The Mother Of All Running Playlists…

As promised, I combined the previous posts. Per some suggestions, the next step will be sorting songs by genre. Enjoy the running and enjoy the music!!

1.  Everlong by Foo Fighters

2.  Radar Love by Golden Earring

3.  Knights of Cydonia  by Muse

4.  The Four Horsemen by Metallica

5.  Baba O’Riley (Live Version) by Pearl Jam

6.  Keep the Car Running by Arcade Fire

7.  Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day

8.  The Joker and the Thief by Wolfmother

9.  A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley

10. Reach for the Sky by Social Distortion

11. Peace Frog by The Doors

12. Saving Grace by Tom Petty

13. All These Things That I have Done by The Killers

14. Race You by Elizabeth & the Catapult

15. Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance

16. Run by Gnarls Barkley

17. Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand

18. Bring on the Comets by VHS or Beta

19. Running on Empty by Jackson Browne

20. Time Bomb by Old 97s

21. So Alive by Ryan Adams

22. Daft Punk is Playing at My House by LCD Soundsystem

23. Where the Streets Have No Name by U2

24. Ch-Check It Out by The Beastie Boys

25. The Catfisherman by Marah

26. The Zephyr Song by Red Hot Chili Peppers

27. The Bleeding Heart Show by The New Pornographers

28. The Captain by Guster

29. The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves

30. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

31. Right Now (Live Version) by Van Halen

32. Lose Yourself by Eminem

33. From Debris by Matt Pond PA

34. Can’t Hardly Wait by The Replacements

35. Run Like Hell by Pink Floyd

36. Boston by Augustana

37. Crystal Village by Pete Yorn

38. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

39. Night Train by Guns n Roses

40. Elevation by U2

41. Ready to Start by Arcade Fire

42. Big Weekend by Tom Petty

43. All My Life by Foo Fighters

44. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Iron Maiden

45. Camera One by Josh Joplin Group

46. Pain Lies on the Riverside by Live

47. Intergalactic by Beastie Boys

48. California Waiting by Kings of Leon

49. Bushwick Blues by Delta Spirit

50. Far Behind by Social Distortion

51. Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet

52. Duality by Bayside

53. Chelsea Dagger by The Fratelli’s

54. Drumming Song by Florence & the Machine

55. Life on a Chain by Pete Yorn

56. She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult

57. I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty

58. Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim

59. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk

60. Running Two by Tykwer, Klimek & Hell

61. The Middle by Jimmy Eat World

62. This Is It by Ryan Adams

63. Beautiful is Gone by The Ruse

64. Happier (Live Version) by Guster

65. Fortune Flashlight by Matt Pond PA

66. Help Is On The Way by Rise Against

67. Club Foot by Kasabian

68. Strength by The Alarm

69. Kick Drum Heart by The Avett Brothers

70. Bastards of Young by The Replacements

71. This Too Shall Pass by OK Go

72. Zak and Sara by Ben Folds

72. Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes

73. The Royal We by Silversun Pickups

74. Show Me What You Got by Jay-Z

75. Mistaken for Strangers by The National

76. The Distance by Cake

77. Kids by MGMT

78. American Slang by The Gaslight Anthem

79. A Murder of One by Counting Crows

80. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

81. Munich by The Editors

82. Perfect Shape by Francis Dunnery

83. Free Energy by Free Energy

84. Are We the Waiting / St. Jimmy by Green Day

85. Teenage FBI by Guided By Voices

86. Heavy Metal Drummer by Wilco

87. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

88. Shakedown on 9th Street by Ryan Adams

89. Airport Song (Live Version) by Guster

90. Baby Got Going by Liz Phair

91. California Love by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre

92. This Is What I Do by Rhett Miller

93. Plowed by Sponge

94. I Will Follow by U2

95. Only The Young by Journey

96. Going The Distance by Bill Conti

97. Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups

98. Destroyer by The Kinks

99. Always Where I Need To Be by The Kooks

100. So What by Pink

101. Always Love by Nada Surf

102. Spirit of Radio (Live Version) by Rush

103. Unless It’s Kicks by Okkervil River

104. The Power by Snap!

105. Everything’s Magic by Angels & Airwaves

106. Rez by Underworld

107. Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5

108. Sabotage by Beastie Boys

109. Stand Up and Be Strong by Soul Asylum

110. Alive and Kicking by Simple Minds

111. The Pretender by Foo Fighters

112. I Predict a Riot by Kaiser Chiefs

113. Is There a Ghost by Band of Horses

114. Yeah by Usher

115. Four-Leaf Clover by Old 97s

116. Till I Collapse by Eminem

117. Help I’m Alive by Metric

118. Dakota by Stereophonics

119. Save Yourself by Stabbing Westward

120. The Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga

121. Given to Fly (Live Version) by Pearl Jam

122. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

123. Why Can’t I Be You?  by The Cure

124. Taking Control by Alberta Cross

125. Crackerman by Stone Temple Pilots

126. The Boys of Summer by The Ataris

127. Nearly Lost You by Screaming Trees

128. Candy’s Room (Live) by Bruce Springsteen

129. Soul Meets Body by Death Cab for Cutie

130. Bullet With Butterfly Wings by Smashing Pumpkins

131. Time is Running Out (Live Version) by Muse

132. Lisztomania by Phoenix

133. The Trooper by Iron Maiden

134. Don’t Change by INXS

135. Next to You by The Police

136. Dog Days Are Over by Florence & The Machine

137. Beautiful Day by U2

138. Wherever I May Roam by Metallica

139. Rush by Big Audio Dynamite

140. Should I Stay or Should I go?  by The Clash

141. Love Removal Machine by The Cult

142. Blue Sky by Patty Griffin

143. Learn to Fly by Carbon Leaf

144. My Body by Young the Giant

145. Supersonic by Oasis

146. Rolling in the Deep by Adele

147. No Cars Go by Arcade Fire

148. The Funeral by Band of Horses

149. Satellite by Rise Against

150. Your Touch by The Black Keys

151. The Remedy by Jason Mraz

152. Let’s Get It Started by Black Eyed Peas

153. I Wanna Destroy You by Uncle Tupelo

154. A Shot In The Arm by Wilco

155. Best of You by Foo Fighters

156. Song 2 by Blur

157. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns n Roses

158. Unchained by Van Halen

159. Barrier Reef by Old 97s

160. Forgiven by Ben Harper

161. Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J

162. Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

163. Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode

164. Resignation Superman by Big Head Todd & the Monsters

165. Superhero by Garrison Starr

166. America Town by Five For Fighting

167. The Only One I Know by The Charlatans

168. Praise You by Fatboy Slim

169. Black Tambourine by Beck

170. Stay Positive by The Hold Steady

171. New York New York by Ryan Adams

172. Shake It Out by Florence & The Machine

173. The Rising by Bruce Springsteen

174. Heat of the Moment (LIVE Version) by Asia

175. Rebellion (Lies) by Arcade Fire

176. Sometimes In The Fall by Phoenix

177. Gonna Make You Sweat by C+C Music Factory

178. Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider

179. CrushCrushCrush by Paramore

180. In The Air Tonight by Nonpoint

181. You Could Be Mine by Guns n Roses

182. The Re-Arranger by Mates of State

183. Thnks Fr Th Mmrs by Fallout Boy

184. Island by The Starting Line

185. The Underdog by Spoon

186. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

187. Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon

