What’s on your playlist?

by Todd Foley

Today’s post is a complete departure from anything related to writing or editing.

Here’s the deal: I have hated running for most of my [very short] adult life. My shins would burn for days on end after a jog. After finally caving and purchasing a pair of actual running shoes, I have found a sense of enjoyment in the act. I’ve got three 5k races to my name and am participating in two 10k races this month. The first is on April 15, the Vancouver Sun Run. Nearly 50,000 participants registered each year, making it the largest 10k race in Canada and the second-largest in the world.

Needless to say, I need to practice.

When I’m not running with my wife or my friend, I’ll put the iPod on shuffle and find songs that boost my energy. Here are some of my favorite tunes. Don’t judge – remember that I’m looking for energy, and sometimes that can include guilty pleasures. 🙂

Dead Or Alive “You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)”
[My all-time favorite 80’s track.]

Janelle Monae “Tightrope (Feat. Big Boi)”
[Hard to not dance to this one.]

Thousand Foot Krutch “E For Extinction”
[Gives me that boost of testosterone.]

Britney Spears “Till The World Ends”
[Nothing like an end-of-days four-on-the-floor romp.]

Anberlin “Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights)”
[Brings along some introspection.]

Nicki Minaj “Super bass”
[My goal is to actually understand the lyrics by the end of the year.]

Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock “It Takes Two To Make A Thing Go Right”
[HIT IT!]

TobyMac “Hey Devil”
[Still culturally relevant after 20+ years of CCM.]

Stevie Nicks “Edge Of Seventeen”
[I imagine that I’m beating the white-winged dove in a race. Sometimes I win.]

Kelly Clarkson “Whyyawannabringmedown”
[My Top 40 sweetheart…such an angry sweetheart!]

Chromeo “Hot Mess”
[Absolutely love these synths.]

Pink “U + Ur Hand”
[Yes, I fully appreciate this girl anthem.]

Trapt “Headstrong”
[Again, a little testosterone boost.]

Madonna “Papa Don’t Preach”
[Good old stick-it-to-the-man ditty.]

Nsync “Pop”
[Back in the day when Top 40 pop was actually fun.]

Robyn “Dancing On My Own”
[Such an underrated talent, yet she keeps dancing – and I keep running.]

What’s on your running playlist?