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57 Replies Last post: May 8, 2008 8:14 AM by Deb Stahl   1 2 3 4 Previous Next
Click to view monstrous's profile Amateur 19 posts since
Sep 22, 2005
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Feb 12, 2006 12:02 PM

Best Running Music

I borrowed my wifes i-pod for a run some time back, I prefer to run without music so the I can hear the natural sounds on the C+O canal, but music was nice for a change. I am wondering if certain songs make you all faster/slower, more comfortable? Enter Sandman (Metalica) came on and I would have thought that a great running song, but turned in a slower than average mile. Night swimming, although a slower song, was a great mile.I am a huge fan of REM since the 80's when they where playing Aerosmith , and Velvet Underground covers so that may have something to do with it, but Cheryl Crows First cut, another slower song was a good one also and I am not a fan of her.
My wife, not much of a Gansta, runs to hard core rap! although she would not normally listen to it. How about you?Any special somg that does it?
Click to view SportiGrl's profile Legend 476 posts since
Jul 22, 2004
1. Feb 12, 2006 6:31 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
I find that some of my favorite hard rocking songs need to be run to in double time ... sometimes in the middle of a LR it's kinda fun to challenge myself to the mental aspect of using the music as a tool and finding how to make different songs work for me ... but if I start listening too intently to the music I do find I've slowed down sometimes ...

On interval days I'd sometimes listen to a mixed CD ( I didn't have an MP3 at the time) with alternating slow and fast songs ... I'd do my 3-5 miles according to the tempo of the music, lol ... most songs are between 3 1/2 - 4 minutes so it worked well for me ... I did that a lot more when I used to rollerblade for fitness than I do now that I am running again ...
Click to view badlands slug's profile Amateur 10 posts since
Sep 3, 2005
2. Feb 12, 2006 9:28 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
I listen to a lot of rap that I may not otherwise listen to as well. Eminem usually has some good stuff as well as some other rappers. Another thing I like for inspiration is Christian songs. Casting Crowns is my favorite group by far and I can lose myself in their songs and ignore the agonyof my run if I want to push a little harder.
Click to view pendulum's profile Amateur 33 posts since
Dec 21, 2005
3. Feb 13, 2006 1:44 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
Rammstein, Frontline Assembly, various industrial is good to run to.

Also other songs like to run to include:

Fleetwood mac - tango in the night
Red Rider - Human Race
It Keeps you Running - The Doobie Bros ?
Iron Maiden - the Wasted Years

Yay for mp3 players!
Click to view Chrissy7377's profile Amateur 23 posts since
Dec 27, 2005
4. Feb 13, 2006 3:08 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
Anything alt rock-ish - Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Green Day, American Idiot is a great CD to run to. Although since I have to borrow my son's MP3, I end up with a wide variety of hiphop, which is OK too.
Click to view Wahoo3's profile Amateur 33 posts since
Jan 16, 2004
5. Feb 14, 2006 2:20 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
I like running to (dare I say it?) disco tunes and uptempo top 40's stuff, especially on the treadmill and especially if I'm doing treadmill intervals. Definitely helps me run faster.
Click to view Johnnystella088's profile Amateur 19 posts since
Jul 16, 2004
6. Feb 14, 2006 2:26 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
This is an interesting thread because I love music so much, and I love to listen to my Ipod when I'm running. It's true though, about certain songs make great running songs, even though in real life I'd never give that song a second thought. I remember totally digging Sinatra's "New York, New York" on a run just a few days ago. Another really good running band, and you think, "huh?", is Simon And Garfunkel. "The Only Living Byou In New york" is really good.

Still though, you can't go wrong with some early Kinks such as "I Need You."
Click to view maynard001's profile Amateur 20 posts since
Jan 4, 2006
7. Feb 15, 2006 10:33 AM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
I recently switched over from music to talk-radio format podcasts. I still listen to music every now and then but I find that it's much easier for my brain to engage in a discussion vs. music.

Give it a try one time...you'll be surprised at how much quicker the time seems to go by...
Click to view jbernhisel017's profile Rookie 4 posts since
Nov 13, 2000
8. Feb 15, 2006 12:37 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
Click to view KarenRnnng's profile Rookie 1 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
9. Feb 15, 2006 12:44 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
Good topic. I am not a huge music person that knows performers on demand. But I love running to music on the track. And my mix is crazy. I have 18 & 23 year old sons so I've been exposed to a lot. So, I have Kanye West, Eminem, the Supremes, Hootie & the Blowfish, TLC, Boston (yikes). Found some great mixes on ITunes IMix.
Click to view ryguy55521's profile Amateur 13 posts since
Sep 1, 2004
10. Feb 15, 2006 10:14 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
I just recently started brining my ipod out on the roads with me. I found that Coldplay, Dave Matthew Band, Howie Day, David Gray, and Counting Crows make good relaxing music to run to.
Click to view SoFarGone's profile Legend 552 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
12. Feb 21, 2006 6:41 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
Eminem's "Till I Collapse". Great running song. It gets stuck in my head while I'm running even if I'm not listening to my headphones. It's perfect.

Also, Linkin Park is awesome to run to. And to listen to before races.
Click to view brianmcg123's profile Pro 75 posts since
Jan 18, 2006
13. Feb 23, 2006 12:23 PM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
Any Soundtrack from Rocky. They are also great to lift weights too.
Click to view clanrunner's profile Amateur 29 posts since
Oct 15, 2002
14. Feb 27, 2006 5:17 AM in response to: monstrous
Re: Best Running Music
Any song that accelerates as it goes. Or should I say, has a negative split.

A good recent example is Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand.

But the pace of the song should be relevant to the pace of your run ie, faster ones for when doing short, hard intervals.