188. Why Go by Pearl Jam

189. Rio by Duran Duran

190. Rubberneckin’ (Paul Oakenfold Remix) by Elvis

191. The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti & Spearhead

192. Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve

193. I’m Gonna Win by Foreigner

194. Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne

195. All Night Long by Billy Squier

196. Won’t Be Home by Old 97s

197. Thunderstruck by AC/DC

198. Gold Guns Girls by Metric

199. Wolf Like Me by TV On The Radio

200. Gonna Fly Now (Rocky theme) by Bill Conti

201. Red Morning Light by Kings of Leon

202. Emblems by Matt Pond PA

203. The Revolution Starts… by Steve Earle

204. Stop by Jane’s Addiction

205. I’m Not Afraid by Eminem

206. Monkey Wrench by Foo Fighters

207. The Story Of My Life by Social Distortion

208. Paradise City by Guns n Roses

209. Vertigo by U2

210. Orange Crush by R.E.M.

211. Number 1 by Goldfrapp

212. The Resistance by Muse

213. Hey Ya! by OutKast

214. Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty

215. Ready To Go by Republica

216. White Trash Wedding by Dixie Chicks

217. Grey Cell Green by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin

218. Night on Fire by VHS or Beta

219. There’s No Other Way by Blur

220. 21 Guns by Green Day

221. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

222. Faster by Matt Nathanson

223. Stadium Love by Metric

224. Represent by Weezer

225. Unstoppable by Santigold

226. Are You Gonna Go My Way? by Lenny Kravitz

227. Tick Tick Boom by The Hives

228. Get Free by The Vines

229. Last Nite by The Strokes

230. Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet

231. I’d Run Away by The Jayhawks

232. These Are Things by Wheat

233. Last Light by Matt Pond PA

234. Trailways by Josh Joplin Group

235. When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around by The Police

236. Steve McQueen by Sheryl Crow

237. (Hey Man) Now You’re Really Living by Eels

238. Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root

239. Kickstart My Heart by Motley Crue

240. Eyes Wide Open by Gotye

241. Master of Puppets by Metallica

242. Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden

243. Bleed It Out by Linkin Park

244. Uprising by Muse

245. Sympathy for the Devil (cover) by Guns n Roses

246. (Pride) In The Name of Love (Live –  Rattle & Hum) by U2

247. This Is War by 30 Seconds To Mars

248. Rumor Has It by Adele

249. Rearviewmirror by Pearl Jam

250. I Want It All by Queen

251. Back To Me by Kathleen Edwards

252. Renegade by Styx

253. Please Forgive Me by David Gray

254. Time For Me To Fly by REO Speedwagon

255. This Is It by Kenny Loggins

256. Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5

257. Long Long Way From Home by Foreigner

258. Pleasure by The Soup Dragons

259. All Day and All of the Night (LIVE) by The Kinks

260. The Frog Prince by Keane

261. Moneygrabber by Fitz & the Tantrums

262. Slide Away by Oasis

263. Four Kicks by Kings of Leon

264. Gimme Sympathy by Metric

265. Turn It On Again (LIVE) by Genesis

266. My Hero by Foo Fighters

267. Magic Power by Triumph

268. Stockholm Syndrome by Muse

269. Invincible by Pat Benatar

270. All At Once by The Fray

271. Hang ‘Em High by Van Halen

272. Ecstasy by Rusted Root

273. Here It Goes Again by OK Go

274. How You Like Me Now? by The Heavy

275. Killing In The Name Of by Rage Against The Machine

276. Marathon by Rush

277. I Belong In Your Arms by Chairlift

278. Shimmer by Fuel

279. All Over You by Live

280. Live Wire by Motley Crue

281. 1901 by Phoenix

282. Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

283. In The End by Linkin Park

284. Bad Reputation by Joan Jett

285. I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge

286. Hit The Ground by The Big Pink

287. Marathon Runner by Yellow Ostrich

288. Push It by Garbage

289. These Days by Dr. Dog

290. Learning To Fly by Tom Petty

291. Down by 311

292. Walk On by U2

293. Give Me Everything by Pitbull

294. Keep Hope Alive by the Crystal Method

295. Run by Collective Soul

296. Speed of Sound by Coldplay

297. Save Me San Francisco by Train

298. I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls

299. Jai Ho by A.R. Rahman

300. Surrender by Angels and Airwaves

301. A/B Machines by Sleigh Bells

302. Stronger by Kanye West (w Daft Punk)

303. Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones

304. Runaway by Imperial Teen

305. Run This Town by Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

306. I Just Wanna Run by The Downtown Fiction

307. Walk by Foo Fighters

308. Breathe by The Prodigy

309. Heart of a Champion by Nelly

310. Twilight Zone by Golden Earring

311. We Are Young by Fun

312. Heavy Light by Dr. Dog

313. Keepsake by Bettie Serveert

314. Firecracker by Ryan Adams

315. Cannonball by The Breeders

316. First Light by My Morning Jacket

317. Lonely Boy by The Black Keys

318. Get Innocuous by LCD Soundsystem

319. Bastards of Young by The Replacements

320. Christian Street by Marah

321. All of Me by Tanlines

322. Wild Ones by Flo Rida (Featuring Sia)

323. Hey Man Nice Shot by Filter

324. Animal by Neon Trees

325. Vampire Lake by The Builders and the Butchers

326. Rock Box by Run DMC

327. ‘92 Subaru by Fountains of Wayne

328. Outta Love Again by Van Halen

329. I Ran by Ska Rangers

330. Hunted Down by Soundgarden

331. I Can Talk by Two Door Cinema Club

332. Crawling by Linkin Park

333. Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

334. Helpless by Metallica

335. Timothy Leary by Guster

336. Mountain Sound by Of Monsters and Men

337. Smokin’ by Boston

338. Life In The Fast Lane by The Eagles

339. You’re All That I Have by Snow Patrol

340. Still Can’t Get Enough by The Alternate Routes

341. A Sort of Homecoming by U2

342. Edge of a Dream by Joe Cocker

343. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

344. China Grove by Doobie Brothers

345. Sole Survivor by Asia

346. Fighter by Christina Aguilara

347. In God’s Country by U2

348. The Day That Never Comes by Metallica

349. You’re Crazy by Guns n Roses

350. Good Feeling by Flo Rida

351. No Sunlight by Death Cab for Cutie

352. One, Two, Three, Go! by Belanova

353. New Sensation by INXS

354. Down With The Sickness by Disturbed

355. Come Sail Away by Styx

356. Lampshade by Fielding

357. It’s All Downhill From Here by Scout

358. Going On by Gnarls Barkley

359. I’m Alive by The Hooters

360. The Shock of the Lightning by Oasis

361. Instant Karma (We All Shine On) by John Lennon

362. Never Miss A Beat by Kaiser Chiefs

363. Runaway Car by Mat Kearney

364. Starting by Matt Pond PA

365. Winning by Santana

366. Rock You Like a Hurricane by Scorpions

367. Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups

368. One Simple Thing by Stablizers

369. Chariots of Fire (Theme) by Vangelis

370. Starry Eyes by Too Much Joy

371. Can I Kick It? by A Tribe Called Quest

372. Wire by U2

373. Light Up The Sky by Yellowcard

374. Go Go Go by The 88

375. Two Sides by Youth Group

376. I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab For Cutie

377. A Million Miles Away by The Plimsouls

378. Head On by The Jesus & Mary Chain

379. No Such Thing by John Mayer

380. Rockin’ In The Free World by Neil Young

381. Woman by Wolfmother

382. Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen

383. TNT by AC/DC

384. Crash ‘95 Mix by The Primitives

385. Run With The Pack by Bad Company

386. Your Savior by Temple of the Dog

387. That’s It That’s All by Beastie Boys

388. Rockin’ the Suburbs by Ben Folds

389. Re-Feel-It by Bettie Serveert

390. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) – Live Version by Billy Joel

