Music That Keeps You Running

What would I do without my running music? I know there's been some controversy of late regarding  using iPods during marathons. Elite runners are usually prohibited from getting a boost from their music in marathons. And there are many marathons where toting music is simply not allowed, period. I can't even imagine making it through one mile without music, newbie that I am. Music just makes running such an enjoyable experience. 

I like starting off with Lykke Li's "Dance Dance Dance", which has a nice rhythm to run to but soft and wispy vocals that gently ease me into my run. "Pump It" by the Black Eyed Peas, meanwhile, is the go-to song to start picking up the pace and intensity. When my energy starts to flag, "Uprising" by Muse never fails to give me a jolt. "Human" by The Killers keeps me cruising all the way to the final leg of the run. There's nothing quite like hearing "Beautiful Day" by U2 go on just when I'm hitting the final stretch of my run in the reservoir, and I bask in the warm sunlight, the New York skyline, the trees heavy with cherry blossoms, and the ducks swooping down into the water. And for my early evening runs that end just when dusk falls and the skyline starts to light up, the "City of Blinding Lights" inevitably makes me run a few extra meters until the last notes fade.

Care to share the songs that give you a rush when you run?