Running Playlist
So a while back, thepyromanical1 mentioned that she was going to start running more often, and asked for playlist recommendations. I don't usually do full playlists -- mostly I just get a bunch of tunes together and then hit shuffle, but I did have this playlist that I used as my primary get-psyched music for the marathon last year. On listening to it again, I went -- "Wow, that's really good. I should post that."
And then I forgot.
I didn't totally forget; I'd think of it from time to time (usually while running, for obvious reasons), but then I'd feel like it'd take too long to post everything and get it pretty and whatnot. And I wanted to make a cover for it, and I wanted to put one of my favorite runners on, but then I couldn't make up my mind as to which runner would be cover-girl or -boy. Then I thought I might pick one runner for each song, but even that took some thought, and then finding pictures was harder than I thought, and I thought about just not posting it at all.
Then I woke up today, ran four miles or so, came home, made like Nike and just did it.
This mix contains fourteen songs, running the gamut from Chris Colfer to Kanye West to the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack and then winding up at Eminem. The runners pictured are primarily distance runners, with the exception of one 800m specialist (you won't be surprised when you see who it is). Some are Olympians; some are not. Most are women (although I did shout-out to the boys a few times). All of them have a little biographical information underneath their photos, in case you're curious as to who I fangirl and why.
All songs are in MP4 format. I'm gonna leave this post unlocked for a week or so (unless I forget, in which case it'd be nice if someone could remind me), and then hide it so I don't run afoul of the MPAA, because downloads make me paranoid. So if you see something you want, snag it fast.
So, without further ado:
1. Defying Gravity, Chris Colfer version
I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game
Katherine Switzer, first numbered ("official") woman to finish the Boston Marathon. Registered under the name K.V. Switzer; when the race director realized she was a woman, he tried to pull her from the course. She managed to finish anyway, and later went on to win the women's division at the 1974 New York Marathon.
2. Good Morning, Kanye West
Good morning! On this day, we become legendary.
Joan Benoit-Samuelson, winner of the first women's Olympic Marathon in 1984. Still holds the fastest times for an American woman at the Chicago Marathon and the Olympic Marathon. Qualified for her seventh U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2008 at the age of 50. Holds so many age-group records there's no point in trying to list them all.
3. Let's Get It Started (radio edit), Black Eyed Peas
And the bass keeps running, running and running, running and running, running
Kara Goucher, U.S. Olympian (in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters), third place finishes in the Boston and New York Marathons, placed fifth at the 2011 Boston Marathon (seven months after giving birth to her first child).
4. United States of Pop 2009 (Blame It On the Pop), DJ Earworm
No need to worry (just get back up) when you're tumbling down, down, down
Meb Keflezighi, silver medalist in the men's marathon at the 2004 Olympics, won the NYC marathon in 2009 (and was the first American to win that race since 1982).
5. Run (I'm a Natural Disaster), Gnarls Barkley
Yeah, still the same. Can't you feel the pain? Don't need no history; ain't nothing like the real thing.
Deena Kastor, bronze medalist in the marathon at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Holds U.S. records in the marathon, half-marathon, 15K (road), 8K (road), and 5K (road).
6. 4 Minutes, Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake
If I die tonight, at least I can say I did what I wanted to do.
Rick Trujillo, five-time winner of the Pike's Peak marathon, founder of the Imogene Pass Run, ultrarunning legend (who may or may not have fueled himself entirely with Oreos and Mountain Dew the year he won the Hardrock 100).
7. O Saya, A.R. Rahman feat. MIA
They can't catch me. We break off, run so fast they can't even touch me.
Tirunesh Dibaba, aka "The Baby-Faced Destroyer." Won both the women's 5,000 and 10,000 meter events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, currently holds the world record for the 5,000 meter and the 15 K.
8. Lose Yourself, Eminem
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
Brian Sell, former Home Depot employee and runner for the Hanson-Brooks Project. Finished third in the U.S. Men's Marathon trials in 2008, placed 22nd overall in the 2008 Olympic marathon. Michigan resident.
