Pre - Workout/Race Playlist

Every runner has a pre-workout/race routine that gets them ready to roll. The usual routine of the 20 minute warm-up jog, some stretching and strides. That is a great plan but what about the music? A perfectly laid out playlist leading right up to five minutes before you toe the race line is what you may be missing. Sometimes the adrenaline rush and the thought of racing is not enough so what is a good substitute? How about a hand picked playlist on your Ipod that sets the tone and mood one hour to the last five minutes out from the race.

This is more important than you think. Just ask 2:10 marathoner Brian Sell who represented the United States in the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing.  Before the 2007 USA Olympic marathon trials held in Central Park in NYC, Sell, who was a huge underdog, pumped two last songs before he lined it up with hopes of finishing in the top 3 to earn a spot on the US Olympic Team. Any guesses what artists or songs they were??  Hints--one group is the most outspoken political rock group of all-time (no longer together) & the other artist played a concert at the Milwaukee Zoo seven years ago and is an ex-NYC cop. Anyone that can guess the artists or songs wins a ThunderDome Running t-shirt. Post your guesses. You might be surprised by the answers.

So here are your weekly top 5 songs to add to your pre-workout and then eventually race playlist. The key is to work the songs into your workout routine to give them a little test to see if they will work on race day.

1. Ace of Spades - Motorhead
2. Shipping up to Boston - The Dropkick Murphys
3. My Wave - Soundgarden
4. Joker & the Thief - Wolfmother
5. Baba O' Riley - The Who