Born to Run

Marathon Man: Brother Bruce “Born to Run” Springsteen

As I crossed the finish line for my first half-marathon, Bruce Springsteen blared in my headphones as I employed one last burst of energy to bring my jelly legs up to a sprint. You try running 13.1 miles without Brother Bruce blessing your journey.

I wish I could tell you the iTunes shuffle function serendipitously led me to “Born to Run” – that Springsteen, by some cosmic force, was giving me that last little push I needed. (I swear I heard “Abby you were born to run” the first time.) Rather it was the cherry topper on a grander scheme: my carefully plotted playlist.

The two-hour block of songs was pinpointed to mile markers, compiled with just the right amount of campy workout cuts, jumpy electronics, and rock to pull me up the steepest hill and past the person in front of me. Studies have proved a link between working out with music and increased motivation. Aside from acting as a metronome for your pace, music keeps your mind off of your physical trials.

Even I get tired of listening to the same playlists run after run, so before this Sunday’s Capitol 10K, I rounded up and road tested some new songs. Here are some of my new go-to motivators along with old favorites. Put it on shuffle or listen to it straight – until the new Daft Punk album drops, that is.

“Entertainment,” Phoenix

“Borrowed Time,” Parquet Courts

“I Woke Up Today,” Port O’Brien

“Que Veux-tu” (Madeon remix), Yelle

“Promises,” Autre Ne Veut

“Helena Beat,” Foster the People

“Only the Horses,” Scissor Sisters

“Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra),” the Vaccines

“Ohm,” Yo La Tengo

“Billboard,” S-Type

“Unstoppable,” Santigold

“I’ll Be Alright,” Passion Pit

“Be Above It” (LY’s Get Above it 909 edit), Tame Impala