Happy New Year! What music is pushing you to run faster these days? We are in base training mode for a fast spring half marathon so our training is built around tempo runs and faster intervals. We use music to help us hit our paces.

Music can be a great way to help you begin to understand your pacing. A 2009 study showed that when athletes listened to faster tempo music, their power output increased and when they listened to slower tempo music, their power output decreased. That isn't to say that music is better than no music or that it is the overwhelming factor in increasing one's speed. We think music is a great way to break up the monotany of a long run, help push you to faster times and give you something to take your mind off the run!

Here are a few of our favorite songs for tempo runs:

Good Feeling - Flo Rida

Black Better - Ram Jam

Please Don't Go - Mike Posner

Loca - Shakira

Fire Burning - Sean Kingston

New York Groove - Kiss