Ipod or No Ipod? That is the Question!

What role (if any) does music play with your training and your runs?  

I'm always being asked what is on my playlist - mostly by younger people who know that in my real life, I'm a youth director.  I think it's because they just can't imagine any good, spiritual music that one could run to!  Sometimes I am hesitant to share the list because people tend to judge  - so all I ask is...

Don't Judge Me!

I have several play lists that I use in running.  I have a training list, which consists of a varied genre of music with different beats for pacing reasons, then I have an interval training list (made more for HIIT training) and then I have the race list (only the fastest, most motivating songs make this list). 

Music is key in my runs, in fact, I cannot run or bike without the Ipod.  I understand that there is quite the different opinion about whether runners should have music or learn to run with nature, but for me – (ADD and OCD) the music helps me focus, persevere, complete and even connects me with God.  And most of my runs, are all about God. 

I recently asked a new run friend (she’s new to running and a new friend) if she wanted to know what I ran to (she’s also a believer and we are also looking for fast Christian run music). So… here’s just a few of what you’ll find on my main training list (where there are questionable lyrics, I only download the clean version):

Rolling in the Deep – Adele

What the Hell – Avril Lavigne

Million Voices – Barlow Girl

Just Can’t Get Enough – Black Eyed Peas

I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

1985 – Bowling for Soup

What if His People Prayed – Casting Crowns

Song of Hope – Chris Clayton

Can’t Hold Us Down – Christina Aguilera

Just the girl – Click Five

Forever and Ever Etc – David Crowder Band

Revolutionary Love – David Crowder Band

No One Like You – David Crowder Band

Coming Home – Diddy

Not Afraid – Eminem

Tonight I’m Lovin You – Enrique Iglesias

Dance, Dance – Fall Out Boy

Rocketeer – Far East Movement

Undone – FFH

Club Can’t Handle Me Now – Flo Rida

Fully Alive – Flyleaf

Breathe Today – Flyleaf

How to Save a Life – The Fray

Ohh Ahh – Grits

Crazy Love – Hawk Nelson

This is It – Jonah 33

Solution – Jonah 33

Mystery – Jonah 33

My Love – Justin Timberlake

Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Firework – Katy Perry

Your Love is My Drug – Kesha

Tik Tok – Kesha

Take it off – Kesha

Animal – Kesha

Blow – Kesha

We R Who We R – Kesha

Can I be honest – KJ-52

Daddy’s Girl – KJ-52

Paprazzi – Lady Gaga

Reaching for You – Lincoln Brewster

Today is the Day – Lincoln Brewster

Everywhere I go - Lincoln Brewster

Salvation is Here - Lincoln Brewster

Ay Yo – Meanie Fiona

Like Like We’re Alive – Nevertheless

Far Away – Nickleback

Smells like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

StopStop and Stare – One Republic

Apologize - One Republic

All the Right Moves - One Republic

Secrets - One Republic

Good Life - One Republic

Fireflies – Owl City

Perfect (clean) – Pink

Funhouse (clean) – Pink

So What (clean) – Pink

Sober (clean) – Pink

Please Don’t Leave me (clean) – Pink

It’s All Your Fault  (clean) – Pink

Hey Baby – Pitbull

More than Useless – Reliant K

Blink – Blink

S&M - Rihanna

Only Girl – Rihanna

Lead Me – Sanctus Real

For the First Time – The Script

Awake & Alive – Skillet

Rebirthing – Skiller

Your Love Goes on Forever – SonicFlood

I want to Know You – Sonic Flood

Activate – Stellar Kart

Easier than Love – Switchfoot

We are one tonight – switchfood

Awakening – Switchfood

Dynamite – TAioCruz

For You I Will – Teddy Geiger

Lift Up Your Face – Third Day

Tunnel – Third Day

I can Feel It – Third Day

Written in the Stars (clean)– Tinie Tempah

Made to Love You – Toby Mac

Burn for You - Toby Mac

More – Usher

PLUS – a whole lot more!  The songs that are italicized are Christian  - I wanted to make it easy for you to find good Christian running songs.  All these songs are at different paces but usually have some significance for being on my list.  All I ask, is that you don’t judge me!