Hey Mr. DJ...

TwitterFriends and I were discussing music/playlists to keep you motivated while you are running or working out. I have two playlists on my iPod that are long enough to take me through a half marathon or any long distance run. I usually set the iPod to "shuffle albums" and then let it do its thing. So even though I know what songs are on there, I don't know which one is going to play next.

I tend to love old school music, so here are a couple of playlists for those who are interested (yes...I gave iTunes some serious change. But some of this I had on different CDs in my collection):

OLD SCHOOL RAP/HIP HOP PLAYLIST:
55 songs, 4.1 hours
This playlist wasn't made for running, it was just all the songs I loved. But I found that listening to a lot of these songs kept my mind occupied enough that I could still run, but I had something to think about other than how tired I was or how much I'd rather just be eating ice cream.

• Ain't No Half Steppin' [Explicit]- Big Daddy Kane
  
• Bonita Applebum - A Tribe Called Quest
  
• The Bridge Is Over [Explicit] - BDP
  
• Buddy - De La Soul
  
• Cha Cha Cha (Explicit LP Version) - MC Lyte
  
• Check The Rhime - A Tribe Called Quest
  
• Chief Rocka (Explicit)- Lords of the Underground
  
• Children's Story [Explicit]- Slick Rick
  
• The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)- Black Sheep
  
• Don't Sweat The Technique - Eric B & Rakim
  
• Doowutchyalike (LP Version) - Digital Underground
  
• Electric Relaxation - A Tribe Called Quest
  
• Flava In Ya Ear - Craig Mack
  
• Get Up Everybody - Salt-N-Pepa
  
• Gittin' Funky (LP Version) - Kid N' Play
  
• Hey Young World - Slick Rick
  
• Hip Hop Junkies - Nice & Smooth
  
• The Humpty Dance (LP Version)- Digital Underground
  
• I Got It Made (Clean Version)- Special Ed
  
• I Know You Got Soul - Eric B & Rakim
  
• I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are)- Grand Puba
  
• I Wish - Skee-Lo
  
• It's A Shame - Monie Love
  
• It Takes Two - Rob Base
  
• Just A Friend [Explicit] - Biz Markie
  
• Keep Rising To The Top - Doug E. Fresh
  
• Kiss You Back (Single Version)- Digital Underground
  
• Ladies First (LP Version)- Queen Latifah/Monie Love
  
• Latifah's Had It Up To Here (Amended LP Version)- Queen Latifah
  
• Looking At The Front Door - Main Source
  
• Love Me Or Leave Me Alone (Explicit LP Version)- Brand Nubian
  
• Ownlee Eue (LP Version) - Kwame
  
• Paid In Full - Eric B & Rakim
  
• Passin' Me By - The Pharcyde
  
• Peaceful Journey - Heavy D & The Boyz
  
• Poor Georgie (Explicit LP Version) - MC Lyte
  
• Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) (2005 Digital Remaster) (Explicit)- Diggable Planets
  
• The Rhythm (LP Version)- Kwame
  
• Rollin' With Kid 'N Play (LP Version) - Kid 'N Play
  
• Same Song (Edit Version)- Digital Underground
  
• Say No Go - De La Soul
  
• Self Destruction - Stop The Violence Allstars
  
• The Show - Doug E. Fresh
  
• So Wat Cha Sayin' (Explicit) - EPMD
  
• South Bronx [Explicit]- BDP
  
• Straighten It Out (LP Version)- Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
  
• They Reminisce Over You (Single Version)- Pete Rock & C.L. SMooth
  
• They Want EFX - Das EFX
  
• Treat 'Em Right (LP Version)- Chubb Rock
  
• U.N.I.T.Y. - Queen Latifah
  
• Vapors [Explicit]- Biz Markie
  
• What's On Your Mind - Eric B & Rakim
  
• Work It Out - Monie Love
  
• You Can't See What I Can See - Heavy D. & The Boyz
  
• You Gots 2 Chill [Explicit]- EPMD
  

80S POP/ROCK PLAYLIST:
52 songs, 3.8 hours
I'm an 80s baby...what can I say. These are not all running-paced songs, so when I do listen to this I sometimes have to hit forward.

• Something About You - Level 42 (OK I LOVE this song and was very psyched when Anthony David re-made it in 08)
  
• Human (Extended Version)- Human League
  
• Things Can Only Get Better - Howard JOnes
  
• Back In The High Life Again - Steve Winwood
  
• The Warrior - Scandal feat. Patty Smyth (this is actually my "boost" song on Nike +)
  
• Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes
  
• Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson
  
• Look of Love, Pt 1 - ABC
  
• Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
  
• We Don't Talk Anymore - Cliff Richard (ok this is 70s - why is this on here? LOL)
  
• Too Late for Goodbyes - Julian Lennon
  
• Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
  
• I Can Dream About You - Dan Hartman
  
• Cruel Summer - Bananarama
  
• Genius of Love - Tom Tom Club
  
• Catch Me I'm Falling - Pretty Poison
  
• She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
  
• Living Years - MIke and the Mechanics
  
• Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
  
• I'll Be Over You - Toto
  
• Promises, Promises - Naked Eyes
  
• TRUE - Spandau Ballet
  
• If You Don't Know Me By Now - Simply Red
  
• Valerie - Steve Winwood
  
• Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears
  
• Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
  
• The Captain Of Her Heart - Double
  
• No One Is To Blame - Howard Jones
  
• Dont You Want Me Baby - Human League
  
• Breaking Us In Two - Joe Jackson
  
• Foolish Heart - Steve Perry
  
• While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood
  
• Who's Crying Now - Journey
  
• Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young
  
• In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
  
• Take it on the run - REO Speedwagon
  
• Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)- Journey
  
• Shout - Tears for Fears
  
• Roll With It Baby - Steve Winwood
  
• Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
  
• All I Need - Jack Wagner
  
• Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
  
• Take On Me - A-ha
  
• Holding Back the Years (12" Extended Mix) - Simply Red
  
• Don't You (Forget About Me)- Simple Minds
  
• Take My Breath Away (Love Theme from "Top Gun")- Berlin
  
• In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
  
• Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
  
• Once In a Lifetime - Talking Heads
  
• Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
  
• Head Over Heels - Tears for Fears
  
• I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
  

So, as you can see...my musical tastes are all over the place. What I run to depends really on how I'm feeling. Some people need really high energy music. I just need something I like that will keep me entertained. Experiment - make your own playlists and share! What type of music do you listen to when you work out?