Prelude to a Big Break

Me and my Mom. 400m left in a marathon.

I’ve gotten a bunch of emails asking me what music I listen to when I run.  That’s a complicated question.

My running playlist builds organically and it’s usually littered with songs people would describe as A. somewhat melancholy, B. profoundly inappropriate for running, C. confusing and, D. awesome.

For example, I love listening to John Mayer when I run.  Cheesy John Mayer.  Something’s Missing John Mayer. Does that make sense?  Of course not.

Conversely, it doesn’t get any better than Pela pulverizing their instruments with Waiting on the Stairs.  If I was ever contracted to lift a small vehicle, I’d want this song to be playing (preferably with the lead singer belting out the lyrics 3 feet behind me).

Quick aside: I just went to check out the blog for these guys and there’s a post (from 4 days ago) saying they’ve called it quits.  Here’s a backstage video of Billy McCarthy ripping off one of the great running songs of the past 5 years.

There’s an inexact science behind the maturation of a running song for me.  I’ll load my playlist with a bunch of contenders (around 20 songs).  Then I’ll let the playlist go on random for a run.  Inevitably, a certain song will fire up at precisely the right moment and then it’s in my rotation for the next four months.

Some examples:

• Control (Live) by Mute Math
• Beat It ft. Kid Cudi by Michael Jackson & Cookin Soul
• Halloween Head by Ryan Adams
• Wolves (Live) by Bon Iver — Spectacular.
• See You in My Nightmares Part 2 (Feat. Lil Wayne) by Kanye West
• Home by Marc Broussard
• California by Phantom Planet
• Amazing Because It Is by The Almost

That last song is like instrumental methamphetamine.

Here’s a live acoustic version.  Give yourself a little bit of room to run wind sprints just in case:

Really, this is a perfectly designed run song for me.

1. There ’s a slow build throughout the song.
2. I have a profound emotional relationship with the song Amazing Grace.  If this song was ever remixed with bagpipes I’d probably start taking in homeless people as an emergency release for my heart.
3. Look at the guy singing.  Really look at him.  I need to track him down when he gets out to LA and buy him a Miller High Life.

One more thing…

Happy Birthday to my Mom.  This Sunday, at age dsfdjofdafsdlfa, she’s running her first marathon.

My advice to her – which I will also pass along over the phone like a good son: When you get to the last stretch of the race, turn off your music, take out your earphones and listen to everything around you.  It’s the sound of real accomplishment.

Good luck.