How Music Helps and Motivates: My go-to playlists or songs.

By Andy Potts

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”

• Bob Marley

While I understand Bob’s sentiment, when I am 6 hours into a ride and doing threshold intervals with my H20 Audio headphones blaring, the pain is still there. 

But then a beat drops or a lyric spurs something inside me and my mind is able to switch off and focus; kind of. It could be because I can’t hear my own labored breath or the involuntary audible moans emitting from my body or just because the music creates a distraction, motivation or triggers an emotional response/memory but everything changes. I don’t know ‘the why’ but I know it helps a ton.

For years, I didn’t like to workout with music because of safety concerns. Same goes for my wife, who was less worried about cars and more worried about being surprised on a road/trail by someone or something she wasn’t expecting. Now, with products like H20 audio’s, those safety concerns are mitigated and we have both found another way to enjoy workouts, provide some distraction and even learn something new.

Everyone’s music preferences are different and mine change daily too. But, here is what I am listening to right now during my workouts:

Z3 or Below Rides & Runs:

I am a big fan of books on tape or podcasts for this type of work. It really engages my mind, passes the time and I even learn things along the way. Here is what is on my current Hitlist:

Book Series on Tape:
Myron Bolitar Series by Harlan Coben

Jack Reacher Series by Jim Grant

• The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Jocko
• Hidden Brain
• Freakonomics Radio
• Joe Rogan
• BarBend

Z3+ Workouts:

Typically I like singer-song writer type music but I tend to do more upbeat and uptempo music when doing harder workouts. Via Spotify, these are my current ‘go-to’s’ bc of the tempo/cadence of the songs:

• Beast Mode playlist
• All Out 80’s (yes, I am old and yes I am nostalgic)
• Hype High Energy Mix
• Run This Town

So, whether you want to listen to hairband music or catch up on the latest techniques for making a soufflé, the options are endless. Just be safe, limit distractions as you are still there to train and need to be mindful of both your workout and your surrounding areas, and most importantly #getsome.