Two fall marathons

Two months to fine tune

Some great music

The drive to PR in 09

These are the things that are keeping me motivated as I move into the more intense portion of my training. Over the past few weeks and well into September, I’ll be focusing on tempo and hill runs. It’s been hard, and it’s going to get harder. It’s going to hurt (it already does), and I’ll lose motivation (I already have). When all my drive goes out the window, I lean heavily on one thing, my music.

Music is like a drug for some distance runners. If I set out for a 20 mile run without my iPod, sure, I’ll finish, but it will be more mentally and physically challenging than if I had the company of some good tunes.

On yesterday’s long run, I wanted nothing else than to check out and get it done. So, I turned on my new mix and cruised along the road and before I knew it, I was almost done with training for the day.

Here’s the new mix: Available on iTunes

*Note, it’s a little all over the place, which is how I like it – keeps things interesting.

• Heartless by Kanye West
• Push by Enrique Iglesias
• Bam Bam by Sister Nancy
• 369 by Cupid
• Jump by Flo Rida
• I swallowed Hard, Like I Understood by 65 days of static
• The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance by Vampire Weekend
• Numb by Linkin Park
• On the Go by Mavado
• Impossible by Bayje
• Johny & Sarah by Call Florence Pow
• Stepz Out by Zumjay
• Tracking Treasure Down by Gabrial & Dresden
• L.E.S. Artistes by Santigold
• Beautiful Girl by INXS
• Lives in Da Club by Sophia Fresh
• Day N Nite by Chani
• Fire Burning by Sean Kingston
• Church by T-Pain
• ShakeShakeShake by White Denim
• Killa by Cherish
• The Hell Song by Sum 41
• Deport Them by Sean Paul
• Hi by PSAPP
• Just Dance by Lady GaGa & Colby O’Donis
• Brazil by Deadmau5
• Overcome by Wayne Marshall
• Low by Flo Rida
• Death is Forming by Jay Reatard
• Welcome to the World by Kevin Rudolf & Rick Ross
• Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian by John Prine (just had to throw this in at that end!)