I love music. I love the way it can totally whisk me off into my own little world where everything is happy and awesome. Sometimes I’ll run without music if I really feel like I need a head-clearing run, I’m trying to figure out a homework problem or I’m racing, but other than that I’m all about the music.

As I’ve continued down this road of being a runner, I have found it both very useful and interesting to read about what music gets other people going. So, I thought I’d share my music with you.

I put my running music into three general categories, which makes it easier for me to make playlists for different run lengths. Every longer run begins with one or two “start-up songs”. I like starting with songs that aren’t too fast, yet still get me excited about the run so that I don’t start too quickly out of the gate and burn myself out before the run is over. For short runs I’ll go right into my “pump-up songs”, which are fast-paced and usually make me want to dance. Finally I’ll alternate pump-up songs with “cruising songs”, which are just songs that I like that aren’t too slow and remind me to relax through the run. So in no particular order, here is my music. Enjoy!

Start-up songs

1. Main Themes (From “Jurassic Park”) – John Williams
2. Olympic Fanfare and Theme – John Williams (With the Boston Pops Orchestra!)
3. Beautiful Day – U2
4. Tryouts Theme – (From the Movie Rudy)
5. Extreme Ways (Bourne’s Ultimatum) – Moby
6. We Will Rock You – Queen
7. Harder, Better, Faster Stronger + Aerodynamic – Daft Punk
8. Lord of the Dance

Pump-up songs

1. Lose Yourself – Eminem <— best early morning pump up song of all time
2. Scream & Shout – will.i.am
3. Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
4. ‘Till I Collapse – Eminem
5. I Cry – Flo Rida
6. Bombs over Baghdad – Outkast
7. Feel So Close – Calvin Harris
8. Kunama Sawara
9. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
10. San Francisco – The Mowgli’s
11. Oh Africa – Akon
12. Good Feeling – Flo Rida
13. Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi
14. Titan’s Spirit (Score) – Trevor Rabin
15. Let it Roll – Flo Rida
16. I Like It – Enrique Iglesias
17. Footloose – Kenny Loggins
18. Bang Bang – K’naan & Adam Levine
19. Song 2 – Blur
20. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
21. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
22. Say Hey (I love you) – Michael Franti & Spearhead
23. My Paper Heart – The All-American Rejects
24. Hey Ya! – OutKast
25. Sexy and I Know It – LMFAO
26. Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
27. It’s Tough to be a God (Movie) – Elton John
28. Sandstorm – Darude
29. 1901 – Phoenix
30. Gonna Fly Now (Theme from “Rocky”) – Bill Conti
31. How Far We’ve Come – Matchbox Twenty
32. Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
33. Born This Way – Lady Gaga
34. Telephone – Lady Gaga
35. Different – Ximena Sarinana
36. Do Your Thing – Basement Jaxx
37. Dynamite – Taio Cruz
38. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall – Coldplay
39. Hurts Like Heaven – Coldplay
40. International Love – Pitbull
41. Jai Ho – A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash
42. Knew It All – Needtobreathe
43. Macho Macho Man – Village People
44. Magic – B.O.B
45. On the Trail We Blaze (Movie) – Elton John
46. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
47. Quit – Needtobreathe
48. Raise Your Glass – P!nk
49. Rock Star – N*E*R*D
50. Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
51. Vertigo – U2
52. Walking on Sunshine – Kartina & the Waves
53. You Can’t Stop the Beat – (from Hairspray)
54. 50 Ways to Say Goodbye – Train

Cruising music

1. Dancing in the Street – Van Halen
2. Keep Your Head Up – Ben Howard
3. Wonders of the New World – Hans Zimmer
4. Get Lucky (Album Version) – Daft Punk
5. Intro – Xx
6. Clocks – Coldplay
7. Jump – Van Halen
8. Paradise – Coldplay
9. Runnin’ With the Devil – Van Halen
10. Belly Belly Nice – Dave Matthews Band
11. Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
12. Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress – The Hollies
13. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5
14. What Should I worry – Various Artists (From Oliver & Company)
15. Up Around the Bend – Creedence Clearwater Revival
16. Rooftop – Dave Matthews Band
17. Army – Ben Folds
18. Barely Listening – Pilate Speed
19. Bigger Than My Body – John Mayer
20. Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison
21. Daylight – Coldplay
22. Dog Days are Over – Florence + The Machine
23. Drive By – Train
24. Drops of Jupiter – Train
25. Funny The Way It Is – Dave Matthews Band
26. If It’s In My Mind, It’s On My Face – Seal
27. Jack Sparrow – The Lonely Island
28. Last Friday Night – Katy Perry
29. New Year’s Day – U2
30. No Such Thing – John Mayer
31. Pride (In the Name of Love) – U2
32. Sound of Freedom – Bob Sinclar
33. Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
34. Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2
35. Two Step – Dave Matthews Band
36. Walkin’ on the Sun – Smashmouth
37. Wavin’ Flag – will.i.am and K’naan
38. Why I Am – Dave Matthews Band
39. Amazing (Thin White Duke Edit) – Seal
40. #41 – Dave Matthews Band