| Best Running Music of 2010 |
 Oh it's been a very good year for running music. I've been working on this mix for the last month or so... testing, adding, and removing songs on my daily runs. I've narrowed the new music down to 30 great songs. One thing I've noticed is that this mix features a pretty high percentage of songs in the 170+ range. This is because over the last year or two I've been able to increase my stride rate to the more desirable 180ish range. If you don't run at this fast a pace, you might try downloading some songs in the higher range and use them from time to time to increase your steps per minute (if that is one of your training goals). Preview/Buy all 30 best of 2010 songs on iTunes I'm going to include a list of my top 10 ranked in order just for fun. Below that you'll find my complete BPM listing of the 30 songs found on the iTunes mix below as usual. 1. Bloodbuzz Ohio (The National / 157 bpm) This is my favorite running song of the year. It's a melancholy yet catchy, with a driving beat that's fun to run to. It's number one on my list this year because it always perks me up no my long runs when it comes on. What more do you want in a running song? 2. Bang Bang Bang (Mark Ronson & The Business Intl / 185 bpm) This is a charming, frothy pop tune with an edge that is a joy to run too - it's fast. I like it for down hills where I'm trying to increase my turnover rate. 3. Power (Kanye West / 154 bpm) Oh Kanye, you are bananas. But you make some great music. And this song is a very runnable 154 BPM. This song is a great "Power Song". Runaway, another Kanye track, made the 4. Animal (Neon Trees / 149 bpm) This totally catchy alternative track has one of the slower BPM's on the list. I love it early in my runs, just after a short walking warm-up. 5. Magic (feat. Rivers Cuomo) (B.o.B / 165 bpm) This is an adorable little poppy hip hop song featuring Rivers Cuomo from Weezer. Great, great beat. 6. Good Intentions Paving Co. (Joanna Newsom / 175 bpm) I love love love Joanna Newsom. I really loved her last record Ys with its crazy epic narrative songs. Her new record features some more straightforward tunes including this great track. 7. Tightrope (feat. Big Boi) (Janelle Monae / 169 bpm) Janelle Monae is one of my favorite new artists. This is a great upbeat pop / R&B number. 8. Ambling Alp (Yeasayer / 144 bpm) This is a quirky alt song with a clean pop beat. Its quite charming and fun to run to. 9. Cold War (The Morning Benders / 158 bpm) A poppy-indie song with jangly guitars and a sense of motion... perfect for road travel. 10. The High Road (Broken Bells / 163 bpm) It took a few listens for me to really dig this song, but after a while I was always happy when it came on during a run. To me this is all I need in a running song. THE FULL LIST (30 BEST RUNNING SONGS OF 2010) iTunes Preview Bloodbuzz Ohio 157 bpm Bang Bang Bang 185 bpm Power 154 bpm Animal 149 bpm Magic (feat. Rivers Cuomo) 165 bpm Good Intentions Paving Co. 175 bpm Tightrope (feat. Big Boi) 169 bpm Ambling Alp 144 bpm Cold War 158 bpm The High Road 163 bpm O Lilac 153 bpm Say No to Love 159 bpm Giving Up On Love 157 bpmm Ready to Start 192 bpm This Is War 160 bpm Soldier of Love 182 bpm Infinity Guitars 158 bpm Animal Arithmetic 163 bpm Everlasting Light 180 bpm Bright Lit Blue Skies 167 bpm Runaway 174 bpm I Can't Wait 167 bpm For the First Time 176 bpm Taxi Cab 166 bpm Scissor Runner 159 bpm Not Afraid 175 Pretty Girl Rock 161 bpm Funeral Song 167 bpm Up All Night 157 bpm |