The Power of Music

A good playlist can make all the difference for me when I'm running. The tempo of the song definitely impacts my speed. I have a few specific songs that I keep in my back pocket for when the going gets tough. Somehow music can help me forget the fatigue, the chaffing skin and the hurting muscles & joints and it pushes me through the 'mentally' difficult sections of a long run. It also makes things more fun!

After my debacle with my ipod at the Hypothermic Half a few weeks ago, I asked Uncle Bob to send me his playlist (the one he serenaded me with while we ran). As I expected, it is an enjoyable, eclectic mix of songs. Here it is:


"hits to half-marathon by"

• charlie winston.....hello alone
• i dont' want to set the world on fire...joel cathey
• tip jar...wade johnson and the navigators
• bust your kneecaps...pomplamoose
• we are all made of stars...moby
• it's a great day to be alive...travis tritt
• some techno song i don't know the title or artist 
• lazy...press with david byyne
• i want love....elton john (that one is loud-----haha!)
• bohemian rhapsody...queen
• shake it off...jarvis church
• a little less conversation...elvis
• change the sheets....kathleen edwards
• pumped up kicks...foster the people
• superstition....stevie wonder
• our day will come---amy winehouse
• will you still love me---amywinehouse
• the girl from ipanema---amy winehouse
• looks....carleton stone
• lay me down sweet jesus....justin rutledge and the junction forty
• paradise---coldplay
• lonely boy---the black keys
• good morning starshine---serena ryder
• my heart cries for you---serena ryder
• worrisome heart----melody gardot
• little talks...of monsters and men
• you and i---lady gaga
• inside out---imelda may
• a fool in love----ike and tina turner
• river shiver---pomplamoose
• sad night---blue rodeo
• second son---jim cuddy
• whistler---jim cuddy
• disappointment---jim cuddy
• too many hands---jim cuddy

Tomorrow, I need to overhaul my ipod. I want to create a great playlist for the Brainfreeze.

I would like to make this a little more interactive. So (at the risk of having no one reply), I'm asking you to tell me (by leaving a comment either at the end of this post or on my facebook) what is or are the song(s) that get you moving? I know you aren't all runners, but what music just makes you smile and grab your kids and dance around the kitchen?

To sweeten the deal a little, I have a $10 gift certificate for the Running Room that is eating a hole  in my pocket. I will give it to whomever suggests the song I most like running to on Sunday (that's right, no random.org, it's going to be totally unfair and based solely on my personal preference, lol!).