My London Prep Playlist

A few choice downloads are helping me through my crucial final weeks of preparation for the Virgin London Marathon.

By Deena Kastor

With the New York Half Marathon behind me, I am now focusing on the Virgin London Marathon.   I have two more weeks until I leave for the UK and another week of tapering in the beautiful city hosting the event.  With the confidence of a couple more long runs, tempo runs and interval sessions behind me, I am hoping to perform well there.

Here at home in Mammoth Lakes, California, I am hoping this is the last storm of the winter season that is making the roof sound like it will give at any moment.  The wind is coming in fierce and strong with the prediction of multiple days of snow.  The only thing that gets me through a windy evening run is my MP3 player.  Once I put it on, I block out the 45 mph gusts that veer me off the road, and ignore the fact that my jacket is like a parachute slowing me to a standstill and keeping me from making it home in time for the gym.  It helped that I downloaded a new playlist before heading out today, and the truth is we can all stand for a little more Rock ‘n’ Roll.

It is amazing how refreshing a few new tunes can be.  Try some of the songs that moved me today:    “Beautiful Things” by Andain and “Liberation” by Matt Darey. Both have beautiful lyrics and a strong beat.  I feel light on my feet and get carried away with the music in “Brazil” by Deadmau5.  I have a few non-electronic songs in the shuffle.  “Trinity” by Paper Tongues has great lyrics when the singer passionately sings, “Unbelief get out of my head.  You can’t win ‘cause I’m not dead.”  This song has the ability to reach in and get a few more hard miles out of my tired legs.  Madonna is always on my playlist.  In “Beat Goes On” she sings with Kanye West about seizing opportunity.  “The time is right now, you’ve got to decide. Stand in the back or be the star.”

So, download some new music and be refreshed on your next run.

*

Deena Kastor is the American record holder in the marathon (2:19:36) and half marathon (1:07:34).