"BPM" (music) = ? Pace?

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CrazyDiamond66

29 posts since
Sep 24, 2007

Sep 26, 2007 9:11 AM

"BPM" (music) = ? Pace?

Hi There,

New to site, and have been reading thru posts, etc. I saw an excellent link to the podcast running download site and have downloaded a couple of them.

I cannot find anywhere that it tells at what pace (minutes per mile) is equivalent to the beats per minute.

So, if I want to run at an average of 10:00 minutes per mile, what BPM should I use? (150? 133?)

Thanks.

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BrandonE

127 posts since
Nov 7, 2007

1. Sep 26, 2007 9:20 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

That totally depends on your individual stride length. There's no universal answer to your question. Just try several different tempos and see what works for you individually. If you have no idea at all, get a wide range of tempos.

djsteveboy

86 posts since
Feb 14, 2006

2. Sep 26, 2007 5:02 PM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

Run at what seems a comfortable pace for you. Count your strides for 30 seconds. Multiply by 2. There's your BPM. Download mixes a few BPM to either side of that as well, to give yourself some wiggle room. VERY generally speaking, you won't get 10 minute miles at less than 165 BPM.

This is one of the few times I can nonmetaphorically say that your mileage may vary.

------------------
DJ Steve Boyett
"Podrunner" -- FREE workout Music Mixes
Download from iTunes or directly from http://www.djsteveboy.com/podrunner.html[/URL" target="_blank">

fjordrunner

306 posts since
Jul 28, 2006

3. Sep 26, 2007 6:34 PM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

quote:<HR>Originally posted by djsteveboy:
This is one of the few times I can nonmetaphorically say that your mileage may vary.

<HR>

groan

but how true!

here is an interesting webpage that links bpm to speed; just make sure you change the pace from kilometers to miles:
http://www.run2r.com/Technical+linking-bpm-to-running-speed-usa.aspx[/URL" target="_blank">

i ran to one of dj steveboy's 160 mixes recently and my pace averaged 10.30.

fwiw

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susan[/URL" target="_blank">

djsteveboy

86 posts since
Feb 14, 2006

4. Sep 28, 2007 3:04 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

See, if I run at 160 my pace is about 11:30. I have short legs.

------------------
DJ Steve Boyett
"Podrunner" -- FREE workout Music Mixes
Download from iTunes or directly from http://www.djsteveboy.com/podrunner.html[/URL" target="_blank">

fjordrunner

306 posts since
Jul 28, 2006

5. Sep 28, 2007 6:40 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

quote:<HR>Originally posted by djsteveboy:
See, if I run at 160 my pace is about 11:30. I have short legs.

<HR>

erm... i'm 5'2" - not exactly of the long-legged variety

)

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susan[/URL" target="_blank">

CrazyDiamond66

29 posts since
Sep 24, 2007

6. Sep 28, 2007 8:22 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

quote:<HR>Originally posted by fjordrunner:
erm... i'm 5'2" - not exactly of the long-legged variety )

<HR>

So, I did my first "podrunner" run this morning. I enjoyed it SOOO much! Thank you DJSteveboy!

I decided to start slow and work up from there to figure out what paces will equal what time/distance. I did the "running out of summer" mix at 149 bpm. This equaled right at about 12 minutes per mile for me. (Oh, and I'm 5' 8" - at 5' 2" you must run like a graceful gazelle in the air to get that speed!)

The slow pace was so easy for me (I had to concentrate on slowing down to stay with the music) that I was able to do the whole hour without stopping. So I did 5 miles! That is a new personal best run for me (although I keep taking away from the "glory" of it, telling myself, "Yeah, 5 miles at TWELVE minutes each!).

Need to be a bit kinder on myself, huh?

At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed the mix and look forward to downloading one a bit faster!

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djsteveboy

86 posts since
Feb 14, 2006

7. Sep 28, 2007 10:12 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

CrazyDiamond66--

Congratulations, and thank you for taking Podrunner out for a spin! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I wouldn't be hard on myself if I were you. Progress is measured against yourself, nothing else, and if you went 5 miles without stopping and don't usually do that, that's pretty cool. Now you'll probably find that it's not much more work to bump it up 1 or 2 BPM and you may be surprised at the time you shave.

fjordrunner--

Well, the fact that I'm most likely a mediocre runner at best may have something to do with it. I'm 5'8" but have something like a 28" inseam. My wife is 5'4", and a former marathon trainer. She'll outdistance me by a wide margin every time, even though we run at the same BPM. But can she do full splits, huh? Can she? Noooo. So nyah nyah nyah, I say; who cares about stoopid old running when you can do full splits?

------------------
DJ Steve Boyett
"Podrunner" -- FREE workout Music Mixes
Download from iTunes or directly from http://www.djsteveboy.com/podrunner.html[/URL" target="_blank">

CrazyDiamond66

29 posts since
Sep 24, 2007

8. Sep 28, 2007 10:19 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

quote:<HR>Originally posted by djsteveboy:

Now you'll probably find that it's not much more work to bump it up 1 or 2 BPM and you may be surprised at the time you shave.

<HR>

Yes, I'm going to try that. Actually I was thinking of going up about 5 bpm next time.

By the way, we are definitely not "Running Out of Summer" here. The reason i run at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. is because it is still 95 degrees in the afternoon here.

Have a great day

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CrazyDiamond66

29 posts since
Sep 24, 2007

9. Sep 29, 2007 10:52 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

quote:<HR>Originally posted by djsteveboy:

Progress is measured against yourself, nothing else, and if you went 5 miles without stopping and don't usually do that, that's pretty cool. Now you'll probably find that it's not much more work to bump it up 1 or 2 BPM and you may be surprised at the time you shave.

<HR>

Woo hoo for me!!!!! This morning I did 3.4 miles in EXACTLY (I mean to the second) 34 minutes using the 159 bpm "beat papa mix" (or it's called something similar to that). My goal for my 5K is 10 minute miles, and I went over 5k at this pace!

DJSteveboy, you're my hero. I am setting my goal a bit higher now (or lower, I guess - shorter time). I know I can do it now! I attribute it to this pace-keeping music that is AWESOME! What a good feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will slowly work down in time and will probably end up using the podrunner DURING the race - I wonder how many people do that?

Shine on,
CrazyDiamond66

runninirish

233 posts since
Feb 26, 2007

10. Sep 29, 2007 11:11 AM

in response to: CrazyDiamond66

I have read numerous times that ideal stride rate is 180 strides per minute regardless of your pace...most runners fall short of this...it is hard to do. But 180 has been show to be ideal for ANY pace...researchers have looked at olympic 5k'ers and marathoners alike...180 seems to be the magic number...in my humble opinion anything above 170 is good...but if you think about it, anything less and you would be taking a very long stride, which means your lead foot is going to land significantly in front of your body, causing it to actually "stop" your body with each stride...where as a fast stride rate is going to put your lead foot closer to under your body with each stride, allowing you to propel forward from each step...sorry to ramble...just thought I'd toss in my two cents! Good luck!

Sep 26, 2007 9:11 AM

"BPM" (music) = ? Pace?

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