The scene: Ali’s apartment. 5 am Wednesday morning. The window is open, letting a brisk breeze into the bedroom. (I say “bedroom” as if there’s more than one room in my apartment, but let’s get real here, it’s a studio, and my “bedroom” is just the side of the room the bed happens to be in.) Ali is warm under the covers. Ali hits snooze several times. Finally it is 5:30 am, and Ali knows she must get up. Brian, however, does not seem to be moving.
Ali: Good morning! I’m going running.
Coach Brian: OK.
Ali: You can keep sleeping.
Coach Brian: OK.
Ali: I’m going running…
Coach Brian: How many miles?
Ali: I don’t know. Probably five?
Coach Brian: That’s too many.
Ali: OK. Four?
Coach Brian: Go slow.
Ali: OK.
Coach Brian: GO SLOW.
End scene.
So this morning, thanks to very strict instructions from my “coach” (Coach Cane, I miss you so much), I ran four very, very, very slow miles in Central Park.
I wore a hair scrunchie and a hot pink top, hot pink shorts and pink leg warmers. The only place I broke a sweat was in the creases of my elbows. I took this run very easy and not at all seriously.
See how good I am at tapering? Las Vegas, you should be afraid. I’m going to crush you so hard.
I hope.
Hey remember that time I was having a Crohn’s flare? Haha. What a distant memory.
But really, I’m loving going for regular runs and not having to stop to use the bathroom. My life is much easier and I save a lot of time in the morning. I’m a fan. A fan with major steroid face, but a fan none the less.
In addition to complying with my easy-workouts-only plan for the week leading up to the Las Vegas Half Marathon, I’m also trying to be good about eating well, drinking a shit-ton of water (I pee about twice every hour, in case you were wondering, and no, that’s not really an exaggeration) and getting plenty of sleep.
I will sleep anywhere. Try me.
I mentioned yesterday that my Race Day Playlist is ready to go. I’ll share it, because I know you’re curious about just how many Celine Dion songs made it onto the mix. (Spoiler Alert: only two.)
I’ve got all my regulars on there, like the standard Britney and Lady Gaga tunes. But you’ll also notice some new songs that I’m pumped about, most notably some stuff by my friend Pitbull.
Confession: We’re not really friends. Bummer. But I like his music for running, and both “International Love” and “I Like How It Feels” (co-starring Enrique Iglesias, who is a handsome devil) make me excited about reaching a finish line.
So there you go. The playlist is 1.8 hours long, which means that if I run out of songs, I didn’t PR.
ANYTHING TO ADD? What song gets you to the finish line when you need a little extra push? I know the most popular answer will probably be “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” by my girl Celine, but try to get creative here, OK?
59 Responses
how do you have “brand new day” but not “ease on down the road”?? i freaking love running to that song and it’s a good reminder to take it easy for a couple of steps 🙂 plus there are like four reprises in the show so lots of options.
Love your playlist!! Good Luck on your PR. I am running it too, so excited, I will look for your legwarmers:)
Great playlist! I have both ‘Remember the Name’ and ‘Without U’ on my latest running list. I also recommend Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love’. But the one song that normally makes me pick my shit up is Moby’s ‘Lift me up’. So good.
I am already looking firward to your race recap! So glad I am not the only one who creates a playlist by a PR time! It pushes me!
My powersong is Til I Collapse by Eminem! Good luck this weekend!!
At the moment I pump out Coldplay ‘Paradise’ and Lady Gaga ‘Marry the night’ to keep me going at the end of my runs. An old favourite is Florence and the Machine- ‘Dog days are over’ and Katy Perry ‘Firework’. always looking for running classics to add to the playlist.
“We’re All In This Together” – High School Musical
You’ll thank me later.
No Andy Grammer? WHAT?
Lunatic.
Keep Your Head Up.
Add them.
Omg pitbull is also a new friend of mine. He is a fixture in all new workout mixes and my friend and I joke about inviting him to our dance parties.
