Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Ride

Lets face it people, there are perfect matches out there. Jordan and Pippen, Aikman and Emmitt (former Gator), Simon and Paula Abdul, Spaghetti and meatballs, lamb and tuna fish (sorry I love Big Daddy). But NOTHING fits together in perfect harmony like exercise and music.

I realized when I got to the gym today that I forgot my iPod, and nothing contributes more to the downfall of a pumped exercise than the lack rhythm, the lack of spirit. This isn't just a myth or matter of personal preference - this is science.

According to an article titled The Science of Workout Music at Menshealth.com, a study at Hampden-Sydney College confirmed that listening to your favorite music will help you push harder in workouts. According to the study, men who listened to music while riding an exercise bike for 10 minutes pedaled 11% farther than those who pedaled in silence.

Nothing pushes you to leave the city behind during a hard run like music. Whether you're in the racket of New York City or the humming crickets of rural Texas, music will give you the beat to get that much faster. Costas Karageorghis, PhD, a sports psychologist at Brunel University in London claims research has shown synchronizing the speed of music with exercise gets people to train harder.

So keep pace with the right music. Try these for your specific exercise playlist:
-Running: "Run Like Hell" by Pink Floyd
-Cycling: "Panama" by Van Halen
-Lifting: "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin

Michael Phelps, although I originally thought fish can't hear music, had the world buzzing about what he was listening to before those world record breaking swims. Take a look at what some of your favorite athletes have on their playlists.

Michael Phelps: "I'm Me" by Lil' Wayne
Andy Roddick: "Over the Hill and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin
Lebron James: "The Takeover" by Jay-Z
Brandon Jacobs NY Giants: Young Jeezy (all of it)
Lance Armstrong: "Island in the Sun" by Wheezer
Chad Ocho Cinco: "Testin My Gangsta" by Three 6 Mafia
James Blake: "More than a Feeling" by Boston and "Roll Call" by Lil' Jon

And of course, if you don't have this on your playlist, then you're not even working out...

Feel the rhythm, Feel the ride