In a little over a month, I'll travel to Bombay to run my first marathon: the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018.
I ran all my previous long-distance events without accompanying music because I wanted to experience every minute to the hilt. This time, with 42.2 km and a lot of minutes to experience, I thought I'd better have some music. The prospect of the Wall, and the motivation I'd need to beat it, are major factors in making this decision.
The purpose of this blog therefore is to list the songs I think I'd want to accompany me on my run. A secondary objective is to have readers make suggestions for songs they think might serve me well. Therefore, this blog will be subject to change as and when I receive suggestions. The way I've written the blog so far may make it sound like I'm using songs as tools rather than for sheer listening pleasure. This is true in part: while running long distances, and especially marathons, having the right music can really help. That being said, I'm not using beats or rhythm to pace myself: the songs are purely to distract from the physical torture. The songs listed below are therefore mostly jumpy, cheerful, or guitar heavy. Some I know I want because they have certain characteristics. Others simply came to mind at random.
1. Astronomy (Metallica Cover): Oh wow. The guitars. The "Hey!"s. The trippy lyrics. I want this song to be playing when I hit the wall.
2. Cat Scratch Fever (Motorhead Cover): Lemmy's gravelly voice is the perfect accompaniment to running on roads gravelly or otherwise.
3. Galway Girl (Ed Sheeran): If you're a close friend reading this, don't say anything. Yes, I've started listening to Ed Sheeran. No, he's not my new all-time favourite artist. But I do like this song. It's cheerful and fast and just about right for marathon running.
4. The Trooper (Iron Maiden): Another Wall song. The Light Brigade charging the Russians is pretty much equivalent to us tired runners charging the finish line.
5. The Boys of Summer (Don Henley): Very senti, yes. But it's got the pace and the lyrics and it evokes the right memories.
6. The Heart of Rock and Roll (Huey Lewis and the News): Jumpy and good to sing along to, though I probably shouldn't do that.
7. Born to Be Wild (Steppenwolf): apparently the villain in the new Justic League movie is called Steppenwolf. I'm not going to waste my time watching it, but I will listen to the song while running.
8. Two Princes (Spin Doctors):
9. Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison):
10. Tunnel of Love (Dire Straits): I've a very strong feeling that won't be the last Dire Straits song on this list.
11. Modern Love (David Bowie):
12. Child in Time (Deep Purple):
13. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day Version):
14. Time (Pink Floyd):
15. More Than A Feeling (Boston):
16. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath):
17. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (ACDC):
18: Stranglehold (Ted Nugent):
19. Short Skirt, Long Jacket (Cake):
20. Tom Sawyer (Rush):
21. Breaking the Law (Judas Priest): Because the video is ridiculous and thinking about it will cheer me up.
22. Les Champs Elysees (Joe Dassin):
23. Cemetery Gates (Pantera):
24. Paranoid Android (Radiohead):
25: Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd):
26: Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day Version):
27: War Pigs (Cake): The second Cake song on my playlist. I have a feeling there'll be more!
28. Save Tonight (Eagle-Eye Cherry):
29. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (Jet):
30. Am I Evil (Diamond Head):
31. Sunshine of Your Love (Cream):
32. Walk of Life (Dire Straits):
33. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming (Deep Purple):
I ran all my previous long-distance events without accompanying music because I wanted to experience every minute to the hilt. This time, with 42.2 km and a lot of minutes to experience, I thought I'd better have some music. The prospect of the Wall, and the motivation I'd need to beat it, are major factors in making this decision.
The purpose of this blog therefore is to list the songs I think I'd want to accompany me on my run. A secondary objective is to have readers make suggestions for songs they think might serve me well. Therefore, this blog will be subject to change as and when I receive suggestions. The way I've written the blog so far may make it sound like I'm using songs as tools rather than for sheer listening pleasure. This is true in part: while running long distances, and especially marathons, having the right music can really help. That being said, I'm not using beats or rhythm to pace myself: the songs are purely to distract from the physical torture. The songs listed below are therefore mostly jumpy, cheerful, or guitar heavy. Some I know I want because they have certain characteristics. Others simply came to mind at random.
1. Astronomy (Metallica Cover): Oh wow. The guitars. The "Hey!"s. The trippy lyrics. I want this song to be playing when I hit the wall.
2. Cat Scratch Fever (Motorhead Cover): Lemmy's gravelly voice is the perfect accompaniment to running on roads gravelly or otherwise.
3. Galway Girl (Ed Sheeran): If you're a close friend reading this, don't say anything. Yes, I've started listening to Ed Sheeran. No, he's not my new all-time favourite artist. But I do like this song. It's cheerful and fast and just about right for marathon running.
4. The Trooper (Iron Maiden): Another Wall song. The Light Brigade charging the Russians is pretty much equivalent to us tired runners charging the finish line.
5. The Boys of Summer (Don Henley): Very senti, yes. But it's got the pace and the lyrics and it evokes the right memories.
6. The Heart of Rock and Roll (Huey Lewis and the News): Jumpy and good to sing along to, though I probably shouldn't do that.
7. Born to Be Wild (Steppenwolf): apparently the villain in the new Justic League movie is called Steppenwolf. I'm not going to waste my time watching it, but I will listen to the song while running.
8. Two Princes (Spin Doctors):
9. Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison):
10. Tunnel of Love (Dire Straits): I've a very strong feeling that won't be the last Dire Straits song on this list.
11. Modern Love (David Bowie):
12. Child in Time (Deep Purple):
13. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day Version):
14. Time (Pink Floyd):
15. More Than A Feeling (Boston):
16. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath):
17. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (ACDC):
18: Stranglehold (Ted Nugent):
19. Short Skirt, Long Jacket (Cake):
20. Tom Sawyer (Rush):
21. Breaking the Law (Judas Priest): Because the video is ridiculous and thinking about it will cheer me up.
22. Les Champs Elysees (Joe Dassin):
23. Cemetery Gates (Pantera):
24. Paranoid Android (Radiohead):
25: Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd):
26: Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day Version):
27: War Pigs (Cake): The second Cake song on my playlist. I have a feeling there'll be more!
28. Save Tonight (Eagle-Eye Cherry):
29. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (Jet):
30. Am I Evil (Diamond Head):
31. Sunshine of Your Love (Cream):
32. Walk of Life (Dire Straits):
33. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming (Deep Purple):
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