There is nothing like training for a fall marathon to ruin your summer. You know what pairs nicely with a dry rosé? Shin splints.
I’ve run a lot of marathons, qualified for Boston five times, and never lost a toenail. #marathongoals. I tried to retire after Boston 2013, but those assholes decided to bring bombs to Boylston Street, and I got a lot of pressure (internal and external) to run Boston 2014. Blah blah blah closure. I hated every second of it, but I was able to muster a smile at the end.
I’ve been toying with the idea of running a marathon this fall, but every time I go over ten miles, my right knee says HARD PASS.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t plan a good running playlist for everyone else. Running is a good time to be alone in the quiet with your thoughts, or it’s a good time to be alone while blasting Britney Spears through your Bose earbuds. (The Bose earbuds are the best on the market in term of staying in your sweaty ears and giving you good sound quality. Trust.)
So get out there and rock out as you train for Chicago or New York or Twin Cities or Portland or Marine Corps. Have fun! Stay hydrated! Run like Phoebe!
Amy’s Running Mix
My Church by Maren Morris
I love doing my long runs on Sunday morning. I’m a recovered Southern Baptist, so while some of y’all are camped out in the church pews, I’ll be blowing snot rockets and drinking packets of Power Gel. The sidewalk, that’s my church.
Can I get a hallelujah
Can I get an amen
Feels like the Holy Ghost running through ya
When I play the highway FM
I find my soul revival
Singing every single verse
Yeah I guess that’s my church
Electric Love by Borns
This song that cool sonic thing I love. I don’t know what it’s called. Just listen.
And every night my mind is running around her
Thunder is getting louder and louder
Baby you’re like lightning in a bottle
I can’t let you go now that I got it
Me Too by Meghan Trainor
The shame I feel by loving this song. But you guys! This song is my summer jam!
What’s that icy thing hangin’ ’round my neck?
That’s gold, show me some respect
That gold is your finisher medal, bish! You earned it. And you didn’t poop your pants to get it! Okay, maybe you did. You are not the only one, I’m sure.
Could Have Been Me by The Struts
I wanna taste love and pain
Wanna feel pride and shame
I don’t wanna take my time
Don’t wanna waste one line
This can be your fall marathon anthem. Imagine the glory you will feel as that chick from Game of Thrones follows behind you ringing a bell. PRIDE. SHAME.
Ain’t Your Mamma by Jennifer Lopez
I’m literally someone’s mama. I’m a mamma who runs. Want to have time for proper marathon training? Employ a cleaning lady.
Rise by Katy Perry
The Rio Olympics are going to be an amazing disaster. But I’ll be dadgummed if I don’t love a good Olympic song.
Watch the video and get chills. It’s totally fine. It’s American!
Note Serena (the greatest athlete of all time) is at 2:08
Also, the marathoners are at 2:16. You win the Olympic marathon you get the medal AND your national anthem. I would die from the joy. I would also die from having to run a sub 6:00 mile.
Oh ye of so little faith
Don’t doubt it, don’t doubt it
Victory is in my veins
I know it, I know it
And I will not negotiate
I’ll fight it, I’ll fight it
I will transform…
Leave a Trace by CVRCHES
That beat. It will hypnotize you. And when you are at mile 18, sometimes you need to by hypnotized. Because you smell like a rotten milk and your inner thighs are chafed and stinging. Did I mention how sexy running is?
Solo Dancing by Indiana
I go dancing by myself
I go dancing with no one else
Solo dancing push me as I go
I run by myself because I have one speed with which I’m comfortable. Anything slower or faster hurts my body. I’m not an introvert, my knee is.
Unstoppable by Sia
ESPN used this song in its coverage of Wimbledon. Smart choice. Who doesn’t love Sia saying you are unstoppable over and over again? Plus this song sounds nearly identical to “Alive” so it’s like two Sia songs in one.
Try Everything by Shakira
As I mentioned above, I’m a mom. Which means I have seen Zootopia about 713 times in 2016.
It has a great “You can do anything!” anthem for our daughters that we can co-opt for ourselves.
I won’t give up, no I won’t give in
‘Til I reach the end and then I’ll start again
No I won’t leave, I wanna try everything
I wanna try even though I could fail
Good Grief by Bastille
This song reminds me of my 80s childhood. The glory days when my body didn’t hurt because I was watching Family Ties and drinking Pepsi Free instead of running 50+ miles a week.
Youth by Troye Sivan
Youth! When your joints didn’t hurt!
What if, what if we run away
What if, what if we left today
What if, we say goodbye to safe and sound
I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers
I’m pretty sure this song is about drugs. You marathoners know our favorite drug is Advil.
Getting better to a runner means a faster pace. Better lung capacity. Calves and thighs on fleek.
I didn’t know I was lonely ’til I saw your face
I wanna get better, better, better, better,
I wanna get better
I didn’t know I was broken ’til I wanted to change
I wanna get better, better, better, better,
I wanna get better
All We Ever Knew by The Head & the Heart
Every good running mix needs a good cool down song. You did it! Ignore the blisters and dream about that Corona you just earned.
When I wake up in the morning
I see nothing
For miles and miles and miles
When I sleep in the evening, oh lord
There she goes, only in dreams
She’s only in dreams
Well, well my love
We’ve been here before
Don’t drag me through this again
We tried everything under the sun
