I like to turn it up to 11 as I finish. What? Tell me you haven't seen This is Spinal Tap? "When you need that extra push over the cliff, you know, we turn it up to 11...."~Nigel Tufnel.
Anyways....in my never-ending quest for the perfect motivational songs, I found 11 songs that I think would be the perfect finishers for a hard long distance race.
Baby I'm A Star--Prince
The purple one really blew me out of the water and across the finish line with this hit from his movie Purple Rain. Tell me you weren't tapping your foot while you listened just now!
Hallelujah-- Panic At the Disco
I finished one of my half marathons with this song playing and it could not have been more perfect. Simply because I was so glad to be done!
Pink-- Get This Party Started
One of Pink's first hits, this oldie but goodie was on my original iPod back in the day! It still sounds great as a finisher for a long race! She was such a baby in this video...
Katy Perry-- Roar
Who doesn't feel like roaring when crossing the finish line?
Imagine Dragons-- On Top of the World
I always feel like I'm on top of the world when I cross the finish line!
U2-- Beautiful Day
Everyday is a beautiful day when you're finishing a race!
Bachman Turner Overdrive--Takin' Care of Business
An oldie from the 1970s, the message never gets old.
Nelly--#1
"What does it take to be #1? 2 is not a winner and 3 nobody remembers.."
Journey-- Don't Stop Believing
Corny? Overused? Never.
Foo Fighters--My Hero
I first heard this song when my youngest played peewee football. The coach used it as the soundtrack to the season highlights video.
2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa-- We Own It
This is a perpetual favorite on my running playlists.
Country loving friends: I tried. I really tried to find a country song that could get me across the finish line. But the only one that came close was Tim McGraw's Truck Yeah and I just couldn't do it. I already featured Miranda Lambert's Fastest Girl in Town. Everything I found was too slow or about drinking, trucks, and guns....
Any suggestions? What songs do you like to finish with? Anything I should add to my playlist?
I'm linking up with Stef, Kim, and Janelle for Tunes Tuesday! I'm also linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patti for Tuesdays on the Run, and Debbie, Susie, Lora, and Rachel for Coaches Corner. Also with Annemarie, Jen, and Nicole for Wild Workout Wednesday!
I'm trying to remember the ones that have carried me into the finish. OK Go's Invincible is another good one!
ReplyDeleteThat's been on my playlist in the past!
DeleteThanks for linking up with us this week! I actually have all of these songs so I was nodding my head as I went through your list lol :)
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you have them all!
DeleteI no longer listen to music while I run (except on a treadmill) but I have had some of these songs on my marathon playlists in the past! It definitely helps give that extra push at the end when a motivational song comes on.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing better than running a marathon with one of these songs going through your head!
DeleteI'm a big believer on having a strong playlist to help motivate on long runs and races! I can't believe I don't have Nelly's #1! Beautiful Day is great, and yes Pink looks so young in that video!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us for Tunes Tuesday this week! :)
Oh that Nelly song is a perpetual favorite! If for nothing else, the lyrics alone will get you motivated!
DeleteI also have "don't stop believing" but I believe it's the Glee version..lol
ReplyDeleteOh no---nothing but the original for me!
DeleteI have most of these on my Ipod, too! How about One Republic's Counting Stars? That's a great "start line" song as well ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've had that one in the past too!
DeleteAll great choices! I stopped listening to music while running when I forgot to turn it on at the start of the 2013 Chicago Marathon and ran the entire thing with my buds in my ears but no music playing! I don't even listen during 'fun' runs anymore. I just listen to my own thoughts. And of course there's the safety issue...
ReplyDeleteSafety, schmafety....
DeleteYes, I've seen This is Spinal Tap. I have most of these but need to add a few. lately I've taken to listening to podcasts to change things up.
ReplyDeleteI should listen to podcasts, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I need to concentrate on my running.
DeleteI love Prince! That's a great one. In races I usually have music playing (in big marathons I don't) but I'm not really listening to it.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a good one? I haven't had Baby I'm a Star on the playlist for a long time!
DeleteI have most of these on my IPod too! Great song choices!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike!
DeleteLOVE Imagine Dragons and U2!!
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteRoar and We Own It are on my regular running list! My racing music, however, is pretty raunchy and dark, but that's what works for me on race day.
ReplyDeleteMy coach calls my running music "angry music", so once again, I think we have something in common.
DeleteThese are some great song choices! I don't listen to music while running but it was fun going through your playlist. I haven't heard some of these songs in a while. And I just so LOVE Prince!!
ReplyDeleteSince I do most of my running alone, music is essential, especially for the long runs!
DeleteTaking Care of Business and Don't Stop Believing are always on my playlist...just can't beat those oldies! I also love the them from Rocky to push me up a tough hill or through that inevitable "wall" :) Oh, and Eye of the Tiger too! I could go on and on..... but, I'll spare you!
ReplyDeleteDon't spare, share!
DeleteI love how music helps me pick up my pace but I never use it in races! I kind of wish I did for the extra push, especially at the end. Pink is usually on my playlist too- and Katy Perry... so many good options.
ReplyDeleteI almost always turn to my music to get me to the finish line!
DeleteGreat great songs! Nelly is one of my favorites for my running playlist!
ReplyDeleteHe's so talented!
DeleteI wrapped up creating my BB list, and added Don't Stop Believing. It's never corny when it's such a great song.
ReplyDeleteIt worked well for me when I ran Chicago the last time.
