# Help Me Make a Playlist for Upcoming Marathon! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261 "2011-01-28T01:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![winneee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e4f/32.png) [@winneee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/winneee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/1 "2011-01-28T01:50:19Z")
So I was just going through my music and realized that I could use some more (er, better) music to keep me motivated through four plus hours of running. Any suggestions? I pretty much like all categories of music. Thanks šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/2 "2011-01-28T01:58:55Z")
My first marathon is coming up, and I plan on running without my MP3 player so I can hear the crowd. Iā€™m going to need them more than I need my music. But I listen to a lot of CCR, Stones, Who, Joe Jackson, the Ramones, George Thorogood, J Geils, plus a bunch of odd balls like Hank Williams Sr, Sex Pistols, Big Mama Thornton to mix it up. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/3 "2011-01-28T04:14:35Z")
I have one song that I think is the ultimate \ workout/run song. (I donā€™t run, but this song makes me want to at least jog for a long time! The pace is just perfect, rhythmic yet altering slightly so itā€™s not JUST the same thing over and over again. Well, it kinda is, but the changes are enough for me. It even comes with a sort of cool-down period about 2/3ā€™s of the way through, and then jumps back in. I just like it. Itā€™s by Prodigy, showed up in the Hackers soundtrack some time ago. I know itā€™s just one song here, but if you like it, you might like more of Prodigy or other 90ā€™s rave stuff. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/odxhN4DTso8/hqdefault.jpg ""The Matrix" "Cowgirl" (Underworld)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odxhN4DTso8) The video is a Matrix mish-mash. I have no idea if it was used in the Matrix or not, but I had a hard time finding another video. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/4 "2011-01-28T04:28:39Z")
Why of course, [Marathon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP58U_R3gK0) by Rush from _Power Windows_ \*Itā€™s a test of ultimate will A heartbreak climb uphill Got to pick up the pace If you want to stay in the race Itā€™s more than just survival More than simple greed More than a finish line To feed this burning need In the long run\* ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/5 "2011-01-28T05:49:50Z")
[Let It Rock](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0n4eMGXAyk) - Kevin Rudolf. [Just Came Back -](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJyprEtjAiI) Colin James. [Club Canā€™t Handle Me -](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgM3r8xKfGE) Flo-rida feat. David Guetta. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/6 "2011-01-28T14:13:50Z")
Well, for motivation, maybe for the final spurt, there are: The Beatles - [Run For Your Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-7VIyKjPA0) Pink Floyd - [Run Like Hell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySO-gryuO-c) The Who - Run Run Run (sorry, no link) ---
**Author:** ![winneee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e4f/32.png) [@winneee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/winneee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/7 "2011-01-28T17:13:03Z")
**Taomist** I like it. Totally different than what I presently have. **Sqweels** I have never heard that song. Thanks! **Cat Whisperer** and **EinsteinsHund** Great suggestions!! ---
**Author:** ![winneee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e4f/32.png) [@winneee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/winneee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/8 "2011-01-28T17:21:37Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > My first marathon is coming up, and I plan on running without my MP3 player so I can hear the crowd. Iā€™m going to need them more than I need my music. > > But I listen to a lot of CCR, Stones, Who, Joe Jackson, the Ramones, George Thorogood, J Geils, plus a bunch of odd balls like Hank Williams Sr, Sex Pistols, Big Mama Thornton to mix it up. Neat mix. I have a lot of Stones, Who and Joe Jackson and will check out some of your other suggestions. FWIW, if you have done a lot of training with music, I would humbly suggest at least carrying your MP3 player (if you plan on having a pouch or something) so you have the option of using it. In my limited marathon experience, the crowds didnā€™t ā€œhelpā€ me as much as I thought they would (New York and Chicago - both had a lot of spectators) and I was glad I had the tunes. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/9 "2011-01-28T18:51:16Z")
While I have done a lot of my solo training with my MP3 player, my long runs lately have been with companions. And all my races so far have been without music so I think Iā€™ll be OK. I might throw it in the belt pack but I donā€™t plan to yet. Iā€™m running Boston and I want to hear the Scream Tunnel long before I reach there. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/10 "2011-01-28T19:51:11Z")
I donā€™t know how ā€œseriousā€ a marathon this is youā€™re entering but be sure to check with the race officials to make sure they allow headphones. There is something of an ongoing battle between runners and organizers in the last few years over the enforcement of the no-headphones rules. [http://runningtimes.com/Print.aspx?articleID=12394](http://runningtimes.com/Print.aspx?articleID=12394) [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/sports/othersports/01marathon.html?pagewanted=1&\_r=1](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/sports/othersports/01marathon.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1) ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/11 "2011-01-28T20:44:29Z")
You might try these and see if you like any of them. [Govā€™t Mule - Thorazine Shuffle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-NP-LdLu3g) [Talking Heads Take Me To The River (live)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESyc1553fi4) [Robin Trower - Too Rolling Stoned](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBoq8aoWB4E) [Rory Gallagher - Crest of a Wave](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClsFxfoX1vc) [Johnny Winter - Feedback On Highway 101](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiN_p0TDWu0) [Blue Oyster Cult - Buckā€™s Boogie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WSD8gRsaY) [Paice Ashton Lord - Malice In Wonderland](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiQx0FlX4yc) [Riverside - Out Of Myself](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPhOZdvwjBk) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/12 "2011-01-28T21:57:50Z")
To mix it up Iā€™d add some Louis Prima/Keely Smith swing- very fast paced but a different sound than today. ([Jump Jive & Wail](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4V8pbg3rNU)is probably the most famous, but Youtube Louis Prima Keely Smith and itā€™ll give you several options.) Really really cheesy butā€¦ I have a tradition when I go on road trips of inaugurating the journey by playing the [overture to How the West Was Won](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ZPy-7BzSw) as soon as I can put petal to the metal. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/13 "2011-01-28T23:00:41Z")
Band on the Run - good šŸ˜ƒ Take my Breath Away - not so good ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-a-playlist-for-upcoming-marathon/569261/14 "2011-01-28T23:36:51Z")
My absolute favorite coming-up-on-the-finish-line-need-that-extra-kick song is Princeā€™s [Baby, Iā€™m A Star](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBp9VFBAuKA) (starts at 3:21). Great tempo, driving drums, and a fantastic lyric to be singing as youā€™re using up the last bit of gas in your tank. Iā€™m running a 5k tomorrow and Iā€™ve set my playlist so that song should start right when Iā€™ve got about a quarter-mile left. Or, if youā€™re in more of a ā€œThank God this is overā€ mood, thereā€™s John Mellencampā€™s [Iā€™m Not Running Anymore](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbRXhsnY3yo). [Donā€™t Look Back](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THD_vY2-AXA) by The Fine Young Cannibals is one I like to have somewhere in the middle of a run. Itā€™s got exactly the right beat for me to run comfortably to. The Traveling Wilburysā€™ [End of The Line](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwqhdRs4jyA) has a nice upbeat, sunny kind of feel to it, but might be just a tad slow depending on the pace you want to set.