It's been a while since I've done a music-related post, but I'm starting to get tired of my training playlists. (First world problem, right?) So far, I've been running without music during shorter runs, and it's been a welcome change. When I'm run at the gym, though, or head out for long runs, I like having something other than my inner monologue to keep me going.
I'm building a new playlist (clever name to come) and would love recommendations. Here's what I'm starting with:
1. "Burn" - Ellie Goulding
2. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
3. "Howl" - Florence + The Machine
4. "Shake It Out" - Florence + The Machine
5. "Can't Hold Us Back" - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
6. "The Monster" - Eminem (feat. Rihanna)
7. "Some Nights" - Fun.
8. "Run the World (Girls)" - Beyoncé
9. "Fighter" - Christina Aguilera
10. "Foundations" - Kate Nash
So, tell me, what are your favorite tunes for running, working out, or singing karaoke into a broom handle while sweeping in your apartment (what, just me)?
I'm a little behind schedule on my goal to run 1,000 miles in 2011. I slacked off a bit in May and June, but I don't think I'll have a problem reaching my goal now that I'm well into marathon training.
In celebration of running 503 miles as of this morning, I give you....
Now that it’s safe to say that spring has arrived, it’s time for my favorite activity: Spring Cleaning!
(I watched this entire episode recently and remember the words to all of the songs. What information is not stored in my memory because this is there?)
In addition to the usual tasks, I’m working on major playlist cleanup on my iPod. Having ten running playlists might be a bit much. While going through this list, I started to think about which I would say are my favorite songs for running.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I listen to music a lot during my workouts. In fact, I only go without music on group runs, when I run in the early morning or late evening, and during long races. I listen to music not because I need to distract myself on my longer runs, but because there is something about having the right song playing helps me to push during workouts.
How did I decide on my Top 15? My picks are songs that frequently appear on my running mixes. I rarely skip these songs when they come up. If I do skip a song, it’s usually because I want to save it for a point later in a run when I’m likely to need the motivation or want to try hitting a certain pace.
And, I think a lot of these songs are just the bee’s knees! (Did I actually just type that?)
There are a couple of staples that I left off this list because we already know that they’re awesome, for example “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” I also feel like Ke$ha should be somewhere on this list because I’ve listened to both of her albums from start to finish on several runs. (So what the lyrics are terrible? Her songs have great beats, and I will run the hell out of them whenever I get the chance.)
Top 15 Songs for Running
15. "One Way or Another" - Blondie
Blondie has been a staple on my running playlists, but I love this one at the start of a run. The tempo is great for both fast and slow paces.
14."Damn It Feels Good to be Gangsta” – Geto Boys
It’s a little on the slower side, so I usually place this one toward the end when I want to start my cool down. Besides, if I had to name something “gangsta,” it would have to be running when the temperature is below freezing.
13."Thnks fr th Mmrs" - Fall Out Boy
It’s all about the tempo – and the fact that I am not afraid to admit that I listen to Fall Out Boy like it’s my job. One of these days I’ll tell you about my emo kid years…
12. “Survivor” – Destiny’s Child
This one is wedged between a few incredibly fast tracks on my Power Hour playlist to mark the start of the recovery jog, but I’ve also enjoyed listening to this during long runs to push myself to keep running.
11. “Givin’ You All That I Got” – Robin S.
Technically, the song is a plea for the singer’s lover to trust in her love. It’s appropriate though, since I may be in a relationship with running. (At the very least, it’s complicated.) The song is upbeat, fantastically 90s, and great for a little push when you need it most.
10. “Bring the Noise 20xx” – Public Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde
Serious question: What is the correct spelling of “Yeaaaaah Boyyyy”? Second serious question: how is this track so amazing? This song is great toward the end of a run or when I need a good kick to run up those pesky hills.
9. “Move” – Ludacris
“Move” is a great song when you’re running through the streets of DC --- because most tourists refuse to understand that taking up the entire sidewalk is not okay.
8. "Speed Demon" - Michael Jackson
Despite it being an extremely terrifying movie, I watched Michael Jackson's Moonwalker almost weekly as a child. Why? This dance-off between Michael Jackson and a claymation rabbit (jump to 4:00 for the action). As for the song, it's another one that pushes me to run at my top speed.
7. "Here (In Your Arms)" - Hellogoodbye
I love Hellogoodbye, but I never thought of adding their songs to my running mixes. It turned out to be the best decision ever! This song works well during tempo workouts.
6. "Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga
The last few times I've listened to this song on a run, something clicked and I felt a need to really give it my all. It might be that I associate this song with one of the best runs that I had this year. I remember feeling emotionally drained before the run, but I managed to push myself and finished the run in a decent time for that point in my training.
