New year, new running playlist

First, a confession. After posting photos of my carefully laid-out cold-weather running clothes yesterday morning, I experienced a sudden attack of “blah” yesterday afternoon. I realized it had been a while since I’d taken my last off day, and made an unusual move: I just stayed home and did nothing. And you know what? It was kind of glorious. But no worries: I’m getting back in the saddle for a solo run this morning.

Now. Onto the tunes. I’m working on my new perfect playlist. It’s not ready yet, but much like a favorite recipe you tinker with variations of, I’ve found some delicious new iterations of my old playlist by adding new elements to old standards. Below, I offer the ingredients I’m playing with — and humbly ask for new ideas to sweeten the next batch.

The new stuff: Intriguing suggestions that haven’t yet been approved for permanent playlist spots.

White Diamonds, Skeleton Boy and Photobooth by Friendly Fires

Too Fake and Song Away by Hockey

Graffiti Eyes by stellastarr*

Troublemaker by Weezer

The obvious stuff: These hip-hop and pop picks all seem fairly obvious to me, but they may be revolutionary to someone else. In any case, they’re what I turn to at the end of races, or during tough speed workouts. Not that I’m doing any of the latter these days, but you get the idea …

So What – P!nk

Empire State, D.O.A. – Jay Z

Going the Distance – Cake (almost anything by Cake will do)

Shake That – Eminem (ditto — I can run to almost any Eminem song. I’ve been digging A** Like That for lifting lately)

Run This Town – Jay-Z

Ain’t Nothing But a G-Thing – Snoop Dog

Fight the Power – Public Enemy

Rump Shaker – Wreckx N Effect

When Distaster Strikes – Busta Rhymes

You Can Do It (Put Your A** Into It) – Ice Cube

Kick In The Door – The Notorious B.I.G.

Bulls on Parade, Bombtrack, Killing in the Name – Rage Against the Machine

Scenario – A Tribe Called Quest

M-E-T-H-O-D Man – Wu-Tang Clan

B.O.B. – Outkast

Rosa Parks – Outkast

The stuff you may not think about: Some songs you know, but maybe didn’t think of as running songs, and songs you’ve never heard of, but will wonder how you lived without.

Percussion Gun – The White Rabbits

How You Like Me Now? – The Heavy

The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

The View – Modest Mouse

Ghetto Pop Life – Danger Mouse and Jemini

Did You See the World – Animal Collective

Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives – Voxtrot

Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured – Arctic Monkeys

Flathead – The Fratellis

How It Ends- DeVotchka

Walcott – Vampire Weekend

Catch 22 – Streetlight Manifesto

Vivrant Thing – A Tribe Called Quest (also good: Electric Relaxation, Award Tour)

Moving to New York – The Wombats

What else should I add to the list? Let me know by posting a comment below!