After losing yet another iPod on yet another airplane a couple weeks ago, I had to borrow a friend’s Shuffle for my run the other day. This was a good idea in theory, except that I ended up spending most of the run fast forwarding through the crappy rappy and the crappy sappy (rap and country) to get to the intermittent good song. “Good song” being any song that suited my musical tastes while also being motivating, inspiring and otherwise keeping me pepped for my run.

It got me thinking about just how important music can be to the workout process. Therefore, I thought I’d share with you a playlist with eleven (ten is so boring) of my favorite tunes for running with. I promise you, these will fire you up, and by the end, you will get that last push you need to finish strong! 

1. All I want is you - live version -  U2 (Must have the live version - just the right amount of pep for the gaining momentum phase) 

2. Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty (Picking up the pace-peppy)

3. Your Life Is Now - John Mellencamp (The lyrics alone are inspiring. The beat + lyrics is pure crack)

4. Out In The Street – Springsteen (A tried and true mainstay!)

7. Private Conversation – Lyle Lovett (You might be feeling like Rocky going up all those steps at this point, even if you’re on flat ground. That’s what Lyle does to you)

8. I’ve Always Been Crazy  - Waylon Jennings (This does not count as the crappy sappy kind of country because it’s Waylon! I give a pass to Waylon! Willie too.)

9. I Run For Life – Melissa Ethridge (You can’t stop now. People depend on you! She wrote this song for you and all of womankind! Keep up the pace! Don’t Give Up! You are alive! You’re feeling a resurgence of energy to push yourself that last leg)

Long Way Home – Tom Waits (If you don’t know this tune, you must learn. I feel like there is slight thievery of a Johnny Cash bass rift at the beginning, but it’s this beat that puts such a pep in your step while starting to bring down your pace right when you feel you need to! Great lyrics too!)

10. One Moment In Time – Whitney Houston (Ladies, you are running your slow victory lap now. You can be at a cool-down, slow jog. But it is imperative that you pretend you are moving in slow motion on the TV coverage of the Olympics. Visualize yourself carrying the American flag. If you want, I’ll let you borrow Florence Griffith Joyner’s spirit from me for this ever important victory lap!)

By the way, if any of you found a silver Shuffle on a Southwest plane with the above songs, it’s mine and I want it back!!