Every Friday here at ReluctantRunners.com, we suggest a few songs to add to your playlist to make your run a few notches less miserable. But one thing we haven’t hit on yet are all the songs that have no place on our iPods, due to their demoralizing (and even crippling) effect. So I’ve brought in my friend Evan Forester, reluctant runner since sometime in the mid-2000s, to spearhead this initiative. Evan?
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A few years back I heard that iPods were helpful for amateur runners, but serious runners should run without music because the different song beats would throw off the natural pace of the expert.
I considered myself an expert runner and therefore rejected runners who listened to music for years. Things changed a couple weeks ago, however.
I actually started running.
Apparently, I am as amateur and reluctant as they come. By my third day of training I had my iPod out and life was so much better. I have encountered a few songs, however, that are the opposite of helpful for any runner, and not because of their beats.
I call it, the Reluctant Runner Music Blacklist:
1) The End has no End by the Strokes: Running never seems to end. You don’t need a constant reminder.
2) Running on Empty by Jackson Browne: “If it takes all night, it will be all right.” No Jackson, no it won’t be all right. I have some nachos waiting for me at home.
3) Welcome to the Jungle by Guns & Roses: While “fun and games” sounds nice enough, things quickly take a turn for the worse. As bad as “bring you to your, shun n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n knees, knees” and “I wanna watch you bleed” are, hearing “You’re in the jungle baby, You’re gonna die!” will make you never want to run in a jungle, forest, or park with a tree again.
4) Long Road to Ruin by the Foo Fighters: The title speaks for itself.
5) Breakdown by Jack Johnson: Granted, he wants a train to breakdown, but no reluctant runner should ever hear the “B-Word.”
6) Someone Like You by Adele: Though the lyrics are not discouraging to runners, breaking down in tears is. Not that I’ve ever cried while listening to this song. Seriously, some lent just got in my eye.
What have I missed? What other songs should be blacklisted?
“Another one bites the dust.” Womp. Womp.
Good one. Should have thought of that one.
Far Away – Lecrae
Neverending – David Crowder
I’m Walkin’ – Fats Domino
Walkin’ on Water – Lecrae
I Want Jesus to Walk With Me – Spiritual
I was on an 8 mile run, and at about mile 7 “Misery” by Maroon 5 came on. It was so fitting, but not what I needed at the moment. So, I would highly recommend leaving that off of a running play list. Not the encouragement you need.