you listen to.  Leave me a comment telling me what's on your playlist. 

I hope you have a great rest of the Day!  Thanks for reading.