What Motivates You?

I've been running for just over 5 miles and I can see the pier where the race finishes in the distance. I am running my heart out and just wish the finish line would get closer. I need a boost of motivation. I'm running to my Best of Techno playlist and quickly skip through the songs to find one that will pump me up. I don't want to break my stride and look down, so I just keep flipping through the songs. After about 10 songs that just don't have what I need to finish strong, I hear the beat. Lifter by Alex Kunnari. I power fist (yes in front of the other runners) and pick up my pace. This run is in the bag. I get closer to the pier, see the balloon arch and glance at the time clock. Time to push it into high gear. I always look at the clock and run as fast as I can so I cross the finish before the next minute clicks over. Done...55:37. I was aiming for a time under 56:00 and I now I get to shave off a little time because of when I started the race. Lucky me, I got stuck in the porta-potty line for a good 25 minutes (seriously only 6 potties?) and was walking up to the start line when the gun went off to start the race. I had to bob and weave through all of the walkers and joggers. I didn't settle into my race pace until mile 2. Imagine my excitement when I checked my official time and ended up doing the 10k in 54:23.

Having a dynamite playlist full of upbeat songs definitely motivates me to runner faster, spin harder and endure the elliptical for more than 10 minutes. Don't even get me started on what a good hip-hop beat can do to a weightlifting session. Below is my playlist for this week's spin class. I haven't actually rode this ride, but I choreographed the routine in my head (thanks to my days on high school dance team) on the elliptical. This is a light resistance class. We have been hitting the resistance pretty hard the last couple of week. The resistance stays between a 4 and 7 on a scale of 1-10 for most of the class. There is one seated climb where we will take it up to a 9.

Enjoy! I hope these songs keep you motivated while working out.

Holding On - Ferry Corsten 6:42 (warm up)
Sweet Dreams - Beyonce 3:28 (ride in the saddle, add resistance and take it to 3 on the chorus)
Right Round - Flo Rida 3:26 (jog in 3, push through resistance in the saddle on the chorus)
Popular - The Veronicas 2:42 (quick flat in the saddle)
Touch My Body (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio Edit) Mariah Carey 3:54 (climb in 3)
Total Eclipse Remix 3:45 (speed intervals)
Drop It Low (Clean) Ester Dean 3:10 (climb in 3)
Closer Remix- Ne Yo 4:04 (rolling hills)
Ready for Love - Cascada 3:23 (sprints in 3)
Live Your Life - T.I. ft Rihanna 4:01 (seated climb)
Fergalicious – Fergie 4:53 (jog 3, seat chorus)
No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand 3:42 (rolling hills)
My Girlfriend - Sean Kingston 3:24 (jog 3)
Supernova (D&G Remix) - Mr. Hudson feat. Kanye West 3:27 (sprints)
I'm Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado 4:09 (cool down)