391. I”m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You by Black Kids

392. Foreplay / Long Time by Boston

393. Dream Police by Cheap Trick

394. Point #1 by Chevelle

395. Wild Flower by The Cult

396. Soldiers by Drowning Pool

397. Lips Like Sugar by Echo & The Bunnymen

398. Jungle Love by Steve Miller Band

399. Magnificent by U2

400. Bring Me To Life by Evanescence

401. Deeper and Deeper by The Fixx

402. Let’s Go Crazy by Prince & the Revolution

403. The Fox by Niki & the Dove

404. Kings and Queens by 30 Seconds to Mars

405.  Army by Ben Folds Five

406.  Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller Band

407.  Here Comes The Boom by Nelly

408.  Never Back Down by Linkin Park

409.  I Need a Doctor by Dr. Dre (Featuring Eminem & Skylar Grey)

410.  Hold Back the Rain by Duran Duran

411.  Sandstorm by Darude

412.  East Jesus Nowhere by Green Day

413.  Seether by Veruca Salt

414.  Mr. Brightside by The Killers

415.  Shut Up and Let Me Go by The Ting Tings

416.  Time to Pretend by MGMT

417.  Airplanes by B.o.B.

418.  Typical by MuteMath

419.  Your Hands (Together) by The New Pornographers

420.  Thread by Now, Now

421.  I See You Baby by Groove Armada & Fatboy Slim

422.  Baby Missiles by The War On Drugs

423.  The Fire by The Roots

424.  In A Big Country by Big Country

425.  Run Runaway by Slade

426.  Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage

427.  Midnight City by M83

428.  Lover to Lover by Florence & the Machine

429.  Sidecars by Kathleen Edwards

430.  She’s the One by Bruce Springsteen

431.  Let’s Go All the Way by Sly Fox

432.  Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall

433.  State of Love and Trust by Pearl Jam

434.  Dancing Shoes by Arctic Monkeys

435.  Empire State of Mind by Jay Z & Alicia Keys

436.  Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel

437.  Back in Time by Pitbull

438.  Closer to the Edge by 30 Seconds to Mars

439.  Against the Wind by Bob Seger

440.  Keep on Running by Spencer Davis Group

441.  It Keeps You Runnin’ by The Doobie Brothers

442.  Sleep Now in the Fire by Rage Against The Machine

443.  B.O.B. by Outkast

444.  Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers

445.  40 Day Dream by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

446.  Thickfreakness by The Black Keys

447.  Helena Beat by Foster the People

448.  Levels by Avicii

449.  I Like That by Richard Vission ft Luciana

450.  In Your Honor by Foo Fighters

451.  (If You’re Wondering If I Want You to) I Want you to by Weezer

452.  Everybody Talks by Neon Trees

453.  Blue Monday by New Order

454.  Pump It Up by Elvis Costello & the Attractions

455.  More Human Than Human by White Zombie

456.  That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings

457.  Somebody Told Me by The Killers

458.  Paper Planes by M.I.A.—DFA Remix (no gunshot sounds used as percussion on this version)

459.  I’m Shakin’ by Jack White

460.  Epic by Faith No More

461.  The Only Place by Best Coast

462.  Rain King by Counting Crows

463.  Run Right Back by The Black Keys

464.  Moth’s Wings by Passion Pit

465.  Home by LCD Soundsystem

466.  Back Against The Wall by Cage the Elephant

467.  A New Chance (The Juan McClean Remix) by The Tough Alliance

468.  Pretty Piece of Flesh by One Inch Punch

469.  A Day Without Me by U2

470.  Electronic Renaissance by Belle and Sebastian

471.  Superman by R.E.M.

472.  Under the Milky Way by The Church

473.  Real Life by Tanlines

474.  Under Cover of Darkness by The Strokes

475.  Go by Santigold

476.  Into the Fire by Sarah McLachlan

477.  Blood Hound by 50 Cent

478.  Marchin’ On by One Republic ft. Timbaland

479.  Perfect Time of Day by Howie Day

480.  Opera (Attack Video Edit) by Matt’s Mattara ft. RockMan

481.  Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield

482.  Drop The Pop by None More Black

483.  Six Weeks by Of Monsters and Men

484.  When You Were Young by The Killers

485.  Born With a Tail by Supersuckers

486.  Doo Wop (That Thing) by Lauryn Hill

487.  Mr. Jones by Counting Crows

488.  Hair of the Dog by Nazareth

489.  Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush

490.  Lovely Love My Family by The Roots

491.  Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran

492.  Running Free by Dylan Hyde

493.  Spirit of ‘76 by The Alarm

494.  Montana by Venus Hum

495.  I-95 by Francis Dunnery

496.  I Can’t Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar

497.  Marching Bands of Manhattan by Death Cab For Cutie

498.  Do It Again by Holy Ghost

499.  Get Some by Lykke Li

500.  Can We Start Again by Bane

501.  Get Back by Ludacris

502.  You Get What You Give by New Radicals

503.  Maniac by Michael Sembello

504.  Just a Girl by No Doubt

505.  Last Day in Bouville by Nothing

506. The Starting Line by Keane

507. Victory by Biggie Smalls and P Diddy

508. She Bangs the Drums by The Stone Roses

509. Knife Edge by The Alarm

510. Suffragette City by David Bowie

