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"Remember: No one can hear your thoughts, and no one should be able to hear what you're blasting on repeat to get your workout done."



Shin splints? Soaked shoes? Bleeding nipples? If running is your cardio of (masochistic) choice, a well-curated playlist can make all the difference between a crippling self-inflicted workout and a powerful serotonin rush. Key qualities to keep in mind here are tempo (not too fast, and if you do want to include power ballads, club remixes only, please), familiarity (your mind has to be free to zone out -- think past that nagging pain shooting through your inner thigh) and the right emotional vibe.

Depending on your running style or the phase of your workout, this vibe can be optimistic (almost there, just two more K), angry (pounding your feet on the pavement like it's your boss' face or your overstuffed inbox) or just fun (oh, that song -- that's my jam!). You’ll see there are no rules here, no predominant genre, so feel free to fill your playlist with punk alongside metal alongside, shudder, pop -- you get the idea. Below is our humble attempt at listing the best running songs that'll keep your heartbeat pumping steady and give you the energy to push past that extra mile. 



10. The Pharcyde, “Runnin'”

Whether you stretch when cooling down or warming up (whatever you do, stretch!), the Pharcyde's groovy sounds and catchy melodies are an ideal accompaniment while your body tries to find its groove. I picked the above for obvious reasons, but "Passin' Me By," or, hell, the entire Labcabincalifornia album should loosen things up and get you into a positive mindset.



9. Queen, “Don't Stop Me Now”

Don't be afraid if Freddie Mercury sings that he wants to "make a supersonic man outta you" -- he means well, so take it as a compliment on your newly svelte form. Long the go-to band for any sports montage ("Bicycle Race," "We Are The Champions"), Queen's greatest hits provide running stimulus for fat-bottomed girls and boys alike.



8. The Modern Lovers, “Roadrunner"

U.S. precursors to what would become punk in the UK, Jonathan Richman's Modern Lovers stole the murky throb of the Velvet Underground and added even more insouciant, devil-may-care attitude. Though their tunes are short, they feel as though they could last forever, and “Roadrunner” will have your feet stomping away into the horizon in no time.



7. Spoon, “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”

As deserving of the spotlight as The National or Arcade Fire, and with a remarkably consistent series of albums under their belt, the ever-underappreciated Spoon has carved a niche for themselves as rhythmic, elastic rockers. Their perfect running record is Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, its stuttering title already a promise of the bouncy promises within. Punctuated with crucial horn stabs and gorgeous drumming, "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" most deserves a place on this playlist.



6. Adele, “Rolling In The Deep” (The Lost Boys remix)

Remember: No one can hear your thoughts, and no one should be able to hear what you’re blasting on repeat to get your workout done. There's no need to be embarrassed at including pop hits in a playlist like this; in fact, most will find that these manufactured confections provide great incentive for any exercise. Don't be ashamed -- you’ll be surprised how much resilience and force you’ll find in the collected works of modern-day divas like Beyonce, Lady Gaga or Adele.



"Say what you will about his Twitter rantings, but Kanye West has great taste in samples."



5. ZZ Top, “Legs”

Remember when heavy metal started sounding like disco, all shimmery synths and programmed beats? No? Just imagine what a Van Halen tune sounds like and then play "Jump" -- no racing guitars and headbanging, right? Just high-def production and a great melody. Like Kiss’ “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” ZZ Top presents the same sonic disconnect between their image and songs like the amazing "Legs." If only all hair metal was as cool as this beard metal.



4. LCD Soundsystem, “I Can Change” (Stereogamous remix)

Now much mourned and sadly defunct, LCD Soundsystem was the first band to work with Nike to compose one long continuous track to soundtrack a run from warm-up to cooling down. The result, "45:33," is a great one to jog to, containing the seedlings for what would later turn into the stunning track "Someone Great." But perhaps the New Yorkers’ most suitable workout track is their mantra-stic "I Can Change," here in the pulsating Stereogamous remix.



3. Skrillex, “Bangarang”

Much can be said about dubstep: that it got corrupted and turned into "bro-step" upon arriving in the U.S. from the UK, or that it's just a silly studio trick to make any pop diva hit get that super wobbly bass advantage. But both of those criticisms neglect the sheer level of crazy energy contained in the beats purveyed by artists like Skrillex. And it's right at the hardest part of your workout, when you need that extra burst of energy. Step it up!



2. Bruce Springsteen, “Dancing In The Dark”

The Boss' workmanlike approach to rock makes his tunes a great match for runners who just need a dose of discipline to stick to their New Year's resolutions. Others may prefer the perennially misunderstood "Born in the USA," or the, yes, very suitable "Born to Run," but I suggest a live version of "Prove It All Night" or "Dancing In The Dark," which pairs Bruce's usual passion with sheer and blatant fun.



1. Daft Punk, “Around The World/Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” (live mashup)

Say what you will about his Twitter rantings, but Kanye West has great taste in samples, as shown in “Stronger,” a song pilfered wholesale from Daft Punk. This French powerhouse has no shortage of motivational club bangers, and nowhere is this more apparent than at their rare live appearances, where their hits flex and morph into each other with tactical brilliancy. The fantastic live album Alive 2007 portions out the classics in tantalizing style, and you'll find yourself taking on lap after lap just to hear "One More Time," er, one more time.