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Writer's pictureJarod Ebenhack

Fueling Performance: The Power of Your Running Playlist

Your choice of workout playlist holds significance. It's easy to pick catchy songs with a driving beat, perhaps without considering the lyrics. Yet, considering how our brains absorb everything, this approach may not be ideal. The lyrics of your music should align with the runner's identity you aim to cultivate. Ensure that the words you absorb daily align with the soundtrack you intentionally curate, avoiding any haphazard mismatches that could undermine your goals.


Here's where you can find my personal playlist: Coach E's Cross Country Approved List. Featuring tracks predominantly from bands like "Oh the Larceny" and "The Score," these songs resonate perfectly with the mindset I aim to cultivate as a runner. Not only do their lyrics align with my goals, but their beats also match my preferred cadence of around 180 beats per minute, ideal for my easy to steady state runs. This combination keeps me mentally fueled with positivity and rhythmically paced during my workouts.


I no longer fill my playlist with songs about broken relationships, negativity, or superficial topics that don't align with my goals. I recall when my playlist included every catchy song with a driving beat, like the fun "Love Shack" by the B-52’s. However, such songs offer me little in terms of fostering the mindset needed to achieve my running goals. Now, I am committed to ensuring that every track I listen to during my runs reflects and supports my purpose for running.


If you're uncertain about your running purpose, consider this: you're striving to become a mental titan. Winning races is satisfying, but it's just the beginning. Your goal is to evolve into someone who controls their life without fear or hesitation. By confronting personal challenges and pushing yourself through demanding workouts and races, you cultivate strength that extends far beyond running.


Even for pro runners, it's crucial to consider the broader perspective, as their competitive careers will inevitably come to an end years before the standard retirement age, requiring resilience for the future beyond sports.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “​​Who cares about running?” It is the effects of running on the rest of your life that are most important.


So pick a playlist that both drives your cadence and your mentality to world-class levels. Your choice of music isn't just background noise; it shapes your mindset and fuels your performance. Since you're both aiming for personal bests and striving to become a mental titan, the lyrics and beats you absorb during your runs should align with your goals and identity you as a runner. Let your playlist be a deliberate tool that inspires positivity, focus, and determination, propelling you forward in both your training and life's journey.



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