The Power of the Playlist

Last night was cold and rainy night here in Victoria (it actually ended up snowing, ffs!) so I decided to invest $5.75 in the drop-in gym fee at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre. I hopped on the treadmill and turned my running playlist and started warming up.

I can’t run and listen to podcasts because it slows me down. I can’t listen to normal radio tunes because again, they slow me down. I prefer to run with music and I find it helps me get in the zone (and pace) much easier. Don’t worry, Dr. Jason Karp, I will make time for beautiful “Inner Runner” runs every now and then (If you haven’t read his book yet, what are you waiting for?) I spend my iTunes money on workout remixes and high bpm tracks to keep my pace where I want it. I have an abnormally high resting heart rate, (and yes I’ve seen a cardiologist and been exercising for years, so it’s just high and I deal with it), so I find using typical heart rate training suggestions and low bpm music doesn’t work for me.

I’m sure you’ve all experienced playlist magic whether it be calming tracks or upbeat party tracks designed to enhance or even create a specific mood. So why not apply it to your workouts? I have seen results connected to my running playlist choices. I remember running at least a one-minute faster 5k because of a high bpm track playlist. I also create a playlist for each event: I train and race with it.  I have my angry music (“Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit) for when I am running off an angry spell and my empowering tracks (“Magic: Dr. Pack Remix”) for when I want to boost my speed and feel stronger.

Music can motivate and inspire and even make you faster. I find it enhances the experience and I can’t help but sing along and sometimes I might even catch me dance a few steps. So, what’s on your powerful playlist?

My current running playlist is:

1. Bulletproof by La Roux
2. Magic Dr. Pack Remix
3. Animal Dr. Pack Remix
4. Fight Song Workout Mix
5. We Are Young (feat. Dr, Parck)
6. everybody Talks Dr. Pack Remix
7. Take On Me DeLorean Vocal Remix
8. Basket Case 170bmp Speedmaster mix
9. Downtown Workout Mix 130bpm
10. Little Know It All Sum 41 and Iggy Pop
11. Come On Eileen by Save Ferris
12. Castle on the Hill Sprint 135 bpm
13. Laura Palmer by Bastille
14. Locked Away Workout Mix 128bpm
15. Kalinka Sunrider Radio Edit
16. Warriors 166bpm Workout Remix