Running Playlist - My Motivational Music

Running with music helps me train better and I really depend on my iPod playlist to motivate me! My iPod froze at the start of my first half marathon, which was pretty horrible - so I soaked up the atmosphere instead, and discovered I can run without music if I had to! But I do run better with it.

The beats per minute in a song can help you maintain your pace, speed you up or keep you steady. The idea is that if you run 150 steps per minute (10 minute mile) whilst listening to a song at 150 beats per minute - this will motivate you to stay at this pace. The faster you want to go, the higher the beats per minute. Most runners like to run to music between 150 to 175 beats per minute.

I am so glad iPods have been invented; it must have been very difficult running with a walkman or CD player! We can now easily put together a playlist of perfect tunes to suit any run, long or short. I am constantly adding to my iPod running music and have songs to suit any type of run. This is a list of some of my favorite music to run to.

"Methinks that the moment my legs began to move, my thoughts began to flow." - Henry David Thoreau

Everyone has different music tastes and I have spent a lot of time finding tracks that are perfect for me to run to from iTunes. I now have hundreds of songs that I use for all types of runs, and the tracks below are some of my iPod favourites.

Warning! Some of these songs are pretty cheesy 80's and 90's hip hop and dance, but all have a good beat and will certainly motivate you to run your best!

These are great songs to warm up to, with slow steady beats

I always find it really hard for the first 5 minutes of my run, I just don't want to do it and am feel pretty unmotivated. So I like to listen to a tune with a steady beat and lyrics that will get me thinking " I can do this!"

When I have to dig deep on my run, I will always listen to Eminem's "Lose Yourself as it never fails to power me through mid run when the going gets tough, it has a great steady beat and strong aggressive lyrics. Hip Hop and rap can either be fun (like MC Hammer) or aggressive and powerful, both perfect for running. I really love the upbeat feel of early 90's dance music, it's fun, kitsch and get really help you pick up your pace too!

A mixture of feel good songs to put a smile on my face at the end of my run!

When I am hot, sweaty and tired I need a tune that will put some energy back into my legs and a grin to my face! It's always good to end a workout on a positive note, however much it hurts! And what run would be complete without the Rocky Soundtrack - Eye of the Tiger?

Three brilliant websites to help you measure the beats per minute to match your running cadence and to give you some more ideas on great music to run your best to.