Happy National Running Day! Yes, it’s an official National “Day”: http://www.runningday.org/
In honor of this occassion (and to complete the Make Stuff Up challenge for today) I made my ultimate running mix for an 8 mile run. Then I ran to it. Now I am writing about it.
Now, I didn’t just slap some songs together and call it good. The base compilation is tried and true for me, but this morning I polished it up a bit. Added some songs, removed some dead weight, timed it approximate to my 8 mile pace, and added my favorite cool down song. I just finished my run to it and, I must say, it was timed pretty perfectly and kept me moving. Also, I am fortunately to look at this while I run:
Ok, so the mix is admittedly Modest Mouse and LCD Soundsystem heavy but, in ratio to how much I typically listen to either of those bands while running, I’ve actually held back. Do you remember that feature in Rolling Stone Magazine… something like what five albums would you be stranded on a desert island with? Well, if I was stranded in a desert marathon (hypothetically speaking of course), these would be my choices:
LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
M.I.A. – Kala
Modest Mouse (a mix from multiple albums)
This American Life (yeah, it’s a radio show)
and then the following compilation…
MY 8 MILE RUNNING MIX:
(This was timed for an 8 mile, 9:35 Pace)
Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones
The Corner – Common
All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem
We Are Young – fun.
Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Cars – Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
Common People – Pulp
Paper Thin Walls – Modest Mouse
Infinity Guitars – Sleigh Bells
Boyz – M.I.A.
The Message – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
Gratitude – The Beastie Boys
Jerry Was A Race Car Driver – Primus
North American Scum – LCD Soundsystem
Time To Pretend – Mgmt
Jumpers – Sleater-Kinney
Florida – Modest Mouse
Ode to LRC – Band Of Horses
Little Motel – Modest Mouse
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN…
WARM UP
Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones (Shock myself into action)
The Corner – Common (Then normalize into warm-up phase)
All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem (a little faster now)
We Are Young – fun. (youth anthems help me run faster)
PACE INCREASE:
Thrift Shop – Macklemore (How can this not make you run with a smile?)
Cars – Gary Numan/Tubeway Army (steady pace)
Common People – Pulp (deceptive at the beginning)
Paper Thin Walls – Modest Mouse (continue the increased pace)
PUSH IT!
Infinity Guitars – Sleigh Bells (crap, the wind on this stretch! Help me blown-out guitars!)
Boyz – M.I.A. (push it harder!)
HALF WAY THERE CRUISE:
The Message – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
PICK IT BACK UP:
Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
Gratitude – The Beastie Boys
Jerry Was A Race Car Driver – Primus
CRUISE IN THE ZONE:
North American Scum – LCD Soundsystem
Time To Pretend – Mgmt (A new addition and maybe my new favorite)
Jumpers – Sleater-Kinney
Florida – Modest Mouse
HOME STRETCH:
Ode to LRC – Band Of Horses (could overlap as either a run or cool down walk depending on your pace)
COOL DOWN – WALK:
Little Motel – Modest Mouse
Give it a try and tell me what you think. Or, better yet, tell me what you run to.
Link to my mix on Rhapsody: http://www.rhapsody.com/members/e5gu/playlists/mp.170616073
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