…. That’s normal right? Ok good.
Good luck in Vegas! Kick some serious butt!
Nothing to add, just put The Edge of Glory on repeat! That’s what I’d do – it pumped me up before the disaster that was the NYC marathon this year 🙂 Also, 99 Problems always makes me feel kind of bad ass. You are going to kill it! AND, I MISS RUNNING WITH YOU. And you in general.
My current favorite running song is: Pitbull and J Lo’s “on the floor”
I like “Blackjack” by Dave Matthews Band…”Save Me San Francisco” by Train…”The World Should Revolve Around Me” by Little Jackie…”What the Hell” by Avril Lavigne (random, haha) and “You Be Killen ‘Em” by Fabolous (it pumps me up! haha) I’m fairly embarrassed by my running playlists but ohhhhh well!
You just reminded me that I need to download Glee’s version of Rumor Has It. Like, now.
I love me some “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse. Gets. Me. Pumped. It also gets me dancing—while running—which I guess it kind of a problem.
I love your blog! And what amazes me is how many of those songs are on my running playlist… though I’ve got a bit of ACDC, example and tinie temper mixed in!
You MUST add Lady Gaga’s “Highway Unicorn”. It was written for the last miles of every race.
Thanks for sharing your playlist! The song that always helps me when I feel like I’m running out of energy is Florence+The Machine’s “Dog days are over”. Good luck for Vegas! 😀
Your chipmunk face is still skinnier than my normally fat face. I hate everything.
Some of my favorites
“Monster” by Kanye West
“Shipping out to Boston” By Drop Kick Murphys
“TimeBomb” by Beck
“Sexy and I know it” by LMFAO
+1 to Drop Kick Murphys
also a few good Flogging Molly songs:
Drunken Lullabies
Same Cruel Mistress
Celine and The Wiz. Perfection.
Hi Ali! I’ve been reading your blog for a while but never commented! I’m also a former dancer trying to channel my extra energy into running now (through a new years resolution I set on whim!) Not to be completely cheesy but you’re blog really gets me up and running (no pun intended) every morning! You’re such an inspiration! I think you are going to do amazing in your half this weekend!! (sidenote: I’m doing my first ever 10k on Sunday… so excited!)
I have a few songs on my running playlist that really pump me up!
I think someone already mentioned this one but Jai Ho (the pussycat dolls version) from Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack…
“No Sleep Tonight” by the Faders
“Starry Eyed” by Ellie Goulding
“Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” by Coldplay
“We Found Love” by Rihanna and Calvin Harris
“All Day” by Cody Simpson (so incredibly poppy!)
“Glad you came” by the Wanted
“Louder” (radio edit) by DJ Fresh… honestly if you were to add one song to your playlist, this is the one. It kicks you in the butt and just always gives me the extra push I need! It never fails! By the end of the song you will be soaring, I promise!
LOVE the Playlist!! I’m in the process of putting my marathon playlist together for this weekend too!
My fave running songs:
Shut Up and Drive – Rihanna
It Girl – Jason DiRulo
Start Me Up/Livin on a Prayer – Glee Cast
Failure’s Not Flattering – New Found Glory (when I need a pick me up)
Good Life – One Republic (hello finish line song!)
Run This Town – Rihanna
I have a few running playlists, and then I have my POWER SONGS playlist that is either for the end of the race or if I’m really dying at some point during. Highlights from that:
Britney Spears – Stronger
Daniel Powter – Had a Bad Day
Heather Small – Proud (“What have you done today to make you feel proud”)
Rascal Flatts – Where You Are (“I am on my way, you’re a mountain top… I’m a thirsty man, let me drink you in… all that I want is to be where you are!”)