9. Get By, Talib Kweli feat. John Legend
This morning, I woke up feeling brand new
Peter Sagal, host of NPR's "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," is a 3:20 marathoner, a Boston qualifier, and one of the best things about reading Runner's World.
10. Moment of Clarity, Jay-Z feat. DJ Danger Mouse
What, you gonna box me, homie? I can dodge and jab.
David Goggins, Navy SEAL, triathlete, and ultrarunner. Ran a 24-hour race, the Las Vegas Marathon, and the H.U.R.T. 100 in two months in an attempt to convince the organizers of the Badwater Ultra to let him compete. (They did.) He's since won events like the Ultra Centric 48-hour race and the McNaughton 150-miler, and raised over $200,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Says he runs because he hates it.
11. Hard, Rihanna feat. Young Jeezy
Who thinks they'll test me now? Run through your town, I'll shut it down.
Jenn Shelton, ultrarunner. Ran the 2007 Rocky Raccoon 100-mile race in 14:57, still the fastest time recorded by a woman for the distance. Known for drinking like a Teamster, racing in rainbow-striped bikinis, and setting course records in some of the world's most demanding ultras.
12. Bombs Over Baghdad, OutKast vs. Rage Against the Machine
You want some? Then don't come unprepared. I'll be there, but when I leave there, gonna be a household name
Shalane Flanagan, bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympics, bronze medalist at the IAAF cross-country championships in 2011, second place finish at the 2010 New York Marathon (her debut at the distance).
13. Stronger, Kanye West feat. Daft Punk
Th-th-th-that that don't kill me can only make me stronger. I need you to hurry up now, 'cause I can't wait much longer.
Amy Palmiero-Winters, ultrarunner and below-the-knee amputee. The first amputee runner to finish first overall in an ultra, she did so in inimitable style by winning the Arizona Road Racers' Run to the Future 24-hour race, running 130 miles in 24 hours and qualifying for the US Ultrarunning 24-hour team.
14. Beautiful, Eminem
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful. They can all get fucked -- just stay true to you.
Caster Semenya, gold winner in the 800 meters at the 2009 World Championships, has since won the 800 at the IAAF Dakar Grand Prix and finished second in the 800 at the 2011 Prefontaine Classic. Hopes to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
And then I forgot.
I didn't totally forget; I'd think of it from time to time (usually while running, for obvious reasons), but then I'd feel like it'd take too long to post everything and get it pretty and whatnot. And I wanted to make a cover for it, and I wanted to put one of my favorite runners on, but then I couldn't make up my mind as to which runner would be cover-girl or -boy. Then I thought I might pick one runner for each song, but even that took some thought, and then finding pictures was harder than I thought, and I thought about just not posting it at all.
Then I woke up today, ran four miles or so, came home, made like Nike and just did it.
This mix contains fourteen songs, running the gamut from Chris Colfer to Kanye West to the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack and then winding up at Eminem. The runners pictured are primarily distance runners, with the exception of one 800m specialist (you won't be surprised when you see who it is). Some are Olympians; some are not. Most are women (although I did shout-out to the boys a few times). All of them have a little biographical information underneath their photos, in case you're curious as to who I fangirl and why.
All songs are in MP4 format. I'm gonna leave this post unlocked for a week or so (unless I forget, in which case it'd be nice if someone could remind me), and then hide it so I don't run afoul of the MPAA, because downloads make me paranoid. So if you see something you want, snag it fast.
So, without further ado:
1. Defying Gravity, Chris Colfer version
I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game
Katherine Switzer, first numbered ("official") woman to finish the Boston Marathon. Registered under the name K.V. Switzer; when the race director realized she was a woman, he tried to pull her from the course. She managed to finish anyway, and later went on to win the women's division at the 1974 New York Marathon.
2. Good Morning, Kanye West
Good morning! On this day, we become legendary.
Joan Benoit-Samuelson, winner of the first women's Olympic Marathon in 1984. Still holds the fastest times for an American woman at the Chicago Marathon and the Olympic Marathon. Qualified for her seventh U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2008 at the age of 50. Holds so many age-group records there's no point in trying to list them all.
