The Secret to a Killer Workout: Killer Workout Music, Of Course!
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I have a confession: Just ’cause I’m training for a half marathon doesn’t mean I’m a runner. Well, I mean now I am. But I’m not one of those girls who was born lean and fit with sneakers on…a perfect pony tail…ready to run. I’m also not one of those girls who felt going out for a “nice short 3 mile run” could ever be enjoyable. But that has all changed my friends. You want to know one of the biggest secrets that gets me through? My kick-ass iPod running playlist. It’s called “Half Marathon Training” and the second I press play, all thoughts of hesitation disappear. This playlist brings my inner runner out.
In fact, it brings it out so much that I actually enjoyed…I repeat enjoyed my five mile run on Sunday, followed by a back-to-back four mile run yesterday. I felt sweaty. I felt energized. I felt alive. Oh, and the music (oooh the phenomenal music) made my 47+ minutes of running on the treadmill go by in a snap. When I saw the distance tracker hit 4.9 miles, I thought “Only .1 to go? I’m sprinting this baby to the finish line!” But once again, it was the music that got me through my sprint. That time it was “Starstrukk” by 3OH!3.
Yesterday, “Jump (For My Love)” by the Pointer Sisters started my run off to a good start, “Good Vibrations” by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch made me smile when my legs started to hurt, and then Katy Perry’s inspiring “Firework” kept me going when the running got tough during mile 3. Seriously, is there a better chorus than “Firework?”
Anyway, if you’ve been keeping up with all my tweets and Facebook comments, you know that I’m putting together the list of all lists filled with phenomenal, pump-up, kick-ass, sweat dripping, pain-eliminating workout music. And I need YOUR help. So far I’ve got some great responses via twitter, Facebook and word of mouth but there’s never enough music…especially when you’re training for a 2 hour+ long race.
What are your favorite songs to work out to? What really gets you going? What carries you through the pain? Leave your comments here! And stay tuned for my “complimentary” master playlist by the end of the week!
February 8th, 2011 at 10:36 am
I’ve been really loving Firework by Katy Perry lately. I hope I don’t get sick of it soon. When you run you HAVE to have good music.
February 8th, 2011 at 11:08 am
SAME Natalie, it’s just so empowering : ) Thanks for the comment!
February 8th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I love good remix songs. I get tired of a song after a few weeks. It’s odd: I could listen to the same song every day for that time and then when I’m tired of it, I don’t like it again for like another year. So like playlists are worthless since I can listen to two or three songs my entire workout for a month and then just rotate to a new two/three songs haha
February 8th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
HAHA I know what you mean! That’s why I try to have a bunch of different playlists to rotate through and I put a crapload of songs onto each one so I never know what is coming. For some reason I’m not getting sick of my Half Marathon training playlist yet *knock on wood*
February 9th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Randomly, I like “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins. It’s got a great beat for my stride. I also like “Hey Ya” by Outkast – there’s just something about the ‘shake it’ part that gets me back in the groove.
February 9th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Thanks for commenting Suzy! Those are definitely fun songs : )
February 11th, 2011 at 10:41 am
[…] on Tuesday I let you in on my little running secret: the fact that music is the only thing that gets me through tough runs. I also promised you all […]
May 31st, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Nice blog keep up good work.
September 1st, 2011 at 6:38 pm
I really need to know the right diet and workout?