511. Roam by B-52s

512. Empty House by Delta Spirit

513. Lust For Life by Iggy Pop

514. Heaven by The Walkmen

515. When The Sun’s Out by James Maddock

516. Barracuda by Heart

517. Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake

518. It’s Time For War by LL Cool J

519. Turn Me Loose by Loverboy

520. Bawitdaba by Kid Rock

521. Freak On a Leash by Korn

522. Run by Spiritualized

523. Dry Bones by Lateef

524. Melt Show by Old 97s

525. Ride by The Vines

526. Sunflowers by Francis Dunnery

527. Good Times by INXS w Jimmy Barnes

528. Jump Around by House of Pain

529. Mothers Talk by Tears For Fears

530. Electric Fever by Free Energy

531. Caught Somewhere In Time by Iron Maiden

532. Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder

533. Better Off by Radio Iodine

534. Take On Me by A-ha

535. Forgotten Years by Midnight Oil

536. Nice Things by The Menzingers

537. Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

538. Dustland Fairytale by The Killers

539. Come Back Around by Feeder

540. Colassal by Wolfmother

541. Soldiers by Otherwise

542. Gonna Make You Love Me by Ryan Adams

543. Bring Me The Dawn by Carlo Dall Anese & Fabio Castro

544. Shining Star by Nneka

545. Life Is a HIghway by Tom Cochrane

546. Desire by U2

547. One Foot in Front of the Other by Bone Symphony

548. Galvanize by Chemical Brothers

549. Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

550. You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid by The Offspring

551. Crazy On You by Heart

552. Day N Night by Kid Cudi vs. Crookers

553. Whatever Is Wrong With You by Marillion

554. Twenty Killer Hurts by Gene Loves Jezebel

555. Tear It Up by Delta Spirit

556. Underground by Men At Work

557. Spiderwebs by No Doubt

558. The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes ft. Ryan Tedder

559. Dark Horses by Switchfoot

560. Do You Want It All by Two Door Cinema Club

561. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) by Arcade Fire

562. Shooting Star by Owl City

563. You Wanted a Hit by LCD Soundsystem

564. Take a Walk by Passion Pit

565. Speed the Collapse by Metric

566. Wasted Years by Iron Maiden

567. Blackout by Breathe Carolina

568. The Suffering by Coheed and Cambria

569. Face Down by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

570. Blitzkrieg Bop by The Ramones

571. The Lion The Beast The Beat by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

572. Meet Me on the Equinox by Death Cab For Cutie

573. Raise Your Weapon by deadmau5

574. Let It Out by Girl Talk

575. Without You by David Guetta ft. Usher

576. Wrecking Ball by Bruce Springsteen

577. Welcome To Paradise by Green Day

578. Born Slippy by Underworld

579. Shipping Up To Boston by Dropkick Murphys

580. You Wreck Me by Tom Petty

581. Got Some by Pearl Jam

582. She’s On Fire by Train

583. Drive It Like You Stole It by The Glitch Mob

584. Sin Wagon by Dixie Chicks

585. Hurt So Good by John Cougar Mellencamp

586. Toes by Lights

587. White Knuckles by Alter Bridge

588. A Slight Figure of Speech by The Avett Brothers

589. Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani

590. The Kids Aren’t Alright by The Offspring

591. Break It Down Again by Tears For Fears

592. Run To You by Bryan Adams

593. Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce

594. Comeback Kid by Sleigh Bells

595. A World That We Never Made by Dear Landlord

596. Do Anything You Wanna Do by Eddie & The Hotrods

597. Like a Stone by Audioslave

598. Burn It Down by Linkin Park

599. Turbulence by Steve Aoki & Laidback ft. Lil Jon

600. Flux by Bloc Party

601. Steady As She Goes by The Raconteurs

602. Starry Eyes by The Records

603. Bombtrack by Rage Against The Machine

604. Dammit by Blink 182

605. Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols

606. Around the World by Red Hot Chili Peppers

607. Can’t Stop by Girl Talk

608. Here and Now by Letters to Cleo

609. Naked Eye by Luscious Jackson

610. Biko (Live Version) by Peter Gabriel

611. Inside Out by Eve 6

612. Constructive Summer by The Hold Steady

613. You Make Me Feel by Cobra Starship ft. Sabi

614. These Are Days by 10,000 Maniacs

615. Closer To Free by The BoDeans

616. Run by Vampire Weekend

617. Ready To Run by Dixie Chicks

618. Don’t Stay Home by 311

619. Hammer To Fall by Queen

620. Sirius by The Alan Parsons Project

621. Washing Over Me by Goldfish

622. Noticed by Mutemath

623. Hero of War by Rise Against

624. Survival by Muse

625. Running Free by Iron Maiden

626. Game On by Disciple

627. Hands In The Air by Flo Rida

628. Unsung by Helmet

629. Machinehead by Bush

630. When Worlds Collide by Powerman 5000

631. Working For The Weekend by Loverboy

632. Shake it by Metro Station

633. Clark Gable by The Postal Service

634. Runaway by Bon Jovi

635. Phantom Lord by Metallica

636. In For The Kill by La Roux

637. Declaration / Marching On by The Alarm

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638. Meet Me Halfway by The Black Eyed Peas

