"There's only one hard and fast rule in running: sometimes you have to run one hard and fast."








Thursday, December 13, 2007

i-Plod

Time for something fun and interactive. I need to choose songs to program into an i-pod for long runs (not for me, though!). What are your favorite quasi-running related songs?

I laughed out loud a few years ago during a marathon, when I heard Beck sing "I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?" Someone had a wicked sense of humor.

Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer" (Qu'est que c'est. Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better Run run run run run run run away.)

Mavis Staples, "99 1/2" (I'm runnin'. Tryin' to make a hundred. 'Cause 99 1/2 won't do. No it won't.)

Modern Lovers, "Roadrunner" Obviously.

Public Image Ltd. "Rise" (Walk through the valley. ... May the road rise with you (x4). Anger is an energy!(x17))

Guess that pretty much pigeonholes my age and taste.

10 comments:

Matthew Patten said...

I could give you quite a range, from classical to punk.

Great topic for post, a long run play list.

Some favorites of mine to get the blood pumping

Fanfare for the Common Man - Aaron Copeland

I enjoy just about anything from U2 or the Bodeans.

I am quite nostalgic for "old" Van Halen.

4th Movement of "Pines of Rome" by Rhespigi.

And of course... Baby Got Back by Sir Mix a lot.

How is that for some Potpourri?

Andrew said...

As far a music goes my tastes are quite varied as well.

As far as running related songs go I always liked Rush's "Marathon"

keith said...

I don't run with an i-Plod, but if I did...

Easy listening, Wagner like classical and current fav's until the last few miles, then angry, angry punk and heavy metal for finishing kick.

Or the theme from Chariots of Fire. Take yer pick.

Colin said...

I must say I was surprised at the blog title, until I read your "for a friend" disclaimer. You're near the bottom of the list of people I'd expect to see running with an iPod.

I've never tried running with music, and don't plan to ... I much prefer to focus on my surroundings and feedback from my body when I run. But if an iPod can get somebody running who otherwise wouldn't be, I think that's great!

As to your original question, how about Springsteen's "Born To Run"?

SteveQ said...

Just heard Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles" - has the great line "Let the bad guys win once in a while." Could be my theme song.

keith said...

No sugar tonight in my coffee
No sugar tonight in my tea
No sugar to stand beside me
No sugar to run with me

Da-un-do-dow dow da-un-do-dow
Da-un-do-dow dow un-dow-dow
Da-un-do-dow dow da-un-do-dow
Da-un-do-dow dow

Powers of resistance...FUTILE against The Guess Who.

Bryan said...

Here's what came to mind, though i had never quite thought of them in terms of listening to during a long run, that might be especially appropriate and/or especially inappropriate for such a use:

nitzer ebb - getting closer: "one step, two steps, getting closer, getting closer... i've got to say that it hurts..."

the cure - babble: "i run around hysterical in dead persistent gloom... shut up shut up and let me breathe"

front 242 - never stop: "never stop, never stop... can't you see, don't you feel, that this will never stop..."

front 242 - don't crash: "breath slowly fading, partly anger, partly stress;
stand fast - air is sparse below - stand fast - no clemency;
been detected, losing power, deeper down we grovel on our sweating bending knees;
don't crash - no flowers for you - don't crash - and no regrets..."

Bryan said...

Alright, I thought of one that's a little more positive.

Cobalt 60 - Crush:

"well prepared and as swift as light...

you know where to start and you know where to draw the line,
but you don't have a clue who you really are,
and you have no idea what the real you can do;

you will have your glory day
make your mark, and find your way..."

Kel said...

Lemme see......

"Road to Hell" by Chris Rea

"Run Like Hell" by Pink Floyd

Seems like running has a lot in common with hell ;)

SteveQ said...

Sometimes on a trail, I hear the Beatles: "Why don't we do it in the road? No one will be watching us." "Long and Winding Road" kinda works, too.

Apropos of nothing, I discovered at age 16 that CCR's "Traveling Band" is perfect 6 minute mile pace tempo for me.