Rascal Flatts – Stand (pretty much every lyric is awesome and fitting)
Hairspray – You Can’t Stop the Beat
Britney Spears – Gimme More (love finishing to this and pretending like I could run more even though I can’t)
Miley Cyrus – The Climb
Jack’s Mannequin – The Resolution (“I’m alive, I’m not looking for a witness, to know that I’ll survive”)
Madonna – Four Minutes (especially great when it comes on in the last 4 minutes of the race)
i def need to invest in an Ipod so i can create a race play list… when i do hard workouts, i put on the Black Eyed Peas station on my Pandora – “I Gotta Feeling” has been one of my favorites! But also a huge fan of Matchbox 20’s “How Far We’ve Come”
I can’t believe you didn’t include the classic “I like it” by Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull!! Fix this quick!! ;-P
I like “Run This Town” especially the part that goes “Victory’s within the mile/Almost there don’t give up now/Only thing that’s on my mind/Is who’s gonna run this town tonight.”
Good luck on Sunday!!
I’m breaking all sorts of silence this week and commenting on all the blogs I love so much finally! I love your playlist (and your view of New York! Jealous of you east coasters). I definitely rocked a LOT of Lady Gaga on my last marathon. And a LOT of Flo Rida. I personally love the song “Roll” and I don’t know why, but as soon as it came on, I broke into a huge cheesy grin and picked up the pace … then replayed it maybe 4 times! Another good one is Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin! Those are 2 of my staples. And some old school Nelly. Good Luck in Vegas!!! You will crush it!!
I have very similar convo’s with my BF.
Me: I need to run MORE
BF: UGGGGGHHHHHHHH!
Me: You just don’t understand I’m falling behind in training, I just know it.
BF: Just slow down, don’t get your panties in a twist.
Me: But I have to, I really truly believe I need to.
BF: UGGGGGHHHHHHHH!
🙂
Remember the name is the best work out song ever.
But I actually don’t run with music.
There were moments of GOLD (like a shiny medal) and there were flashes of light (like on the Vegas strip) … there were things we’d never do again, but then they’d always seem right (running marathons).. there were nights (mornings) of endless pleasures (long runs) that were more than any laws allowed…..
New fave (and embarrassing) running song: Sexy and I Know IT – LMAFO. Its so dumb, but it makes me run fast
agree’d, great song for the gym!
Pass At Me is a good one by your friend and mine, Mr. 305. I like a lot of fun, upbeat, somewhat explicit music though. 😀
Anything with David Guetta is a great running song. I think half of my songs on every race playlist has him featured in it. On the Dancefloor … Turn Me On … Who’s that Chick? … Little Bad Girl … When Love Takes Over … Sexy Bitch
ahh! “turn me on” is my new running jam too. love.
I am so with you on the Glee mashup. It’s been stuck in my head (in a good way, not earworm way) since I first heard it. I also love that you have a song from Legally Blonde – the Musical! I saw the show a few weeks ago and loved it.
Right now I am loving Freakshow by Britney, maybe not as much as a over the line push, but just ’cause it’s fun. ‘Cuz I Can by Pink is also good motivation. Lollipop by Mika is upbeat enough that you smile, which is another way to motivate. Extra motivating if you picture this version in your head – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snc6FvV35q0
+1 to Moves Like Jagger! That song rocks and always makes me run faster. 🙂
Favorite running songs are definitely B.O.B (Outkast), Telephone (Gaga/Beyonce), and Dog Days are Over (Florence & the Machine). If I start to feel tired, these songs never fail to pump me up.
Three cheers for a fellow Outkast fan!
I’m embarrassed to type this, but the song “Moves Like Jagger” is currently pushing me to the end of all my runs… WHY you ask? Well because I picture myself dancing to it with Derek Hough as my partner on Dancing with the Stars. I seriously need to be committed somewhere, because this infatuation I have for becoming famous enough to get on this show is never going to happen. Sigh.
Awesome playlist!!!!
