My 10 Favorite Running Songs

Jordan here. Okay...let me start off by keeping it real. I am totally stealing the concept of this post from the main man in recreational sports blogging, Fat Cyclist. He posted about his 7 Perfect Climbing Songs. As a music lover/enthusiast/snob, I knew I would one day have to do a music post as well.

The "Wasatch Playlist" currently on my pink (it looked red in the picture) ipod shuffle is made up of roughly 125 songs that I play in "shuffle" mode, all of which are more than deserving of being one of my favorite ten. Being that they are all so incredibly worthy, I may or may not have cheated on a few and put an extra song next to a band's name. There is also an "honorable mention" list, as I cannot make up my mind...ever. Please remember that these are in no particular order and I constructed this list with out looking at my actual playlist, so I it is possible that some truly righteous tunage has been left out of the mix. ENJOY!

Dragonforce: "Through the Fire and Flames"/"Operation Ground and Pound"
These tunes are probably best utilized at the beginning of a leg, when you are trying to build up some adrenalin and get into a rhythm. ZP Theart's vocalss and Herman Li's face-melting guitar riffs will make five minutes seem like 2.5 when you need it most. Good luck not headbanging.

Blink-182: "Anthem"
There are about 96 different Blink-182 songs that could be used in this spot. However, this song's powerful chorus, along with Travis Barker's, hard, syncopated beats always manage to push me up to the next gear for a few strides. It would be a good song for a hill.

Kanye West featuring Jay-Z: "Diamonds from Sierra Leone (remix)"
Now, the link above only takes you to Kanye's video - not the one where Jay makes a cameo. Add a little Jova into the mix of anything and you're sure to shave a few seconds off your PB. "How could you falter, when you're the Rock of Gibraltar?/I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water./This ain't no tall order, this is nothin' to me./Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week." Are you effin' kidding me???

Cobra Starship: "The City is at War"
My other favorite Cobra Starship song, "Damn You Look Good and I'm Drunk," was originally planned to be in this spot, but there is a spot in the song that turns into lame talking and no music. So, "The City is at War" was the next best choice. If I ever pass someone during a race (as I have yet to do), I want to sing this chorus to them.

Rage Against the Machine: "Bombtrack"
Don't even bother messing with Zack de la Rocha's flows. If they don't make you want to sprint to the finish line and then burn it down with a flamethrower, then you have problems.

The Suicide Machines: "Break the Glass"
This little ditty from the band formerly known as Jack Kevorkian and the Suicide Machines is perfect for about ten minutes into your run and about 15 minutes from the end of it. It's spunky, light and catchy. WARNING: Listeners very well may find themselves singing this chorus for an entire week after initial listening has occured.

MxPx: "Play It Loud"
MxPx got me through high school, so I have complete faith that they can get me through the Wasatch Back as well. I probably have about 13 of their songs on my playlist and randomly picked this one for the post. A little pop-punk never hurt anyone.

Green Day: "Are We the Waiting / St. Jimmy"
These two songs are actually combined on the album. Just pump your fists and enjoy this slow ballad before St. Jimmy comes along and punk rocks your socks off.

Angels & Airwaves: "The War"/"Secret Crowds"
Welcome to the best songs on the list. These two songs are virtually the same song off of two different albums. Place these songs back to back (The War, followed by Secret Crowds) on your playlist and then play them once there are between 8-10 minutes left in your run. The War will get the adrenalin flowing like no other, and then once Secret Crowds kicks in, you'll feel a slight tingle throughout your limbs and you will be incapable of not sprinting the rest of the way.

311: "Do You Right"
Words can't explain. Just listen and then listen some more.

Honorable mention:
Angels & Airwaves: "The Adventure", "Sirens"
VHS or Beta: "Bring on the Comets"
Sublime: "What I Got"
The Darkness: "One Way Ticket to Hell...and Back"
The Who: "Baba O'Reily"
Operation Ivy: "Unity"
Jurassic 5: "Radio"
Social Distortion: "Ring of Fire"
Boxcar Racer: "All Systems Go"
Tupac: "Changes"

So there you have it. The thought of having left any critical songs out makes me sick to my stomach, but it is what it is. Hope you dig it!

Are there any other songs out there that get you pumped up during a run?