DeleteActually, I usually always run sans music. But, on a few of my long runs when I'm solo I love listening to BlackBerry Smoke! You should check them out - great band. Similar to Black Crowes. But, I do have to say Foo fighters are great too!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Blackberry Smoke--I need to check them out!
DeleteI love much of this playlist!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun list! I keep a running playlist with inspiring running songs and I'll have to add some of these! Thanks Wendy :-).
ReplyDeleteWhat do you like to listen to?
DeleteYou can't be the one and only, the late, great Prince. Or the cheese of "Don't Stop Believing." I have a Pink song on my i-pod, forgot the name but not this one. It's a goodie. Must add. Katy Perry, yes. All others are unknown by moi by I will check them.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, as I edge toward my first two miler in a long, long time (Friday, wish me luck?), I was supposed to to two 3/4 mile intervals. Lost in the music, I saw that I'd run a full mile. Coming back is slow going but it's going. For me, music always helps.
"We turn it up to 11," is part of the Ciampanelli family lexicon. Hilarious.
Music always helps. Yes, indeed! Turn it up to 11.
DeleteOf course I meant you can't BEAT the one and only Prince. :)
DeleteI like you playlist of old and new. Most of those are on my current list. I would add a little Brittney to the mix she always gets me going and old Rihanna.
ReplyDeleteI've had Britney on my list in the past, but you know I"m not a pop music person!
DeleteI love so many of these songs but the only time I listen to music while I'm running is if my book ends! Still, a great list!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to listen to a book or a podcast. I think that would involve too much concentration--I need to keep an eye on what my feet are doing!
DeleteThat's a fun list! You know I have never made a playlist- what? I need to get busy!
ReplyDeleteReally? What do you listen to?
DeleteGreat list! I downloaded Hallelujah and am listening to right now. My fave heavy-hitters to get me through tough moments are All I Do I Win, Centuries, The Distance, Dare by Gorillaz, Sing by Chemical Romance, Turn Down for What, and of course, Lose Yourself. My boys just love when I rap along with that one! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd now I need to link up with Tune Tuesday because I love this topic! :)
I put Sing on my playlist! I hadn't heard that one! Thank you.
DeleteSo many good ones! I'm always in need of some new tunes.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I like Spotify. I can always keep it fresh!
DeleteThe majority of my songs are from Christian artists. A couple of current favorites are TobyMac's "Move (Keep Walkin')" and "Feel It" and Mandisa's "Overcomer" and "Good Morning." I also listen to a lot of artists from the 70-80s - Sweet Comfort Band "Runnin' to Win" and #1 of all time "Long Distance Runner" by DeGarmo and Key. They all have great running beats.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Christian music person but I did have a Toby Mac song on my playlist--such motivating lyrics!
DeleteI remember I ran a half marathon a few years ago (actually, I was running it with my first flare up of plantar fasciitis). I was tooling along, doing my best, when I came upon my friend, running her first half. On a bad day, she is still twice as fast as me, but she was sick - had come down with some kind of tummy bug the night before and just wouldn't give up. I stayed with her for the last five miles of that race, and when we were about a mile out, we started signing ROAR at the top of our lungs. It was hilarious and wonderful all at once, and it really got us through the end.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I love the main theme of Rudy for the ends of hard runs. I'm a bit of an instrumentals lover.
Oh that song makes me cry--my youngest used to watch that movie on rewind when he was younger!
DeleteOF COURSE you had Journey on there. :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteRight?
DeleteI love Prince! Don't usually listen to music when I run but I do when I workout at the gym. Pitbull songs always make me want to push harder!
ReplyDeleteMr 309? I've had some of his tunes on past playlists!
DeleteI was just making my playlist for my race on Saturday! All awesome suggestions - definitely adding some of these to my list!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on Saturday! I hope some of these push you to a PR!
DeleteI am currently loving Panic at the Disco too. But my most favorite is the new Coldplay and Chainsmokers song: Something Just Like This
ReplyDeleteHymn for the Weekend is one of my new current faves!
DeleteI don't run with music (except on the treadmill) but Foot Fighters Hero is one of my fav songs. I have a whole extreme sports video planned in my head for it. The opening sequence starts with sky diving. And then I'm doing sick moves snowboarding. Can you tell that I planned this video while out on a long run and it was stuck in my head? Lol!
ReplyDeleteI love that you did that! I thought I was the only one who does things like that. The things we think about when we are running...
DeleteI love this assortment! Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way carried me through the last miles and the finish line (I listened on repeat) for my first Chicago Marathon and I still put it on every marathon playlist because it's such a great music memory
ReplyDeleteThat's such a good song. Certain songs carry such good race memories to me that they never leave my playlist.
Delete"My Body" by Young the Giant.
ReplyDelete" Animal" by Neon Trees. Two great tunes that always make me pick up my pace.
I ❤️ Journey too. They were my first ever concert experience. Never gets old.
Keep on fighting!!
I've had both of those on my playlist in the past! good choices!
DeleteGreat playlist. I very rarely run with music and almost never use it during races.
ReplyDeleteMy last couple of races have been music free. But it's nice to have it for that extra push!
DeleteI don't run with music anymore since I do 90% of my long runs with my BRF, and I will do the other 10% just listening to my surroundings and taking it all in. On the treadmill (where I do my mid-week runs due to time of day when I workout), I listen to audiobooks or podcasts. Back when I used to mostly do 5Ks for fun, I always ran with music. My all-time favorite, "kick ass and take names" songs are Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" and "Can't Hold Us Down"!
ReplyDeleteFighter is a perpetual favorite on my playlist!
Delete