Give Me a Beat: Running Music

Running. Me running. It's  a story, but maybe I'll share that in a later post. I want to talk about running music. Music is a HUGE help to me in keeping my energy & pace up. Everyone is different when it comes to their music choice, for me I need three things from my music:

•  It needs to have a beat. Dance music is really what I lean toward.
•  Constant. No slow preludes. No slow down and speed up. If the music slows down I do too and when I start to run I've got to keep going or I will peeter out. 
•  Relatively clean. I don't like F-Bombs or really explicit lyrics {i.e. the new Christina Agulera & Nicki Manaj song....I don't need my body parts being sung about like that}. Finding clean running music is hard, not impossible, but hard. Luckily iTunes, Amazon & Walmart offer clean-edits of some songs. Also, if you see the term Radio Edit, it ensures some words taken out. ** Everyone has their own level of what they deem appropriate. You may not agree with some of my music choices and that's okay**

Here are some of My Rules when it comes to running music:

1. Only listen to your running music when you are running. If you listen to it every day during the day, it loses its impact. While listening to Pandora one of my songs from my running play list came on and instantly I had the urge to run.

2. To go along with number one, when putting together your running list, don't choose your everyday songs UNLESS they have what you need in a run. I LOVE the Beatles! I know all of their songs and can pretty much sing to every one of them, but because of this familiarity I don't choose to run to Beatles songs.

3. Try every kind of music - you never know what song will hit you with motivation unless you listen to it. For example, I thought Rhianna's "Shut Up and Drive" would be great for my running, but while I was running to it....it just didn't work, don't know how to explain it, but it just didn't. Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" totally came out of left field for me, but once I heard it {while running and watching Glee} it really revved me up!

4. Keep it at YOUR pace. It's important not to run yourself out, literally. I found this great website called jogfm.com that was put together by a group of runners. You put in your running/walking/biking pace and it will show you a list of songs or playlists that fit that pace - so you can find music that isn't too slow or isn't too fast. There are quite a few songs I keep on my list to help me keep my pace.

Music isn't for everyone. Nan watches movies while she runs. When I'm on the treadmill I like to watch Glee & recorded award shows - do what moves you!!

Here are some of our running songs for your running playlist considerations:

"Home" Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

"Sex Is On Fire" Kings of Leon

"Moves Like Jagger" Maroon 5

"Dog Days Are Over" Florence & the Machine

"On the Floor" Jennifer Lopez

"Shake It" Metro Station

"Animal" Neon Trees

"I'm Not Gonna {teach your boyfriend how to dance with you}" The Black Kids

"Hold It Against Me" Brittany Spears

"I Wanna Go" Brittany Spears

"Feels So Good" Paramore

"Blue Orchid" Jack White*

"Mr. Saxo Beat" Saxy Momma

"I Love You Like a Love Song" Selena Gomez

"Shut Up and Drive" Rhianna

"Crazy Love" Beyonce

"Sexy Back" Justin Timberlake

"Barbra Streisand" Duck Sauce

"Paparazzi" Lady Gaga

"The One That Got Away" Katy Perry

"E.T." Katy Perry

"Countdown" Beyonce*

"4 Minutes {To Save the World}" Madonnna ft. Justin Timberlake*

"Run Away" Bruno Mars

"Your Love Is My Drug" Ke$ha

"Hello" Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette

"Brokenhearted" Karmin

"Call Me Maybe" Carley Rae Jepsen

"Cry for You" September

"Part of Me" Katy Perry

"Starships" {Clean edit} Nicki Manaj*

"Stronger" Kelly Clarkson

"My Body" The Young Giants

"T.H.E." {Clean edit} Will.i.am ft. Jennifer Lopez & Mick Jagger

"Tongue Tied" Group Love

"We Found Love" Rhianna

"You Make Me Feel" Cobra Starship

"I Wanna Dance {with somebody}" Whitney Houston

"Turn Me On" Nicki Manaj*

"So Close" Calvin Harris

"Lights" {Fernando Garibray Remix}Ellie Goulding

"We Own the Night" Havana Brown

"Rock That Body" Black Eyed Peas

"Scream and Shout" {Clean Edit} Will.i.am & Brittany Spears

"A Little Party Never Killed Nobody" Fergie featuring Q-Tip & Goon Rock

"Good Feeling" FloRida

"We Come Running" Young Blook Hawke

"Check Yes Juliet" We The Kings

"Heartlines" Florence & The Machine

"Beauty & The Beat" Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj

"Shake It Off" Florence + The Machine.....LOVE FLORENCE!!!!

"Roar" Katy Perry

"Applause" Lady Gaga *I think this would be a fun song to run the last leg of your run to!*

"We Can Do This All Night" Icona Pop

 I am constantly updating this list as I find new songs that I love! Be sure to check back and add to your playlist.

*Denotes my "Wall Songs". When you get to that part of your run and you don't think you can go any further...these songs - for me - get me to keep going!

What are some of your running songs? You can never have too many!