10k Playlist 2011 version

Some people don't need music to motivate themselves to run—particularly 2-year-olds. It's not always music, but I typically want some kind of motivation or distraction along with me, so I'm not constantly thinking about how far I've run, how out of shape I feel, how hard it is to breathe ..... Sometimes it's music, or podcasts, or audiobooks, or the dog. Just something to take my mind off the momentary pain, so I have a better chance of arriving at home feeling somewhat refreshed and glad I ran, instead of just tired.

Here's the music playlist I used while occasionally training for the 5k. I know I call it a 10k playlist; that's just because it's long enough that it could probably get you through a 10k. Some are old songs that have appeared on many of my old playlists, but some are new favorites. All of the links are to the albums at Amazon.

1. "How You Like Me Now" by The Heavy
2. "Percussion Gun" by White Rabbits
3. "Little Lion Man" Mumford & Sons
4. "The Charm" by Maps & Atlases
5. "Kick Drum Heart" by The Avett Brothers
6. "River, Sea, Ocean" by Badly Drawn Boy (This song is on pretty much every running list I have. This whole album, the About a Boy soundtrack, is fantastic for running, I think.)
7. "Tighten Up" by The Black Keys
8. "Winter 'o5" by Ra Ra Riot (This song is actually a little slow and melancholy for running, but I wanted a Ra Ra Riot song.)
9. "Pressure Point" by The Zutons
10. "Get Over It" by OK Go
11. "Flathead" by The Fratellis
12. "Ready to Start" by Arcade Fire
13. "Eight Days a Week" by the Beatles
14. "Hands Open" by Snow Patrol
15. "Need You Around" by The Smoking Popes
16. "The High Road" by Broken Bells
17. "Glamorous Glowing" by Cast Spells
18. "The Rockafeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim
19. "Bicycle vs. Car" by Bob Schneider
20. "Anna Sun" by Walk the Moon
21. "Writing to Reach You" by Travis
22. "Rolling in the Deep" Adele