5. "Sweet Child o' Mine" - Guns 'N' Roses
This song will always be one of my favorites for running. Period. Fun quirky habit: If I'm listening to this song while waiting for a walk signal, I sometimes slip into moving my fingers in the key pattern for the song on Guitar Hero 2.
4. “Devil Went Down to Georgia” – Steve Ouimette Cover
I was already a huge fan of the 1979 classic about Johnny the Fiddler, but add a few dueling guitars and you’ve got yourself a damn good song to get pumped during a run.
3. “Green Grass and High Tides” – The Outlaws
Like my number two pick, this one starts slow and builds to an epic guitar solo. It’s great for the beginning of a run when I want to hold back and build to my intended pace. So good!
2. “Freebird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
I know what you’re thinking: “There’s no way that Freebird is a good song for running. It’s so slow!” You would think that, wouldn’t you? It’s slow in the beginning -- which is nice at the start of a run – but by the time the song hits the epic guitar solo, I’m ready to rock out and run fast.
1. “Through the Fire and the Flames” – DragonForce
This one has been a huge motivator when I’ve felt like throwing in the towel on a run, and it’s also helped me pick up the pace during tempo runs. It's very fast, and I've started to see if I can keep up with the tempo. I also find the lyrics to be very motivating:
So now we fly ever free
We're free before the thunderstorm
On towards the wilderness our quest carries on
Far beyond the sundown, far beyond the moonlight
Deep inside our hearts and all our souls
So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on
If you haven’t already started to question my music taste, I’m interested to know what you think are the best songs for running and working out. Drop by the comments section, which is now powered by Disqus. Three cheers for functioning comment threads!
For the last few Wednesdays, I’ve been running with the Fleet Feet Ladies Night Group – which has been absolutely fantastic. I’m meeting new people and exploring new routes. But, I skipped tonight to do one final speed workout before Sunday’s race. I'll refer to this as the Power Hour in this and any future posts.
The last time I used "Power Hour" in a conversation, I was talking about the drinking kind. If you’ve never done a Power Hour, the rules say to take a shot of beer every minute for an hour (approximately 7-8 beers: COLLEGE!). The result is a very special kind of evening.
The rules of my Power Hour tonight were similar -- just with a lot less beer (though that would have been interesting). When the song changes, add 0.2 MPH to your speed. I made a special playlist of two-minute clips of music from my DDR playlist and a few other favorites for the occasion.
Yes, I have a DDR playlist...
Yes, I play DDR...
This was the list for tonight's workout, which works out to 45 minutes of music. When I work my way up to 8.0 MPH, I'll should hit the full hour with no problem:
Warm-Up: 10 minutes at 5.8 MPH - Green Grass and High Tides, The Outlaws
6.0 - Flowers, Terra
6.2 - Freeway Shuffle, DJ Taka
6.4 - Electrified, SySF
6.6 - A Thing Called Love, D-Crew 2 US
6.8 - Music and Rhythm, NC
7.0 - Volcano, Yasuhiro Abe
7.2 - Raspberry Heart, jun
7.4 - Stars, Terra
Four-minute recovery at 5.8 MPH - Survivor, Destiny's Child
6.0 - Arrabbiata, Reven G
6.2 - Fire, Mutshiko Izumi
6.4 - Honey Punch, Riyu Kosaka
6.6 - Morning Glory, BeFor U
6.8 - Silver Platform, U1 Reincarnates
7.0 - Dragon Blade, Kozo Nakamura
7.2 - Nijiro, G.S.C License
7.4 - Under the Sky, SayakaMinami
3-minute jog at 5.8 - Can't Stop the Rain, Cascada
Cool Down
It felt great to push myself and run at an 8-minute pace!
I've been feeling kind of tired and out of it this week, so I'm going to say that today was my last run before Sunday. I'm starting to get really excited about the race -- it should be sunny and spring-like, and the route will be gorgeous with all of the Cherry Blossoms. Tomorrow, I'll hit the elliptical and do a few light strength training exercises. See you at the finish line!
With the National Marathon and Half-Marathon this weekend, I couldn't resist choosing the theme from Chariots of Fire as this week's Tuesday Inspiration. I know how I'm spending my Friday night....
....well, my actual pre-race plan is to enjoy a home-cooked pasta dinner and watch the Yale Men's Hockey team dominate Air Force in the first round of the NCAA Division I Tournament.
But, watching Chariots of Fire would have been a good choice, too.
I decided against attending tonight's Holiday Light Run and, instead, opted for a short run in the comfort (read: warmth) of my apartment complex's fitness center. There's a part of me that wishes that I had gone, but there's another part of me -- the part that is desperately clinging to the little sanity that is left -- that is pleased that I did not run in tonight's weather. But, I digress...
My indoor runs involve a special kind of sensory overload, so I created a new running playlist to keep things interesting at the gym.
