Running News Daily

Listening to Drake May Make You Run Slower, Study Finds

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing—here’s why.

It’s no secret that the right playlist can turn a good workout into a great one, but can the same be said in reverse? Can a poorly-picked track ruin what was once a promising session? According to a recent study by fashion site Pour Moi, it’s certainly possible.

In an effort to find a correlation between music and running speed, the study analyzed data from 60 runs of varying lengths, where the runners were listening to a different artist each time they laced up.

The result? Best-selling artist Drake may not be the best choice for your running playlist, as the Toronto native was found to increase the runners’ time by 6 percent on average, adding up to 15 minutes to each run. Similarly, artists such as BTS, Doja Cat, and Nicki Minaj were found to have a similar impact.

On the flipside, Beyoncé helped the runners in the study shave an average of 2 minutes and 45 seconds off their time, or possibly run your marathon 23 minutes faster. Other run-boosting artists included Kanye West, Cardi B, and Rihanna.

But, running at a slower pace doesn't mean your session is void. Much the opposite, in fact. Low-intensity steady state (LISS) exercise—a slower and steady pace—has plenty of benefits. Keeping your heart rate at a consistent, sustainable pace throughout your workout will give your endurance a boost, promote better blood flow, and you’ll be able to recover quicker, too. Plus, you won’t be sweating for another half an hour once you finish your session. Maybe listening Drizzy isn’t so bad after all