639. Millions by Starf**ker

640. Cutdown by Matt & Kim

641. Electronic Fences by Computer Magic

642. Slight Figure of Speech by The Avett Brothers

643. Battle Flag by Lo Fidelity Allstars

644. Games People Play by The Alan Parsons Project

645. Running Like the Wind by The Marshall Tucker Band

646. Praise by Sevendust

647. I Don’t Wanna Stop by Ozzy Osbourne

648. Salute Your Solution by The Raconteurs

649. Indestructable by Disturbed

650. Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots

651. Hold On by Alabama Shakes

652. Southbound by The Allman Brothers

653. Rockin’ Down the Highway by The Doobie Brothers

654. Autobahn by Kraftwerk

655. In the City by The Jam

656. Modern Love by David Bowie

657. Second Hand News by Fleetwood Mac

658. Going Mobile by The Who

659. Balls Out by The Bloodhound Gang

660. Awakening by Yellowcard

661. Well Thought Out Twinkies by Silversun Pickups

662. Do You Right by 311

663. Runaways by The Killers

664. Freeze Frame by J Geils Band

665. Candy-O by The Cars

666. Unbelievable by EMF

667. Road To Nowhere by Talking Heads

668. What You Need by INXS

669. Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia

670. Reggae Music by Jimmy Cliff

671. Reboot The Mission by The Wallflowers

672. Take a Walk by Passion Pit

673. Sleep Alone by Two Door Cinema Club

674. Pretty Persuasion by R.E.M.

675. Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More by The Allman Brothers

676. The Descent by Bob Mould

677. Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars

678. Bullet In The Head by Rage Against The Machine

679. Control Yourself by Dr. Dog

680. Animal by Mike Snow

681. Walking On a Dream by Empire Of The Sun

682. The Future Starts Now by The Kills

683. Machine Gun Blues by Social Distortion

684. Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore

685. Panama by Van Halen

686. Another Hit and Run by Def Leppard

687. Bad Boys Running Wild (Live Version) by Scorpions

688. Runnin’ by Bizarre Tribe (Pharcyde/Tribe Called Quest mashup)

689. Rebirth Of The Cool by The Afghan Whigs

690. Too Fast For Love by Motley Crue

691. This Is It by Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald

692. Great Expectations by The Gaslight Anthem

693. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

694. See a Little Light by Bob Mould

695. Girl On fire (Inferno Version) by Alicia Keys ft. Nicki Minaj

696. Madness by Muse

697. Morning Glory by Oasis

698. Headstrong by Trapt

699. No Church In The Wild by Jay Z & Kanye West

700. Release by Timbaland ft Justin Timberlake

701. Too Close by Alex Clare

702. Feed the Machine by Red

703. Geek U.S.A. by Smashing Pumpkins

704. You’re Going Down by Sick Puppies

705. North American Scum by LCD Soundsystem

706. City Of Blinding Lights by U2

707. Just Can’t Get Enough by Depeche Mode

Another 101 Running Songs…

If you’re counting, this takes our total up to 404 running songs. In the near future, I will consolidate the lists for your convenience.  Keep the suggestions coming!

304. Runaway by Imperial Teen

305. Run This Town by Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

306. I Just Wanna Run by The Downtown Fiction

307. Walk by Foo Fighters

308. Breathe by The Prodigy

309. Heart of a Champion by Nelly

310. Twilight Zone by Golden Earring

311. We Are Young by Fun

312. Heavy Light by Dr. Dog

313. Keepsake by Bettie Serveert

314. Firecracker by Ryan Adams

315. Cannonball by The Breeders

316. First Light by My Morning Jacket

317. Lonely Boy by The Black Keys

318. Get Innocuous by LCD Soundsystem

319. Bastards of Young by The Replacements

320. Christian Street by Marah

321. All of Me by Tanlines

322. Wild Ones by Flo Rida (Featuring Sia)

323. Hey Man Nice Shot by Filter

324. Animal by Neon Trees

325. Vampire Lake by The Builders and the Butchers

326. Rock Box by Run DMC

327. ‘92 Subaru by Fountains of Wayne

328. Outta Love Again by Van Halen

329. I Ran by Ska Rangers

330. Hunted Down by Soundgarden

331. I Can Talk by Two Door Cinema Club

332. Crawling by Linkin Park

333. Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

334. Helpless by Metallica

335. Timothy Leary by Guster

336. Mountain Sound by Of Monsters and Men

337. Smokin’ by Boston

338. Life In The Fast Lane by The Eagles

339. You’re All That I Have by Snow Patrol

340. Still Can’t Get Enough by The Alternate Routes

341. A Sort of Homecoming by U2

342. Edge of a Dream by Joe Cocker

343. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

344. China Grove by Doobie Brothers

345. Sole Survivor by Asia

346. Fighter by Christina Aguilara

347. In God’s Country by U2

348. The Day That Never Comes by Metallica

349. You’re Crazy by Guns n Roses

350. Good Feeling by Flo Rida

351. No Sunlight by Death Cab for Cutie

352. One, Two, Three, Go! by Belanova

353. New Sensation by INXS

354. Down With The Sickness by Disturbed

355. Come Sail Away by Styx

356. Lampshade by Fielding

357. It’s All Downhill From Here by Scout

358. Going On by Gnarls Barkley

359. I’m Alive by The Hooters

360. The Shock of the Lightning by Oasis

361. Instant Karma (We All Shine On) by John Lennon

362. Never Miss A Beat by Kaiser Chiefs

363. Runaway Car by Mat Kearney

364. Starting by Matt Pond PA

365. Winning by Santana

366. Rock You Like a Hurricane by Scorpions

367. Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups

368. One Simple Thing by Stablizers

369. Chariots of Fire (Theme) by Vangelis

370. Starry Eyes by Too Much Joy

371. Can I Kick It? by A Tribe Called Quest

372. Wire by U2

373. Light Up The Sky by Yellowcard

374. Go Go Go by The 88

375. Two Sides by Youth Group

376. I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab For Cutie

377. A Million Miles Away by The Plimsouls

378. Head On by The Jesus & Mary Chain

379. No Such Thing by John Mayer

380. Rockin’ In The Free World by Neil Young

381. Woman by Wolfmother

382. Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen

383. TNT by AC/DC

384. Crash ’95 Mix by The Primitives

385. Run With The Pack by Bad Company

386. Your Savior by Temple of the Dog

387. That’s It That’s All by Beastie Boys

388. Rockin’ the Suburbs by Ben Folds

389. Re-Feel-It by Bettie Serveert

390. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) – Live Version by Billy Joel

