As I mentioned in Babes and Bum and My Dunkadunk, Part 3, music motivates me.  With the right songs in my playlist, I can pound the pavement for miles. 

To Send Me on My Way, Rusted Root’s chants put a spring in my step and get the juices flowing to help warm-up my muscles for the first ½ mile.  The song always makes me smile even when I am on my way to a tough workout.

I prefer to run in the early morning before my family rises.  It’s my Sweet Escape.  I’ve seen some of the most gorgeous sunrises since I started running.  Although wearing an iPod makes it difficult to appreciate the sounds of nature around me, I occasionally remove my headphones to listen to the frogs chirp.  Even the sound of rain tapping the tarmac can be a pleasant alternative to music once in a while, but still no substitute for my playlist.

The lyrics of Unwritten truly define my passion and recent interest in running.  Today is where my book begins.  The rest is still unwritten.  A year ago, I would never have thought I could run farther than ¼ mile.  Today I can run 10 miles and a new chapter in my life has truly begun.

 It’s Tricky to find the right songs to keep you moving.  For me, if a song causes me to bust out random dance moves while running, then it’s a good choice.  Plus, to rock a rhyme that’s right on time while running can be tricky, tricky, tricky. 

The people in my neighborhood must think I am completely off my rocker when they see me dancing during my runs, but when Outkast tells me to “shake it like a Polaroid picture” in Hey Ya, I must obey.  A brief break in the work-out to shake my hips and I feel as though I can run even faster.

Since I Like to Move it, Move It, combining dancing and running together only seems natural.  If my time seems a little slower than usual, it may have been all the water breaks but more likely a little too much booty boogieing

With every work-out, I’m Bringing Sexy Back.  It has been a long road getting here, but I found the body I had before children hiding under the layers of baby weight and blubber.  Since my commitment to my training, I seem to have more energy these days.  I have discovered my Fountain of Youth.

Like my own personal trainer, Marky Mark reminds me to “Feel it!  Feel it!” with his repetitive raps in Good Vibrations.  He understands the pain and agony associated with running.  His sidekick, Fergie, validates all this hard work and knows how a body stays vicious.  I be up in the gym just working on my fitness.  I know I coming off a little conceited, and I just keep repeating, but it’s all about the music and a little determination.  It’s Fergilicious.

It’s almost time to Wind It Up when Gwen Stefani sings.  The end is near and yet I feel I can go farther, because Supersonic motivating rhymes are created to make me run. Then James Brown advises me to Get on Up and “stay on the scene”, which could turn ugly if my iPod dies in the middle of my work-out.  I would become helpless.  Please Don’t Stop the Music.  It’s what keeps me moving. 

Just when I think I couldn’t take another step, Destiny’s Child’s hypnotic hymn inspires me to go the distance.  I’m a Survivor.  I’m gonna work harder.  I’m gonna make it. 

If I can become a marathon runner, than anyone can do it.  I’m Every Woman.  It’s all in me.

Finding the time to juggle it all is never an easy task, but excuses make it way too convenient to avoid a work-out.  I’ve been there, sister.  I share your pain and I dare you to share mine.  Now get out there and run!  And take my playlist with you!

*edited to add*

Other songs on my playlist

• Baby Got Back
• Get Down Tonight
• Rock Your Body
• Tootsie Roll
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Walk Away
• Me, Myself and I
• Three is the Magic Number
• Steal My Kisses
• It Takes Two From You
• Don’t Start ‘Till You Get Enough
• Wanna Be Starting Something
• Some Kind of Wonderful
• Jump Around
• Rollin’ with Kid ‘N Play
• Brass Monkey
• Daisy Dukes
• Blister in the Sun
• My Humps
• Low