"X Gonna Give It To Ya" - DMX "Mortal Combat"- Theme from Mortal Combat "K.I. Feeling" - Theme from Killer Instinct "Sandstorm" - Darude "Pump It" - Black Eyed Peas "Blind" - Ke$ha "Take It Off" - Ke$ha "Only Girl (In the World)" - Rhianna "One More Time" - Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" - Daft Punk "Givin' U All That I've Got" - Robin S. "Rude Boy" - Rhianna "One, Two Step" - Ciara "Welcome Home" Coheed and Cambria "Through the Fire and the Flames" - Dragonforce "Whatever You Like" - T.I. "Remember the Name" - Fort Minor "Oops, I did It Again" - Britney Spears
I tested this list during today's run, and there is a nice mix of awesome guitar solos and fist-pumping beats. Plus, who doesn't love DMX's love of barking?
Long run: 13 miles (!!!) I mapped out 13 miles on gmap-pedometer. Holy cow! Total for the week: 23 miles
I struggled a bit yesterday during my 8-mile run. I completed it, of course, but it was hard. I knew going into Saturday that the temperature would be about 100 with humidity. I thought that an early start would allow me to escape the heat. That logic doesn't work in DC,unfortunately, and I could definitely feel the effects of running when it's way too hot to move.
Thankfully, today's weather was so much better. It rained while I was in my Russian language class. Or, rather, the sky opened and gave way to a deluge. But, for once, it cooled off after raining. Running was so much better.
For added fun, I created an On-the-Go playlist before I started:
"Devil Went Down to Georgia" (Just yesterday, I found the all-metal version of the Charlie Daniels classic performed by Steve Ouimette. I won't tell you why I knew that such a version existed because it will reveal how much of a nerd I really am. Holy shit, running to the dueling guitars was friggin' awesome -- so awesome, in fact, that I listened to it twice.) "Butterfly" - Crazy Town "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" - Fall Out Boy "Damn, It Feels Good to be a Gangster" - Geto Boys "One" - Metallica "Green Grass and High Tides" - The Outlaws "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
This is the best playlist ever. I love every song on this list*, and every song on this list is perfect for running. And, it's approximately 40 minutes, so it was a great test to see if I could finish my run before the playlist ended. I think I did it, if I adjust for the time lost when I couldn't move forward because I had to wait for a traffic light. (I jog in place when I need to wait for a walk signal/an opportune time to cross.)
But, anyhow, off to my normal Sunday activities -- which include drooling over Eric Northman on True Blood and Don Draper on Mad Man.
I rediscovered Crazy Town's "Butterfly" this morning. Holy crap, where have you been these last eleven years? Those lyrics! That beat! Running with you will be so much fun!
Also, friends, that song was released in 1999. I was 12. TWELVE. I hadn't even entered my teen angst stage. Cue the nostalgia...
The DC weather forecast for the rest of the week looks amazing – temperatures in the 80s and no humidity. Saturday will be a perfect day for an 8-mile run! I’ve already mapped out my route, and I’m looking forward to running it. Clue #938274 that I might actually be a crazy person.
Cooler temperatures will definitely make running more pleasant. Tuesday’s 3-miler was a bit uncomfortable because of the temperature. How it can be near 80 degrees with crazy humidity at 6 AM is beyond me. How it can still be that hot at night is also beyond me.
Oh well.
At least I know that training in DC’s heat will make the actual marathon a little easier – unless October is somehow hotter than it has been in DC for the last few days.
Now, onto the subject of this post:
I’m posting a portion of the songs on my newest running mix in response to a recent request. (Whoo comments!) I'm still working on the playlist, so suggestions are welcome!
I (cleverly) named the playlist “Hearts on Fire.” After all, nothing gets the adrenaline going like pretending you’re Rocky Balboa preparing to fight Ivan Drago in an epic training montage. And, everyone needs a montage.
My newest mix includes:
“Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga “Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3)” – Ke$ha “Bring the Noise 20xx” – Public Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde “Dani California” – Red Hot Chili Peppers “Don’t Stop Believing” – Journey “Enter the Sandman” – Metallica “Everyone Nose” – N.E.R.D “Foreplay/Longtime” – Boston “Freebird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd “Green Grass and High Tides” – The Outlaws “Hearts on Fire” – John Cafferty “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi “One Way or Another” -- Blondie “Pull Up the People” M.I.A “Ramalama (Bang Bang) – Roisin Murphy "Rollin'" - Limp Bizkit “Stronger” – Kanye West “Through the Fire and Flames” – Dragon Force “United State of Pop 2009 (Blame it on the Pop)” – DJ Earworm “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield “War Pigs” – Faith No More “You Give Love a Bad Name” – Bon Jovi
So, tell me friends -- what are your favorite tracks for running or working-out?
