I’m continuing my post-Phoenix Marathon brain dump, which I hope can help me with future races, but also help my readers who are looking to optimize their own performance.  I previously provided an overview of all the thoughts I had during the race, and then I wrote about how pacing and nutrition played key roles in my success. Next up: MUSIC!

I am not a music freak.  I don’t know what the kids are listening to.  I rely on FlyWheel instructors to clue me in on what is hip.  I can’t keep musicians straight — I’m known for having gotten Brian Adams and Ryan Adams and Brian McKnight all confused.  When I’m in the car, I cruise around to whatever is playing on the country station.  If I’m at a concert, it’s probably bluegrass, and the concert was probably a friend’s idea.  I train listening to podcasts, and I don’t usually keep lists of motivation running tunes like my friend over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest.  For most of my races, I put on Pandora’s Katy Perry radio and hope for the best.

But I knew that to have the best shot at a BQ time, I needed some sick beats to keep me motivated and positive.  So I created a playlist of some of my favorites from over the years that would make me feel like a badass, downloaded it locally on Spotify Mobile, and played it on shuffle.  Worked like a charm.

Here’s what I came up with, starting with the obvious:

• Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run*…

And then:

• Alanis Morissette, All I Really Want
• Alanis Morissette, Hand in My Pocket*
• Avicii, Wake Me Up
• The Brothers Comatose, Morning Time
• Cat Stevens, Wild World*
• Carolina Chocolate Drops, Cornbread and Butterbeans
• The David Mayfield Parade, I Just Might Pray
• The Del McCoury Band, Sweet Appalachia
• Des’ree, You Gotta Be*
• Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Home
• Florence + the Machine, Dog Days Are Over
• fun., Some Nights*
• Gwyneth Paltrow, Country Strong
• Hozier, Work Song
• John Mellencamp, Small Town*
• Journey, Don’t Stop Believin’
• Lady Gaga, Born This Way
• Lorde, Royals
• Mumford and Sons, Awake My Soul
• Katy Perry, Firework
• Katy Perry, Roar
• Kayne West, Stronger
• Mat Kearney, Hey Mama
• Meghan Trainor, All About That Bass
• Pat Green, Wave on Wave
• Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now
• Rachel Platten, Fight Song*
• The Raconteurs, Old Enough
• Redbird, Ooh La La
• Rising Appalachia, I’ll Fly Away
• Starship, We Built This City
• The Steeldrivers, Heaven Sent
• Walk the Moon, Shut Up and Dance
• Yonder Mountain String Band, 40 Miles From Denver
• Young the Giant, My Body

Starred songs were ones that I remember as being particularly good in the moment.

For my next race, the Big Sur Marathon, headphones are not permitted.  This will be my first marathon without music, although I did do a silent half Ironman and survived.

Do you race with music, podcasts, or nothing?  Do you think in affects your performance?   Are any of these songs on your race playlist?