391. I”m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You by Black Kids

392. Foreplay / Long Time by Boston

393. Dream Police by Cheap Trick

394. Point #1 by Chevelle

395. Wild Flower by The Cult

396. Soldiers by Drowning Pool

397. Lips Like Sugar by Echo & The Bunnymen

398. Jungle Love by Steve Miller Band

399. Magnificent by U2

400. Bring Me To Life by Evanescence

401. Deeper and Deeper by The Fixx

402. Let’s Go Crazy by Prince & the Revolution

403. The Fox by Niki & the Dove

404. Kings and Queens by 30 Seconds to Mars

The Race Photo

(This is for everyone except “Ridiculously Photogenic Guy.”)…

Don’t get your hopes up. It’s not going to be pretty.

After certain races that have professional photography, we eagerly await the photo(s), most of which are finish line shots.  Let’s face it, we’re not feeling our best at the finish line.  When we’re not feeling our best, we’re usually not looking our best.

Tongues are out, mouths are wide open. Our expressions are often a cross between Napoleon Dynamite and The Exorcist.  Sometimes our arms are flailing, or it looks like we’re walking (or worse: the Hunchback of Notre Dame). Let’s not forget, we’re usually a sweaty mess too.

Yet we get excited to see the shots. Why? Because we just accomplished something important to us.  Those photographs are a memento of our accomplishment.  The photo captures our struggle, our tears of joy and our relief that “Yes, we did it!”

Sometimes, it can capture our disgust after a disappointing race, but hey, a finish is still a finish.  Other times, we share the camera with a random, shirtless guy.  You know: the guy that should NOT be shirtless.

Does the race photo capture our best-looking moments?  Probably not; however, the race photo often captures our proudest moments.

So, the next time you cross the finish line, whether you raise your hands/do a fist pump in triumph, or if you collapse to your knees from exhaustion, remember the camera is clicking.

Don’t plan on adding that race photo to your modeling portfolio.  It will make your driver’s license picture look amazing (well, we usually do get a 2nd chance or a “do-over” at the Department of Motor Vehicles).

Ugh

However, plan on ordering that race photo with pride.  After all, you just did something amazing!

(topic inspired by

Race Report: Caesar Rodney Half Marathon 2012

Another Half in the books.  I’m not even sure how many that makes. I don’t count anymore. Yesterday’s Caesar Rodney Half Marathon in Wilmington, Delaware was my first Half (at my pace) in eighteen months, and my brain knew it.

Despite the drizzle, I was happy to be at the starting line, especially considering the previous two weeks I had been sick (bronchitis).

Mystery 1: After the heart-stopping cannon sounded the start of the race, the question was: “How would my breathing be after being sick?”

Mystery 2: “How is my current  ‘Mental Endurance’ for a race at this distance?”

Well, it turned out my breathing held up for the most part. My Mental Endurance, on the other hand, only made it about 10 miles.  My brain needs to get back into “longer race” shape.  The only way to address this is to race more.

The Caesar Rodney is a tough Half course. The first 5+ miles are either downhill or flat. These miles showcase the redevelopment along the Wilmington Waterfront. It is very easy to go out too fast, which is probably what I did for the shape I am in right now (6:30 / mile average through Mile 5).  This is an issue, especially if one is not prepared for the series of hills, which includes a seemingly endless 2.8 mile ascent beginning around Mile 6 (Miles 6 to 8.8). When you begin the ascent, your pace is challenged in a big way, especially if you aren’t with a pack.

At this point, I was fortunate enough to lock on to a fellow runner. We made the ascent together. The pace slowed to 7:00-7:15 pace; not too bad. Essentially, this got me to the 9 mile mark. I thought: “I’m in the clear! Except for the uphill finish, the rest of the race is downhill!”…so I thought.

Well, changes were made to the course (Miles 9+ to 11). The good news: it was generally flat.  The bad news: I wasn’t mentally ready for this change. I kept waiting for the payoff of the “downhill” to begin, and it came later than it usually does for this race. At the same time, my body was fatiguing from my lack of activity during the previous two weeks, and my mind was fatiguing from my lack of recent racing at this distance.  My pace slowed, but I gutted out the rest of the race.

The finish is a grueling ¼ mile uphill. My legs felt like lead, but I crossed the finish line (1:28:40); 5+ minutes slower than my Course Best, but satisfying considering, in the few days prior, I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to run the race.

I am happy to be back at racing, even though I’m not quite fully there yet (I’m sure my finish line photo will be scary/funny). All in all, it was a good dress-rehearsal for the St. Luke’s Half in Allentown on 4/29.

REALIZATION: I need to start doing push-ups again to strengthen my upper body. My arms were useless by the end, especially during the final uphill finish.  Push-ups have helped me in the past, and they will help again.

FUN FACT: In 1776, Caesar Rodney rode from Delaware to Philadelphia to cast the deciding vote in favor of moving forward with the Declaration of Independence!

AMAZING COINCIDENCE: Here is a crazy cool coincidence: A person I Follow on Twitter (and Follows me), , also ran the Caesar Rodney yesterday.  Of the 1,405 finishers, we placed next to each other.  We had no idea until after the fact…Check this out:

The Race T-Shirt: Our favorite Swag (Usually)

Before we ever run a race, we decide to take up running. Sometimes we take up running BECAUSE we want to run a particular race. Others simply want to get in some kind of shape.  Whatever the reasons, we make the courageous decision to take the first step.

John “The Penquin” Bingham says it best:

The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.

When it does come to our first race though, we learn quickly about one of the perks: The Race T-Shirt!  It is an exciting piece of runner’s swag in our Goodie Bags. It can be short sleeved or long sleeved. It can have a “mock” turtle neck like the Marine Corps Marathon shirt. It can even be a vest, which is what they gave out one year at the St Luke’s Half Marathon.

