Training Songs of the Moment from Music Therapist Bailey

We’ve all been there: trying to rock a tough set of intervals but the wrong song keeps coming up on shuffle, in a spin class where the music  wasn’t synched to the actual workout, or at a race where the music does the opposite of getting you in the zone.  A spin instructor (of mine who is pretty darn good an aligning the music, by the way) tells a story of actually falling asleep slumped over his handle bars at the start line while Semisonic’s “Freshman” was blasted through the PA system.  Fortunately, there’s a flip side of this; we all have songs that can excited us, pull us out of a bad mood, or power us through a tough workout. 

As a music therapist (well, a soon-to-be music therapist), it is my job to understand how music effects our brains and bodies.  In short, we use music to reach functional non-musical cognitive, social-emotional, speech, and PHYSICAL goals.  Specific to exercise, research has shown that music can have an effect on recovery, endurance, and RPE (rate of perceived exertion) in training (read up on this a little here or here). 

I am often asked the question, “What should I listen to for a workout?” or “What is the best music for  … (fill in the blank with any random situation or experience)?”  Unfortunately, I can’t give you a specific set of songs and send you on your way with the promise of inner peace and athletic dominance (if I could I would market that sucker and be a bazillionaire).  The key is choosing music that YOU enjoy and are motivated by.  For most people, an upbeat tempo and strong rhythm is great for training; that bill can be met in any number of genres and the key is to find something that suites your individual taste.  That said, I can offer a few suggestions based on what works for me.

So, what is triathlete/music therapist Bailey listening to these days?  Here is a list of current songs that I find good for training – this is not my “all time” list (perhaps I’ll make a part II with that list someday) but pieces from the last six months or so that have the power to bring a tough training session from blah to blam!  I’ve done my best to put these into 3 categories (Sprint/grit sessions, tempo work/ long intervals, and shiny happy keep the long run/ride rolling) but there is admittedly a lot of crossover – do with it what you will.

Grit Through it Sprint Sessions

• Bleed Out – Blue October (this one lends it’s way to a spin hill climb particularly well)
• Sail – AWOLNATION (I think of this more as a lifting song)
• Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
• My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark – Fall OutBoy (This was my unofficial get pumped song of the season)
• Tessellate – Alt J. (Another lifting song)
• Gas Pedal – Sage the Gemini (So embarrassing to admit but it makes me want to destroy)

Long Intervals and Tempo Work

• Counting Stars – One Republic (Starts off slow so but pretty good once you get past that part)
• Wake Me Up – Avicii
• Pompeii – Bastille
• Work B**ch – Britney Spears (This was running through my head the whole time in Oceanside)
• Roar – Katy Perry
• Timber – Ke$ha and Pitbull (Another guilty pleasure of mine)
• Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Shiny Happy Kee the Long Run/Ride Rolling Songs

• Pumpkin Blood – NONONO
• Ways to Go – Group Love
• The Mother We Share –CHVRCHES
• House of Gold – Twenty One Pilots
• On Top of the World –Imagine Dragons
• Chocolate – The 1975
• Shot at the Night - The Killers

I’m sure there are a few I’m missing and I welcome your input in adding to this list.  Comment with what music gets YOU working!  I’m also considering putting out a holiday themed workout playlist.  Would that interest anyone?

Happy training!