I discovered this morning that “Do They Know It’s Christmas” is a great song to run to. I think it’s going to be my new power song. But it has to be the original Band Aid – not Band Aid 2. The distinction is important. Also, it transcends Christmas so don’t think you have to bust it out before 12/25.
I also would like to know more about the hot pink shorts.
Where’s a pic of the pink outfit???
I thought about heading to the reservoir this morning. Didn’t happen. I am intrigued by your hot pink shorts. Please provide more details.
We have similar taste in music. I love me some Pitbull too. Anything with a beat and pop-ish works for me.
One of my Pitbull faves is ‘Hey Baby’ w/ T-Pain, I also love Rihanna’s song ‘Rockstar’ and her new song ‘We Found Love’. I also agree w/ the comment above, LMFAO & David Guetta!
Oh & my spin teacher friend has this Drumline song I bet would be an awesome song to put on a running playlist! I will have to find the name of that song.
Yay! Thanks for posting! You were right, I am very pleased with the pop/show tunes representation. Good work. (I had a feeling that glee Adele mash up would make an appearance…)
My other get it done faves:
-don’t stop me now by queen: when they sing about being a shooting star and rocket ships t makes me want to leap. There’s even a quick pause which I think fits the leap perfectly…hypothetically speaking of course 😉
-the joseph and the amazing technicolor remix that’s found at the end of the soundtrack: it’s like 9 minutes long which means I cover almost a whole mile (you’d cover even more) but its changing rapidly and is fun so it’s the perfect distraction when you think ughhhh still so much more to go!by the time it’s done you’re much closer!
I love running playlists! When I made it to the finish line at my first half, “Check Yes, Juliet” by We The Kings came on right in time! It was a big surprise because I had my entire library on shuffle at the time and that was my favorite running tune! The chorus pushes me on with a kicky, peppy demand to “Run Baby Run!” It’s the best. Seriously.
It’s funny because my husband hates to run and he’s the one that introduced me to the song.
Currently, my go-to sounds are “Sexy & I Know It” (LMFAO), “Super Bass” (Nikki Manaj) and the “Rumor Has It/Someone Like You” mashup done by the Glee cast. And you won’t run out of songs.. PR!
xo Marie
Chocolate & Wine
I love to run to Britney!!
My favorites “pump you up” song is “The Final Countdown” by Europe. It’s a classic 80’s hairband song, but it really gets me through the last big push. Good luck in Las Vegas, I’m hoping to run the full there next year (my first marathon)
why was Brian at your apartment so early in the morning??
I am sure they were having a breakfast meeting 😉
I like that you timed it to know whether or not you hit your PR – great mix!
Kanye West “Power” AND Eminem “Lose Yourself.” I dig the rap yo 😉
When I started running a couple of years ago and was using the Noke running foot pod thing, my power song was Melissa Ethridge’s “Run for Life.” For a while, Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” got me going – just something about the beat. These days, Gaga’s “Edge of Glory” pushes me along.
By the way, I was catching up on my magazine reading and in the November issue of Runner’s World, the Life & Times column is entitled, “Must. Beat. Boyfriend.”. For some reason I thought of you. 🙂
That was supposed to be Nike – damn touch screen keyboard.
Ha, I love the convo recap with Brian this morning. So cute! You guys are so made for each other! Love your playlist…I would add LMFAO as one of my biggies to get me through – such fun songs. And David Guetta. Lots of David Guetta!
There are some good songs there! I love Pitbull!
I don’t run with music, I’m not sure that I ever will. I do sing songs in my head though sometimes while I’m running.
Jai Ho, Countdown, and that Glee mash-up = excellent choices!
My favorite running song at the moment, though, is the very aptly named “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce. If you haven’t heard it, then you’re missing out! It’s perfect.
oooh i JUST added I Like How It Feels last night to my playlist for running! How FUN is that song?
Only two? I don’t think we can still be friends. Look like someone else might deserve a slap in the face upon arrival in the V to the egas.