In the past, the shirts were cotton, but now most are “technical shirts.” Sometimes I miss the cotton because I cannot wear technical shirts when I am not running (my “Runner’s Odor” sticks to them no matter how much I wash them).  However, technical shirts are great to use for future runs or races.

When I first raced again as an adult, I wore my race t-shirts with pride (still do I guess). Of course, I wore them AFTER I completed the race. I have always felt that I do not deserve to wear the shirt until I have officially earned it. Some newbies get so excited that they like to wear the race t-shirt IN the actual race in which they are competing. This is not the best thing to do if the shirt is cotton!  Plus, there is an unwritten rule that this is a no-no. My wife would say it could jinx you if you wear the race shirt of the race in the race.

Over the years, we can accumulate a ton of race day t-shirts. Running veterans have drawers full of them.  We give our spouses strange looks when they deem it’s “time”  for us to purge some to make room for new ones. We agonize over which ones to keep or not. I save some to “throw away” near the starting line of colder weather races.

Sometimes, we get disappointed if we look into our race bags and see a shirt we don’t like.  Some are a color we aren’t into. Others have so many sponsors, it’s hard to figure out which race it even is.  We eventually get over it because we will get another shirt at the next race.

These shirts become symbols of our effort and accomplishments. They can even intimidate. We have all seen the guy at the local race wearing his Boston Marathon t-shirt with pride. For the other runners, it is a signal that “Oh crap, that guy is fast.” The “psych-out” has begun!  It’s true: the Boston shirt gets longer stares.

However, they are also a way to temporarily bond with someone we do not know.  We’ve all seen strangers with an old shirt from the same race we have done too.  The shirts are a badge of honor that connect us: “Hey, nice shirt. That was a great race, wasn’t it?”

Race t-shirts become sentimental.  Just the other day, I had on my “fraying” yellow Philadelphia Marathon shirt (from 2001). I will wear this one until it disintegrates because it was the shirt for my first marathon.

Even though it’s nearly impossible to keep EVERY race t-shirt, they really are a great way to keep track of the history of our races.  Sure, the medals are nice, but we can’t wear them years later. I would get some pretty strange looks if I still wore my medal from the 2006 NYC Marathon, wouldn’t I?

 

Add These 101 Songs To Your Running Playlist…

Based on your feedback and digging further into my iPod library, here are another 101 running songs for you. This brings the total up to 303 songs!! Enjoy the running and enjoy the music!

203. The Revolution Starts… by Steve Earle

204. Stop by Jane’s Addiction

205. I’m Not Afraid by Eminem

206. Monkey Wrench by Foo Fighters

207. The Story Of My Life by Social Distortion

208. Paradise City by Guns n Roses

209. Vertigo by U2

210. Orange Crush by R.E.M.

211. Number 1 by Goldfrapp

212. The Resistance by Muse

213. Hey Ya! by OutKast

214. Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty

215. Ready To Go by Republica

216. White Trash Wedding by Dixie Chicks

217. Grey Cell Green by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin

218. Night on Fire by VHS or Beta

219. There’s No Other Way by Blur

220. 21 Guns by Green Day

221. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

222. Faster by Matt Nathanson

223. Stadium Love by Metric

224. Represent by Weezer

225. Unstoppable by Santigold

226. Are You Gonna Go My Way? by Lenny Kravitz

227. Tick Tick Boom by The Hives

228. Get Free by The Vines

229. Last Nite by The Strokes

230. Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet

231. I’d Run Away by The Jayhawks

232. These Are Things by Wheat

233. Last Light by Matt Pond PA

234. Trailways by Josh Joplin Group

235. When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around by The Police

236. Steve McQueen by Sheryl Crow

237. (Hey Man) Now You’re Really Living by Eels

238. Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root

239. Kickstart My Heart by Motley Crue

240. Eyes Wide Open by Gotye

241. Master of Puppets by Metallica

242. Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden

243. Bleed It Out by Linkin Park

244. Uprising by Muse

245. Sympathy for the Devil (cover) by Guns n Roses

246. (Pride) In The Name of Love (Live –  Rattle & Hum) by U2

247. This Is War by 30 Seconds To Mars

248. Rumor Has It by Adele

249. Rearviewmirror by Pearl Jam

250. I Want It All by Queen

251. Back To Me by Kathleen Edwards

252. Renegade by Styx

253. Please Forgive Me by David Gray

254. Time For Me To Fly by REO Speedwagon

255. This Is It by Kenny Loggins

256. Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5

257. Long Long Way From Home by Foreigner

258. Pleasure by The Soup Dragons

259. All Day and All of the Night (LIVE) by The Kinks

260. The Frog Prince by Keane

261. Moneygrabber by Fitz & the Tantrums

262. Slide Away by Oasis

263. Four Kicks by Kings of Leon

264. Gimme Sympathy by Metric

265. Turn It On Again (LIVE) by Genesis

266. My Hero by Foo Fighters

267. Magic Power by Triumph

268. Stockholm Syndrome by Muse

269. Invincible by Pat Benatar

270. All At Once by The Fray

271. Hang ‘Em High by Van Halen

272. Ecstasy by Rusted Root

273. Here It Goes Again by OK Go

274. How You Like Me Now? by The Heavy

275. Killing In The Name Of by Rage Against The Machine

276. Marathon by Rush

277. I Belong In Your Arms by Chairlift

278. Shimmer by Fuel

279. All Over You by Live

280. Live Wire by Motley Crue

281. 1901 by Phoenix

282. Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

283. In The End by Linkin Park

284. Bad Reputation by Joan Jett

285. I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge

286. Hit The Ground by The Big Pink

287. Marathon Runner by Yellow Ostrich

288. Push It by Garbage

289. These Days by Dr. Dog

290. Learning To Fly by Tom Petty

291. Down by 311

292. Walk On by U2

293. Give Me Everything by Pitbull

294. Keep Hope Alive by the Crystal Method

295. Run by Collective Soul

296. Speed of Sound by Coldplay

297. Save Me San Francisco by Train

298. I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls

299. Jai Ho by A.R. Rahman

300. Surrender by Angels and Airwaves

301. A/B Machines by Sleigh Bells

302. Stronger by Kanye West (w Daft Punk)

303. Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones

Less of a Runner?

This question comes up once in a while on Facebook or Twitter:

What is on your running playlist?

People join in with their choices, from Hip Hop to Heavy Metal, Electronica to Alternative, and yes, the Rocky theme. In addition, someone inevitably chimes in with:

DONT RUN WITH MUSIC!!!!!! You miss too much around you” or

You’re less of a runner if you listen to music while running.”