3. Let's Get It Started (radio edit), Black Eyed Peas
And the bass keeps running, running and running, running and running, running
Kara Goucher, U.S. Olympian (in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters), third place finishes in the Boston and New York Marathons, placed fifth at the 2011 Boston Marathon (seven months after giving birth to her first child).
4. United States of Pop 2009 (Blame It On the Pop), DJ Earworm
No need to worry (just get back up) when you're tumbling down, down, down
Meb Keflezighi, silver medalist in the men's marathon at the 2004 Olympics, won the NYC marathon in 2009 (and was the first American to win that race since 1982).
5. Run (I'm a Natural Disaster), Gnarls Barkley
Yeah, still the same. Can't you feel the pain? Don't need no history; ain't nothing like the real thing.
Deena Kastor, bronze medalist in the marathon at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Holds U.S. records in the marathon, half-marathon, 15K (road), 8K (road), and 5K (road).
6. 4 Minutes, Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake
If I die tonight, at least I can say I did what I wanted to do.
Rick Trujillo, five-time winner of the Pike's Peak marathon, founder of the Imogene Pass Run, ultrarunning legend (who may or may not have fueled himself entirely with Oreos and Mountain Dew the year he won the Hardrock 100).
7. O Saya, A.R. Rahman feat. MIA
They can't catch me. We break off, run so fast they can't even touch me.
Tirunesh Dibaba, aka "The Baby-Faced Destroyer." Won both the women's 5,000 and 10,000 meter events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, currently holds the world record for the 5,000 meter and the 15 K.
8. Lose Yourself, Eminem
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
Brian Sell, former Home Depot employee and runner for the Hanson-Brooks Project. Finished third in the U.S. Men's Marathon trials in 2008, placed 22nd overall in the 2008 Olympic marathon. Michigan resident.
9. Get By, Talib Kweli feat. John Legend
This morning, I woke up feeling brand new
Peter Sagal, host of NPR's "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," is a 3:20 marathoner, a Boston qualifier, and one of the best things about reading Runner's World.
10. Moment of Clarity, Jay-Z feat. DJ Danger Mouse
What, you gonna box me, homie? I can dodge and jab.
David Goggins, Navy SEAL, triathlete, and ultrarunner. Ran a 24-hour race, the Las Vegas Marathon, and the H.U.R.T. 100 in two months in an attempt to convince the organizers of the Badwater Ultra to let him compete. (They did.) He's since won events like the Ultra Centric 48-hour race and the McNaughton 150-miler, and raised over $200,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Says he runs because he hates it.
11. Hard, Rihanna feat. Young Jeezy
Who thinks they'll test me now? Run through your town, I'll shut it down.
Jenn Shelton, ultrarunner. Ran the 2007 Rocky Raccoon 100-mile race in 14:57, still the fastest time recorded by a woman for the distance. Known for drinking like a Teamster, racing in rainbow-striped bikinis, and setting course records in some of the world's most demanding ultras.
12. Bombs Over Baghdad, OutKast vs. Rage Against the Machine
You want some? Then don't come unprepared. I'll be there, but when I leave there, gonna be a household name
Shalane Flanagan, bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympics, bronze medalist at the IAAF cross-country championships in 2011, second place finish at the 2010 New York Marathon (her debut at the distance).
13. Stronger, Kanye West feat. Daft Punk
Th-th-th-that that don't kill me can only make me stronger. I need you to hurry up now, 'cause I can't wait much longer.
Amy Palmiero-Winters, ultrarunner and below-the-knee amputee. The first amputee runner to finish first overall in an ultra, she did so in inimitable style by winning the Arizona Road Racers' Run to the Future 24-hour race, running 130 miles in 24 hours and qualifying for the US Ultrarunning 24-hour team.
14. Beautiful, Eminem
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful. They can all get fucked -- just stay true to you.
Caster Semenya, gold winner in the 800 meters at the 2009 World Championships, has since won the 800 at the IAAF Dakar Grand Prix and finished second in the 800 at the 2011 Prefontaine Classic. Hopes to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.