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I don’t currently run with headphones, but I’m gearing up for some longer races, so I’ve been re-thinking my position on listening to music when I run.

There’s something very meditative about just taking in the natural sights and sounds when you’re out there running for a few miles, but it’s another thing when you’re doing 10 or 20 mile stretches. You need to mix it up, and you also need something to keep your ass motivated when your brain isn’t doing anything but telling you how thirsty you are and how much your knees hurt and how much further you have to go.

A few years back when I did the Chicago Triathlon, I hit the midway point in the last part of the race, which is the running component, and I was feeling pretty damn miserable. Yes, the race was almost over, but the swim, the biking and the running miles before began to take their toll — nothing but negative thoughts were beating inside my head. I remember staring into the distance, and just feeling like the race was never going to end.

But right at that point, I hit a water station that was blaring “Under Pressure.” Totally lifted my spirits, took the weight off, and got me thinking less about the distance left to go, and more about putting one foot in front of the other. That song coursed through my head for the rest of the race. I had promised myself that I would run the last mile of that race faster than all the others, and I believe it was that song that helped me keep that promise.

So I am now compiling running songs that could fill a player for very long runs. Here is my list so far (feel free to make suggestions):

Trash City, Joe Strummer

Don’t Stop Believin’, Glee Cast

We Will Rock You, Queen

Kiss Off, Violent Femmes

Wake Up, Arcade Fire

Money Changes Everything, Cyndi Lauper

Chariots of Fire, from the Soundtrack

Blood Makes Noise, Suzanne Vega

Under Pressure, David Bowie and Queen

Fame, Irene Cara

Standing in the Shower… Thinking, Jane’s Addiction

Against the Wind, Bob Seger

Strangers When We Meet, The Smithereens

I’ll Be You, The Replacements

Modern Love, David Bowie

Baby I’m A Star, Prince & the Revolution

Time Warp, Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack

Seasons of Love, Rent

Two Hearts Beat As One, U2

One Headlight, The Wallflowers

Goodbye To You, Scandal

Paper Planes, M.I.A.

Tags: Running

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 4:51 am and is filed under Music, Running. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.