Hey Friends, it’s been forever, but here’s my latest! I add new running tunes throughout the year and always think “I gotta add this to my blog page before I forget!” So of course, I forgot! Here’s some of my favorite Christmas jams (the sugar free kind). Oldies and new-ish ones. Since recently moving to the Midwest, WHITE Christmas has new meaning. So peaceful – I’m usually the only one out on the snowy trails. Great time of worship and even belting out some faves out loud. *Good thing no one’s around to hear me, ha, ha! Seriously, I’m so in awe of His creation and gift to us each year. Wishing you a very blessed Christmas season and that you’d experience Emmanuel first hand.
*9/12/19 HAS IT REALLY BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE I UPDATED THIS PAGE?!!! Ooops. Soooooo many seriously good, impactful tunes since then. Lots of life has gone down during that time. Don’t underestimate how God can use simple instrumentals and lyrics to deeply reach you in unexpected moments. “Fear No More” by Building 429 is my latest jam. And just so I don’t take myself too seriously, I added the “Avengers Endgame” theme after seeing it three times in the theatre back in June.
*UPDATED 11/13/18 – Added “Well Done” by The Afters to my 4-hour playlist for the Indy Monumental Marathon. Since I’m updating this page AFTER the marathon and a new blog post, I am loving these lyrics even more:
“What will it be like when tears are washed away
And every broken thing will finally be made whole?
What will it be like when I come into Your glory
Standing in the presence of a love so beautiful?
I’m waiting my whole life for that day
I will live my life to hear You say
Well done, well done
My good and faithful one
Welcome to the place where you belong
Well done, well done
My beloved child
You have run the race and now you’re home
Welcome to the place where you belong”
*UPDATED 7/20/18 – Tapering for my 10th San Francisco Marathon next weekend! “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship is a slower tempo than what I’d normally add to the playlist, but those lyrics – perfect! Since it’s also my ten year runaversary, the chorus just sums it up:
“Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet”
Also, forgot to update last month “Fear is a Liar” by Zach Williams which has served on numerous occasions as a prayer, battle cry, and strategic game plan for taking down all those lies the enemy wants to feed us about not measuring up, not having enough, loneliness, emptiness, failure, etc. Again, tempo is on the slow side, but when your playlist is over 4 hours, it can’t all be 180 bpm!
*UPDATED 4/4/18 – Back home from running the Carmel Marathon and had to share two new faves: “Resurrection Power” by Chris Tomlin and “Walking on Water” by NeedtoBreathe. Perfect timing as the race was Saturday and Easter was the next day. Humbling and convicting.
*UPDATED 1/27/18 – Not so much “jam” as “jelly” with THIS song since God’s already shown me in 2018 that I need to “jell” with some new situations. More details in this date’s blog post. Here’s the song: “God of All My Days” by Casting Crowns
*UPDATED 11/22/17 – Just one of those runs today where it all seemed to come together. Pumped up by these songs, also reminded me to pray for certain friends and family. Just had to share these with you. Good stuff. Enjoy!
“We Win” by MercyMe
“Not Forgotten” by Ryan Stevenson (featuring TobyMac)
“Learning to be the Light” by NewWorldSon
“Hall of Fame” by The Script (featuring will.i.am)
When a good song and running collide…
It started when I was teaching third grade in 2010. I wanted a way for kids to write freely about non-intimidating topics, improve their mechanics, and learn more about God’s character! That’s how “Song of the Week” was born. One song, one paragraph. Did you like the song? Does it remind you of anything? How does it encourage you?
As my class playlist grew, I got inspired by students’ journals which often stuck with me during a run that week. To this day, one particular student’s words continues to inspire me:
‘This song really pumps me up! It’s like it’s saying “time to switch over to God booster jets now!”‘
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve actually said that during a race. Usually around mile 20 of a marathon. Time to switch over to God booster jets!
My run playlists have evolved many times over the last seven years. Spring 2017, I compiled an extensive playlist for the Mt. Diablo 50K with an anticipated 10-11 hour finish time. After all the effort in finding enough songs to download on my little iPod shuffle – I had to dig way into the 80’s tunes on this one – I ended up not using music AT ALL during this race. Listening to the sounds of God’s creation that day truly inspired and propelled me forward.
Having said this, one doesn’t always have that luxury on a regular weekday run through the neighborhood or weekend long run with the weight of life echoing between the ears. Time to unplug from the daily grind by plugging into music that will energize, encourage, inspire, and even evaluate. My August 2015 blog post was all about the purpose and relevancy of music and running.
This page is a way for me to share how God has used songs over the years to draw me closer to Him and provided those “boosts” exactly when I needed them most in a race or a run. Unlike music in the gym or for speed training, not all of my playlist songs are fast tempo. Some are slow and reflective. Some are moderate and exhorting. Many are by my favorite Christian artists. A few are from the best era in music – the 80’s. And there are even ones suggested by my daughters that I added solely to take my mind off the fact that I’m a middle aged woman trying to run without feeling like a middle aged woman.
Yeah, I’m guilty of belting out some One Direction and Taylor Swift on a run. But there’s nothing like the feeling when “Don’t Stop Believin” or some Billy Idol and Bon Jovi pop up on my iPod shuffle.
I’ve probably cycled through thousands of songs over the years. How do I decide which songs to add to my run playlist? Depends on the upcoming races and type of training. Shorter distances and flatter courses need more of the “pump-up-adrenaline-rush” tunes with prominent “heart-pounding-out-of-your-chest” beats. Longer distances need more variety. Mental breaks. Diversions and distractions from the distance remaining. I have found that for hill training, a good medium tempo song with a strong theme seems to help on the climb.
Of course, the songs have to be enjoyable! Music is so personal and subjective. My playlist will look totally different from anyone else’s. That’s how it should be.
Here are just a few of my fave inspirational tunes from the past seven years that have proven on more than one occasion that God can speak through a song. Some have made the difference in taking the next painful step. Or fighting for a PR.
