While I have no music ability whatsoever and am 100% tone deaf, I do believe in the power of music. Music can transform a dark hour-long spin class into a dance party or a dreaded treadmill run into the most invigorating part of your day.
Over the past year, I’ve become far less dependent on music as many of my training runs or workouts have been with Bo or other friends. The miles fly by as we catch up on life and talk about upcoming plans.
Fast forward to race day, when I have two hours of running ahead of me, and nothing to take my mind off the miles or the deep breathing that is about to begin. In certain races, this is fine. Focusing on the gorgeous scenery and just having Kristine’s company was more than enough to get me through the hills of Nike San Francisco Half Marathon. But, in order to push through the “pain cave” or mentally hard moments of Saturday’s PR attempt, I know that I need a perfect playlist. I need some hard-core rap that makes me feel tough, I need some Whitney Houston and boy band music that will make me want to dance and I’ll need some fast, upbeat songs to help me push my tempo and pace towards the end.
So, with that being said, here is my playlist for Saturday’s half marathon. At three hours in length, it is far longer than I’ll need, but perfectly long for the pre-dawn to the race start and a pre-race pump up while I go through my dynamic stretches and warm-up. It is a mix of everything from Adele’s soon to be overplayed hit to NSYNC. Come Saturday at 7 AM this playlist will be placed on random and the work will begin.
While I can’t predict the outcome of the race, I know that I have an awesome half marathon playlist that has made me break out in dance moves more than once tonight and will bring a smile to my face during the hardest miles on Saturday. It’s been ages since I was this excited to run alone!
If you want to open this playlist in your Spotify account, just click here. Otherwise, just use the scroll bar on the right side of the playlist to see each of the 46 songs.
Tell me, what song did I forget?
It always takes me so long to make a good playlist! I’m still using ones I made last year. Thanks for making this one easy to see in Spotify!
I can’t remember the last time I ran with music? I am usually to busy talking or thinking. I usually turn music on the last 3 miles of a half marathon when I am starting to fade. Good luck! But I would listen anything top 40 with bouncy beat!
BOOM. I am ALL ABOUT THIS playlist! Thanks, missy!
I just discovered an awesome song while taking a spin class, and it’s already been added to my usual running playlist: “Hold My Hand” by Jess Glynne, there are also some great higher tempo remixes of it!
Thanks for the playlist! I have been bored with my recent music. This is just what I needed. Good luck on your race!
Oh my god, I haven’t heard Get Low in FOREVER.
I basically listened to OneRepublic’s “I Lived” on repeat during the marathon on Sunday! Love the lyrics, especially “I hope when the crowd screams out, they’re screaming your name” and “I hope that you don’t suffer but take the pain.” I thought they were especially fitting for racing 🙂 Good luck this weekend!
I LOVE that you have Jesse McCartney on here. Leavin’ is one of my all-time favorite running songs (and also just in general :P) I also love Shut Up and Dance and you can never go wrong with N’Sync either. I don’t think I saw any One Direction there, though. Steal My Girl, Best Song Ever and What Makes You Beautiful are all favorites of mine for running!