MP3 players can become best friends while running. They can push you past the wall, help you through your bonk, and keep you pumped up.
Research consistently shows that listening to music while engaging in aerobic activity affects performance. “Music is an often untapped source of both motivation and inspiration for sport and exercise participants,” says Dr. C. I. Karageorghis, Ph.D., an accredited sport and exercise psychologist.” The 'right' music can have a very positive impact on sport and exercise performance.”
Preference and mood play a large role in selecting your songs. Tempo can be important, as can lyrics. Most runners find in beneficial to create various running lists, targeting different goals such as speed work or distance.
Warm-Up
When choosing your playlists, it’s helpful to build it with the structure of your workout in mind. First, there should be tunes for your warm-up. These songs should be upbeat, with mid-level beats per minute of around 135-160. They should get your gears rolling. Any genre that suits you will work. The following are some sample songs, complete with their artists and genres that would be well suited for your next warm-up:
It’s the Hard Knock Life by Aileen Quinn (Soundtrack)
Easy by Bare Naked Ladies (Rock)
The Distance by Cake (Rock)
I Feel Like Traveling On by the Cockman Family (Christian)
Hard Candy by Counting Crows (Rock)
Get Off This by Cracker (Alternative)
Crash into Me by Dave Matthews Band (Rock)
Chim Chim Cher-ee by Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews (Children’s Music)
Black Water by The Doobie Brothers (Rock)
Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz (Alternative)
The Way I Am by Ingrid Michealson (Pop)
The Main Workout
The next elements of your running playlist are speed and endurance. These songs should evoke your emotions to give you power and help propel you through rough spells. They should be fast and/or uplifting. Some songs that might help boost your energy level are:
Move Along by The All American Rejects (Alternative)
Exactly by Amy Steinberg (Rock)
Body Movin’ by Beastie Boys (Hip Hop/Rap)
Crazy in Love by Beyonce and Jay-Z (R&B/Soul)
Jumpin’ Jack by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Rock)
Don’t Phunk with my Heart by The Black Eyes Peas (Hip Hop/Rap)
Jump, Jive, an’ Wail by The Brian Setzer Orchestra (Rock)
Zero to Hero by Cheryl Freeman (Soundtrack)
Fighter by Christina Aguilera (Pop)
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper (Pop)
Mission Impossible Theme by Danny Elfman (Soundtrack)
Tourniquet by Evanescence (Alternative)
Hum Hallelujah by Fall Out Boy (Alternative)
I Stand Alone by Godsmack (Metal)
Fast as You Can by Fiona Apple (Alternative)
The Home Stretch
The final songs on your list should be songs that are slightly slower than your fastest pace songs, but keep you moving. Your focus at this point of your run will be making it through, keeping your focus, and maintaining proper form. The following tracks will fit nicely into the final stages of your run:
Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams (Rock)
You by Candlebox (Rock)
You Know My Name by Chris Cornell (Alternative)
My Own Prison by Creed (Rock)
The Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim (Electronic)
Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms (Alternative)
Staple It Together by Jack Johnson (Rock)
We Go Together by John Travolta (Soundtrack)
Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall (Pop)
American Woman by Lenny Kravitz (Rock)
The Obvious Child by Paul Simon (Pop)
No matter your mood or your goals, you can always find upbeat songs to help you along your way to a fitter, healthier lifestyle. Run on!
“To give anything less is to sacrifice the Gift.” --Pre (StevePre.com)
