We all know that music can give us that extra boost to pick up the pace, but here’s the surprising part: music doesn’t just motivate us—it actually tricks our brains. New research from the University of Edinburgh suggests that cranking up your favourite playlist might be the secret to powering through a mentally tough run. The study, published in the Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, found that listening to self-selected, high-energy music can help combat mental fatigue, letting runners keep their performance levels up even when their minds feel wiped out. Here’s what you need to know to harness the hidden power of your favourite playlist.
Some research suggests that music can help runners improve their cadence, leading to a more efficient pace and fewer injuries. But music might just be the key to unlocking next-level endurance by easing mental fatigue and making even tough runs feel manageable.
Testing the power of motivational music
Researchers recruited 18 fitness fans and split them into two groups. Each group faced a mentally challenging, 30-minute cognitive test designed to leave them feeling mentally fatigued. One group took on an interval running workout afterward, while the other tackled a 5K time trial. Each runner completed their workout twice: once with music and once without. But the playlists weren’t just random—participants handpicked tracks they found especially motivating, rating them on factors like beat, melody and tempo. Songs included motivational tunes like “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor and “Run This Town” by Jay-Z.
The results? When runners were able to listen to their self-selected playlists after the mentally taxing task, they performed just as well as they did when they weren’t fatigued. Interval runners with music performed better than those running in silence, and those running the 5K saw a small, but notable, improvement in their times.
How music might help
According to the researchers, these improvements might come from music’s ability to alter perception. By drowning out the discomfort and making the exercise feel less taxing, tunes can help mentally fatigued runners push through at higher intensities. As Dr. Shaun Phillips, lead author of the study, puts it: “The findings indicate that listening to self-selected motivational music may be a useful strategy to help active people improve their endurance running capacity and performance when mentally fatigued.”
The takeaway
Researchers say future studies could explore how music impacts performance in different settings—whether it’s race-day intensity or a casual run through the neighbourhood—and how it affects a wider range of runners.
For now, let your playlist do the work. The next time your brain feels zapped after a long day of meetings, hit play on those favourite tracks. They might not only lift your pace, but also push aside lingering mental stress and make those miles fly by.
