What is on your iPod’s running playlist?

As someone whose musical taste spans over seven decades and multiple genres, I adore music in all forms. I’m constantly seeking the new song that will touch me, or the very old band I never knew existed. This has led to an iPod packed with over 9,000 songs – yet that classic, What do I listen to? feeling.

Does this happen to you? You’re running and nothing is what you’re in the mood to hear, so it’s skip, skip, skip. You’re sick of the old favorites, you’re annoyed by the new popular tracks after hearing too many replays, and nothing is jazzing you up enough to sprint the next half mile.

Realizing that I’m probably not the only one with this frustration, I thought I would ask you, what are your favorite running songs? Asking people to share seems like the way to learn about a hidden gem that Pandora hasn’t yet served you or learn which songs push others.

Do you bounce to the deep techno tracks? Is it a Hip-Hop song? Or maybe an Indie Rock jam? Please, share your favorites either in the comments, at my Twitter handle (@the13thmile) or by e-mailing me (the13thmile(at)gmail.com). I will then compile a “runner’s playlist” of favorites and share.

In the meantime, I will share my go-to running list. Below is a mix of highly energized songs that I play when I need that extra air beneath my sneakers. I have reasoning behind their order as well. “Circus” is my adrenaline-pumping song, I like to kick off with it. The Killers allow me to keep pace, some of the slow songs give me a break when I’m tired and some of the fast songs make me want to sprint so fast I feel like I’m flying.

When I have nothing left to give, The Black Eyed Peas and Queen take the effort  away. Would love to add some new favorites to this list, so please share your top tracks!

Circus – Britney Spears
Toxic – Britney Spears
Read My Mind – The Killers
When You Were Young – The Killers
Sex is on Fire – Kings of Leon
Crazy in Love – Beyonce
Dancing in the Moonlight – Van Morrison
Rosalita – Bruce Springsteen
The Pretender – The Foo Fighters
Paralyzer – Finger Eleven
Stronger – Kanye West
Lose Control – Missy Elliot
Stronger – Christina Aguilera
Running – Gwen Stefani
Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt – We are Scientists
Time to Pretend – MGMT
Vienna – Billy Joel
Beautiful Day – U2
Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend
Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance
What a Feeling – Peter Luts
Rock This Party (Everybody Dance) – Bob Sinclair
I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
Imma Be – Black Eyed Peas
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen