Music mix offers a rhythm to the run

Now that I am back into working out regularly, there are a few key ingredients I need for a good work out.

One is the proper attire, which mostly means a comfortable pair of yoga pants, a sports bra, a tank top and New Balance sneakers. Though I can hardly believe I did it, I dropped $100 on the pair of yoga pants I have now at Santana Row about a month ago. They are comfortable, the right length (which is an issue for me at 5'1") and as my friend said when we were shopping they make everything look a little perkier and shapelier. Luckily, I get my New Balance shoes and Gap tank tops for cheap at the Gilroy outlets.

Another key ingredient for a good work out is a couple of magazines to keep me occupied while I am working on cardio machines. The truth is I get kinda bored on the elliptical, bike or treadmill so a magazine is a good distraction. I wasn't going to the gym for a while so I had a backlog of People magazines. People is perfect because there are lots of pictures and it's light reading. It doesn't take a lot of concentration and the type is larger than in a magazine like my favorite read, The New Yorker. But after a few months of a six-day a week gym habit, I quickly caught up on the magazines. So now I've been mixing in an issue of Entertainment Weekly here and there, or Esquire or GQ, which have surprisingly high-quality and clever writing.

But perhaps the most important part of my workout routine (and something that has been a part of it since my first fitness stint back in college) is good music. Back when I used to run in college and at San Jose State University, I used to carry around a Sony Discman. When I was using cardio equipment, I'd prop it in the cup holders. When I was using weight machines, I wore baggy men's gym shorts so that I could stuff the Discman in my pocket. It was heavy and unwieldy.

Times have certainly changed. Now I run with my iPod nano strapped to my arm with headphones that have soft earbuds to block out all the outside noise. I have 600+ songs on the iPod so it's easy to mix up the music. I have to say I have eclectic taste in music in general, but especially when I workout. I don't really care what the lyrics are as long as it has a fast pace and isn't heavy metal. When I first started jogging at the gym, I listened to the soundtrack from "Slumdog Millionaires," which has some great high beat per minute music on it. "Mausum &Escape" is what I use to start the jog because it sets the mood and rhythm.

So when I was preparing for the 5K last weekend, I spent some time thinking about with what music I might want to start and end the run. I wanted to use the music to help pace myself - like two fast songs for jogging and then one slower song for walking. But mostly I wanted fun stuff that would keep me going when I got a little tired out.

So below is my random mix:
Hop on a Plane - Tegan and Sara
Mausam & Escape - Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack
Blah Blah Blah - Ke$ha
Amphetamine - I Can't Go On I'll Go On (Bandslam soundtrack)
Sexy Mistake - The Chalets
Upside Down - Jack Johnson
Beggin' - Madcon
Mean Girls - Sugarland
Supermodel - Jill Sobule
Walking on air - Kerli
Party at a Rich Dude's House - Ke$ha
Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne
Single Ladies - Beyonce
Shake It - Metro Station
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
Get On Your Boots - U2
O Saya - Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack
Gimme More - Britney Spears
Whatcha Say - DJ X-Change

I put on an hour and 10 minutes of music, just in case I really blew my average time of a 40 minute 5K (on the treadmill at the gym.) The songs that gave me the biggest motivation included Mausam & Escape, Supermodel and Girlfriend, perhaps because of their timing in the run. I crossed the finish line to Beyonce's Single Ladies so I didn't even get to the one song by my favorite band U2. But I am sure I will get some more use out of the mix at the gym.

And anyone who has suggestions for other songs to add is welcome to share them.