Purpose: To determine whether there are differences in steps/min/m, highest achieved exercise heart rate, average exercise heart rate, average running speed, estimated relative VO2, and RPE, while listening to subjectively motivating music, as compared to non-motivating music, while running at max speed. Methods: Eleven students enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Boston, considered “non-runners” from 19 to 34 years of age, ran at max speeds for 12-15 minutes, once while listening to a play-list of songs they ranked most motivating, and a second time on a separate day, while listening to a play-list of songs they ranked least motivating. All participants were tested for steps/min/m, highest achieved exercise heart rate, average exercise heart rate, average running speed, estimated relative VO2, and RPE. Results: There were no statistically significant mean differences (p \u3e 0.05) between the “High” run (participant’s highest ranked motivational songs), and “Low” run (participant’s lowest ranked motivational songs), for steps/min/m, RPE, highest achieved exercise heart rate, average exercise heart rate, average running speed , and estimated relative VO2. There were statistically significant differences (p = 0.01) between participants’ “High” and “Low” runs for steps/min/m, after excluding outliers. Conclusion: There were no significant mean differences in steps/min/m, highest achieved exercise heart rate, average exercise heart rate, average running speed, estimated relative VO2, and RPE while listening to subjectively motivating music, as compared to non-motivating music, while running at max speed in “non-runners”
