I hate to break it to you, but I’m not one of those zen runners who can run countless miles solo with only my thoughts and the sound of nature for company. I bring music with me on every run – no matter how short. I even bring music with me on long runs with friends in case there is a break in the conversation. I love music and I always create playlists for races I’m training for. I’m not claiming to have “good” taste in music – I tend to follow the crowd and most of my music library has seen the top of the Billboard charts at some point in it’s lifetime and you won’t ever hear me complaining that my favorite local band “sold out” for fame.
As of late, however, I realized that my running playlists needed some serious upgrades. I’ve been running pretty consistently for three years now and it seems like most of my playlists have at least half the songs in common with each other. So I went to the internet for help and have constructed a new playlist (still in progress) that I have called the “BQ Mix.” I’m hoping that listening to these songs during my BQ attempt at Eugene will bring back memories of times that I pushed through the pain on hard training runs and inspire me to go for it! Or, worst case, at least they keep me entertained during the 3 1/2 ish hours I’m out on the course.
Excuse the accidental repeat song
First, I’ll give you a list of my classic ‘Go To’ playlist songs and then I’ll provide some of my most recent additions to my iTunes library.I found some of my most recent ones by doing a Google search of running songs as well as adding some songs I wouldn’t typically think to add that I already had in my iTunes library (some country).
Go To Running Songs
- Til I Collapse – Eminem
- Fantasy Girl – Baby Bash
- That’s Not My Name – Ting Tings (for some reason this song reminds me of when I trained for my first half all by myself back in January 2009)
- I Like It – Pitbull
- Paralyzer – Finger Eleven
- Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
- Hot N Cold – Pink
- Since You’ve Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
- Lookin’ For a Good Time – Lade Antebellum
- I’m in Miami Bitch – LMFAO
- Party Rock Anthum – LMFAO
- See You Again – Miley Cyrus (yes I just wrote that)
- Raise Your Glass – Pink
- SOS – Rhianna
- We Found Love – Calvin Harris
- She Wolf – Shakira
- OMG – Usher
- What the Hell – Avril Lavigne
- 3- Britney Spears
- Tonight (I’m Loving You) – Enrique Iglesias
- Bulletproof – La Roux
- Just Dance – Lady Gaga
- Don’t Stop the Music – Rhianna
- Push It – Salt n Pepper (great for getting through some tough spots in a race!)
- Lose Yourself – Eminem
- More- Usher
- Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Recently Added Music:
- Mr. Brightside – The Killers
- Human – The Killers
- The Beautiful People – Marilyn Manson
- We Are Young – Fun
- Inside Out – Eve 6
- Forget You – Cee Lo Green (my new favorite!)
- Feel So Close – Calvin Harris
- Payphone – Maroon 5
- Dog Days Are Over – Florence and the Machine
- Scream & Shout – will.i.am feat. Britney Spears
- Red – Taylor Swift
- Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous – Good Charlotte
- Do My Thing – Estelle
Do you listen to music when you run? What are your favorite songs!? Please help me complete my BQ Mix!
I tend to organize my playlists by cadence / beats per minute. Right now I have a playlist that is 175 bpm which gets me between 7 to 7:30 per mile. I use jog.fm to find suitable songs. Keeps my cadence high and helps me keep pace. Keith.
I love seeing other people’s lists- I always get some ideas from them! I haven’t listened to music when I run in years, but I still make playlists to listen to when I strength train. Then I listen to them before a big race to pump me up!
Sorry for the long comment, but here are some of my random song choices:
– Can’t Stop, Chili Peppers
– Race You, Elizabeth and the Catapult
– Run This Town, Jay-Z and Rihanna
– Til The World Ends, Britney
– Waka Waka, Shakira
– Won’t Back Down, Eminem and Pink
– On Top of the World, Imagine Dragons
– Locked out of Heaven, Bruno Mars
– Run Right Back, Black Keys
– Anything Could Happen, Ellie Goulding
– Valentino, Diane Birch
– Starlight, Muse
– All We Are, Pink
– Circle of the Sun and Stompa, Serena Ryder
– Learn to Fly, Foo Fighters
For training, I HAVE to listen to music or I will psyche myself out. During marathons, I like to take everything in, so I don’t. When I’m out for a run though, I like to pretend I’m in a music video, so I like stuff with a really good beat like hip-hop, electronic, and dancey music. I LOVE Passion Pit, M.I.A, Aesop Rock, El-P, Diplo, and Robyn. Here are some songs that really get it goin for me:
“Six foot seven foot” by Lil Wayne
“Get low” by Waka Flocka
“All of the lights” by Kanye West
“Bad girls” by M.I.A
“Bamboo banga” by M.I.A
“little secrets” by Passion Pit
“Express yourself” by Diplo
“My body” by Young the Giant
“Birthday” by Swizz Beatz
“Culo” by Pitbull
“Letting go” by Sean Kingston
Those are just a few. What a great idea for a post!
Briana
On top of the world by Imagine Dragons totally gets you pumped!!
I feel like we have very similar taste in music especially since I have almost the exact playlist as you and I’m obsessed with let me love you (until you learn) for running. Here’s some of my go to’s that I think you will enjoy!
•Call on me (radio edit) -Eric Prydz
•Don’t you worry child -Swedish house mafia
•Turn all the lights on – T-pain
•Wild Ones – Flo Rida
•Turn around – Conor Maynard
•Grind real slow – Busta rhymes
•Strange clouds -b.o.b.
“All Day” by Girl Talk.
It’s 1 hour and 11 minutes long!!! I listened to it during my half last weekend and it was pretty cool when it came on and I thought “this is the last song I’ll listen to this race!”
It’s available for free download directly from the song website. I believe something like 350 songs are sampled??
Hi Nicole!
I too need music for every run! Heres some of my faves, its a bit of a mix I often put my ipod on shuffle and just go with it (Im from New Zealand so some of it is Kiwi music)
Electric Dream-Shapeshifter (My favourite! they are a kiwi band check them out!)
Footloose-Kenny Loggins
Beautiful Day-U2
Don’t Stop Believin-Glee Cast
You make my dreams come true-Hall & Oates
Glad you came- The Wanted
Starships-Nicki Minaj
Don’t Lose my number- Phil Collins
Lose Yourself-Eminem
Shake your pom pom-Missy Elliott
Get Loud-Jennifer Lopez
Warrior-Kimbra (kiwi music)
From the Music-The Potbelleez (aussie music)
Forever Tuesday Morning-The Mockers (kiwi music)
Gangnam Style-Psy
Boom Boom-Justice Crew (kiwi/aussie music)