I laugh at the prospect that listening to music during runs makes someone less of a runner. If I wear Under Armour or gloves in the winter, am I less of a runner? Heck, if I wear running sneakers, am I relying on the cushioning too much? If I take “Gu” during a race, am I cheating?  Does a Garmin give someone an unfair advantage?

I respect those who don’t use music while running, but to insinuate that one is not a true runner if they use music is silly.  I understand that on social media platforms, this will usually be mentioned (just like “running is bad for your knees” usually gets mentioned. This was recently discussed in a Runner’s World piece).

Personally, I only run once per week to music.  Yes, sometimes the quiet is better. Sometimes the sounds of nature are a good soundtrack to our runs; however, if the mood is right, the combination of running with music can be very rewarding.

Some say there is the possibility of becoming “over-reliant” on using MP3 players, iPods, etc. Use of such devices is even banned from some races, despite the fact that many of these events boast of the number of live acts or bands along the race course. These same races have “pump up” music at the start and finish areas. Isn’t the most popular ‘brand’ of race “Rock n Roll?”

Others worry about safety (not hearing traffic, other runners or potential predators).  These are legitimate concerns, but, no, listening to music while running does not make us less pure as runners. 

At the end of the day, it’s about the run.  So, let’s lighten up and enjoy it (and enjoy the music if you choose to use it!)

Road Test: “Run Run Run” by The Explorers Club…

Run run run, do what I have to do…”

Runner’s World posed another question whether the following song could be a new tune to run to: “Run Run Run” by The Explorers Club.  After my “Road Test” this weekend, the answer is NO. To be fair, I’ll briefly describe the song, which is a perfectly nice, simple number.

If Tom Jones and The Beach Boys mated, “Run Run Run” would be the offspring. It is the perfect tune for a game show or a lounge act in Vegas, but it’s not perfect for a run.

The theme itself is inspiring: A person’s determination to get back together with a loved one. It’s about someone willing to travel far for another in an “absence makes the heart grow fonder” kind of way.

I’ll get across the distance somehowAnd I’ll run run run ‘til I get back to you.

Inspiring theme for the romantic, no?  However, its delivery projects an image of Wayne Newton singing, not of Cam Newton running. During my weekend long run, the song was playing as I was passing in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but it didn’t inspire me to run up the “Rocky” steps.

“Run Run Run” made me want to crank “Run Right Back” by The Black Keys, a song with a related theme (sort of), but one that will get you running faster.

Now, if you want a good chuckle while running (to test your breathing), then this is the tune for you!

GRADE: .5 WINGS (out of 5)

DISCLAIMER: I am only reviewing this song as a “Running Song,” not as a “good song.” I’ll leave the “good” part up to you.

Running With My Ears…

If I don’t shake your hand, it’s not because I’m rude, it’s because I probably can’t see your hand as you’re extending it.  If you try to hand me something, and I don’t take it, it’s not because I’m ignoring you, it’s because I can’t see that you are handing me something.

When I was younger, I was a klutz (still am), and, until a few years ago, I didn’t know why. At first, I thought it was because I’m left-handed. Lefties are notorious klutzes. However, here’s the real reason why: I have what is known as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), which is a degeneration of the retina.

Symptoms of RP include tunnel vision, bad night vision and in some cases, poor “central” vision.   Long story short: My field of vision stinks.  I trip over EVERYTHING, especially small children in crowded places. I apologize to your kids ahead of time.

Being a runner (heck, even a walker), RP has posed some challenges. My shins are usually bruised or scabbed.  The most painful object I have run into so far has been a fire hydrant.  I did this during my first group run with a local running club (slightly embarrassing, but more painful than anything…OK, very embarrassing).

Many of you might have had someone accidentally bump into you during a race. Some do it because they are jockeying for position, being aggressive, impatient, etc.  I do it because I can’t always see that you are there (OK, sometimes I’m jockeying for position too).

Despite the added challenges, I have made it my mission not to let this “annoying” condition affect me, or any aspect of my running.  Well, it affects my running a little bit, but not enough to stop me.  I will say that I am most anxious about RP when a race is about to start (as if I’m not nervous enough for the race itself).  I worry about tripping and falling, but more so, I worry about tripping someone else.  Therefore, if it is crowded at the start, I will go out slightly slower than I used to, especially in longer races.

I have learned to live with RP. One of the techniques I have come to rely on is “scanning” which involves not only moving my eyes to see things, but moving my entire head with my eyes.  It’s often difficult to remember this trick, especially when running, so I utilize some of my other senses to assist me, especially my keen sense of hearing.

My ears help me when my eyes cannot.  For example,  I listen for the sound of another runner’s stride or their breathing to judge how far away they might be.  If I’m training on the road, I’ll listen for cars in addition to “scanning” for them.  It’s common sense, survival-type of stuff.

Thank goodness for my ears. This could explain my love for music; however, at the same time, I have had to limit the use of running with music, partially because of RP. As much as I love running to music, I need to concentrate on what’s around me.  This is ironic, given the name of my blog.

I have been fortunate that RP has not significantly affected my functioning or my racing yet.  The only time I noticed my limitations while racing has been during the Disney Marathon, in which a portion of the race is carried out in the dark.  Darkness is not kind to me.  For that race, my wife was my eyes (although darkness is darkness…and she struggled with that at Disney too!).

I’m fine with all of the above.  Thankfully, RP doesn’t affect my ability to do my job.  I count my blessings, and I understand many others have it MUCH worse than me.

I’ll keep running, but, as I mentioned, I am conservative at the start of a race.  Don’t feel sorry for me because I’ll eventually pass you (and I’ll try not to bump into you while doing so).

Top 10 Reasons I Love Running…

Here it goes…

I love running…

10. …because I’d rather spend $150 on race fees than for an hour with a therapist.

9.  …because nobody can get to me during a run.

8.  …so I can indulge on Philly pretzels once in a while.

7.  …because the “run” itself is so pure and fun.

6.  …to be around other runners, one of the friendliest collection of people in the world.

5.  …because it helps me with my confidence level, and carries over to the other things that I do.

4.  …because it helps me come out of my shell.

3.  …because I can.

2.  …because it brings me closer to my wife.

1.  …because I don’t need a reason to run.

I probably have 100 more reasons, but I will spare you.