Rhythm of the beat

There is a debate in the running community over music – ipod or not to ipod. My brother is firmly in the not to ipod camp. He has been running since he was 8, maybe younger. He started to run pre-ipod, pre-mp3, pre-discman, pre-walkman….sorry bro, not meaning to make you look old, technology has just progressed quite a bit. When I first started to run, Travis encouraged me to train without music. His number one argument – you begin to depend on it. Kicking the dirt. It’s a valid point. Wait a second. Here’s mine – I’m running for multiple hours! I’ve earned the right to rock-a-beat.

For those of you who stand with me on the pro-tunes side of the running trail, you understand that a good playlist is essential. I hate wasting $1 (well now, $1.29) on songs that I ultimately skip every run. After a year of running with the same playlist, I’ve recently divided my lists up to fit the mood, length or speed of my run. My brother just cringed. Not only do I have music, but I've custom fit it to my runs.

My taste in music is all over the place, so try and keep up!

Easy Run: This is typically used for my recovery run, or an early morning, girl-needs-to-clear-her-head run. Slow, easy, mellow. These are all tunes that put me in a happy place.

• Go Ahead – Alicia Keyes
• I Need You – Alicia Keyes
• No One – Alicia Keyes
• You Picked Me – A Fine Frenzy
• Come On, Come Out – A Fine Frenzy
• Love Song – Sara Bareilles
• Lifesize – A Fine Frenzy
• Past in Present – Fesit
• 1234 – Feist
• Pocketful of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield
• Heads Carolina, Tails California* – Jo Dee Messina *yes, it’s random with these others, but holds significant personal meaning!
• Everybody’s Free (to feel good) – The Hit Crew
• Beautiful Day – U2

Pick up the Pace: This is my most used playlist. It’s happy and light, yet motivating. I use it to start out a long run, or to do my mid-week mileage.

• Pocketful of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield
• Love Song – Sara Bareilles
• For the Actor – Mates of State
• Dream Vacation – The Maybellines
• Bad Education – Tilly and the Wall
• On Top – The Killers
• Change Your Mind – The Killers
• Over My Head – The Fray
• Inside Out – Eve 6
• Smile Like You Mean It – The Killers
• How Far We’ve Come – Matchbox Twenty
• Just the Girl – The Click Five
• I Just Wanna Live – Good Charlotte
• Human – The Killers
• Mr. Brightside – The Killers
• Stay With You – The Goo Goo Dolls
• Viva La Vida – Coldplay
• Beautiful Day – U2

* a good portion of this mix is the work of DJ Master Mix of Indie Rock Lauren Gibson

Kick It: I go to this playlist when I need some extra motivation on an afternoon or evening run, or if I have to move my run indoors to a treadmill.

• Family Affair – Mary J Blige
• I Just Wanna Live – Good Charlotte
• Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
• Who Knew – P!nk
• Hollywood – Collective Soul
• Don’t Stop the Music – Rihanna
• American Boy – Estelle
• Shake It – Metro Station
• Y Yo Sigo Aqui - Paulina Rubio
• One Step At a Time – Jordin Sparks – don’t judge me.
• Girlfriend – Avril Lavigne -ibid.
• Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy
• Don’t Funk With My Heart – Black Eyed Peas

Highlights from my Marathon Mix: some of my favorites from my Marathon Mix that aren’t listed above

• Pony (It’s Ok) – Erin McCarley this was a free download of the week and I LOVE it!
• Dirty Living – Brendan James
• The One I’m Waiting For – Relient K
• Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been – Relient K
• Dare You To Move – Switchfoot
• Open Skies – David Crowder Band

Purchase pending my next itunes gift card:

• Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
• I Gotta Feelin – Black Eyed Peas
• Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
• Please Don’t Leave Me – P!nk
• Don’t Stop Believin – Journey
• Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas
• Super Massive Black Hole – Muse
• Love Story – Taylor Swift *I know. I just can’t help it.

If I am in a store, driving my car, wherever and I hear any of these songs, I feel compelled to run. What music moves you? What's on your playlist?

- thanks to Richelle for asking what was on my playlist!