Music is a big part of the Gomer lifestyle, and a huge part of their marathon training. In our regular section called Songs To Run To, we each choose a song that inspires us, motivates us, or just plain keeps us going. Below is a Spotify playlist from Steven and a list of the first few seasons songs to run to. Feel free to leave a comment with your own Songs To Run To!
Season 1
| Episode | Anthony G1 | Steven G2 |
|---|---|---|
| S:1 E:1 | “Where The Streets Have No Name” by U2 | “Dare You To Move” by Switchfoot |
| S:1 E:2 | “23” by Jimmy Eat World | “Fix You” by Cold Play |
| S:1 E:3 | “Your Love is Strong” by Jon Foreman (Switchfoot)
Honorable Mention “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” by George Winston |
“Best of You” by Foo Fighters |
| S:1 E:4 | “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis (Also by The Bad Plus as heard at the end of the podcast) | “Stay” by Dave Matthews Band |
| S:1 E:5 | “Yes” by Cold Play | “Lose Yourself” by Eminem |
| S:1 E:6 | “Happy is a Yuppie Word” by Switchfoot | “Come Around” by Mark Broussard |
| S:1 E:7 | “My Glorious” by Delirious? | “Eye Of The Tiger – Rocky IV Soundtrack” by Survivor |
| S:1 E:8 | “Jupiter – From The Planets” by London Festival Orchestra | “Rudy Soundtrack” by Matt Bramschreiber |
| S:1 E:9 | “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol | “When In Rome” by Nickel Creek |
Season 2
| Episode | Anthony G1 | Steven G2 |
|---|---|---|
| S:2 E:1 | “Why I Am” by Dave Matthews Band | “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley |
| S:2 E:2 | Watching Full House Episodes | “Wonderwall” by Ryan Adams |
| S:2 E:3 | “Rockstar” by Third Day | “Ain’t No Other Man” by Christina Aguilera |
| S:2 E:4 | “Blurry” by Puddle of Mud | “Free Falling” by Jon Mayer |
| S:2 E:5 | “Never Underestimate My Jesus” by Relient K | (Song to Lay Down To): “Fields of Gold” by Eva Cassidy |
| S:2 E:6 | “Black or White” by Michael Jackson | “Shine Your Light On Us” by The Robbie Seay Band |
| S:2 E:7 | “What Sarah Said” by Death Cab for Cutie | “Dare You To Move” by Switchfoot |
| S:2 E:8 | “15 Steps” by Radiohead | “She is Love” by Parachute |
| S:2 E:9 | Podcasts: Stuff You Should Know, This American Life, RadioLab, The Best Show on WFMU |
“The Luckiest” by Ben Folds
Podcasts: The Bugle, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, NPR Sunday Puzzle, WFMU Best Show Gems, Today in the Past |
| S:2 E:10 | “Love Like a Sunset Parts I and II” by Phoenix | “Death and All His Friends” by Coldplay |
| S:2 E:11 | “Marriage of Figaro Overture” | “Fireflies” by Owl City |
| S:2 E:12 | Christmas 1984 by Mannheim Steamroller | Merry Christmas by Mariah Carrey |
| S:2 E:13 | The Nutcracker by The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Christmas in the Stars by The Cast of Star Wars | “Merry Christmas, Baby” by BB King and “Adoramus Te Christe” by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra |
| S:2 E:14 | Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Giraldi | “Winter Wonderland” by Harry Connick Jr. and “Evergreen” by Switchfoot |
| S:2 E:15 | “Run Forrest, Run” by Alan Silvestri | “Add to the Beauty” by Sara Groves |
| S:2 E:16 | “Alleluia Sing” by The David Crowder Band | “Just Say Yes” by Snow Patrol |
| S:2 E:17 | “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley | “Gone and Git it Y’all” by Count Basie and his Orchestra |
| S:2 E:18 | “1901” by Phoenix | “When You Were Young” by The Killers |
| S:2 E:19 | “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon | “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac |
| S:2 E:20 | “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard | “Mess of Me” by Switchfoot |
| S:2 E:21 | None, because Steven got crushed by a freakin’ Smart Car | |
| S:2 E:22 | Kid Stuff by John Williams | “Kingdom Comes” by Sara Groves |
| S:2 E:23 | “Ali in the Jungle” by The Hours | “The Avalanche” by Sufjan Stevens |
| S:2 E:24 | “Say” by Jon Mayer | “21 Guns” by Green Day |
| S:2 E:25 | (S2R2/True Gomer Confessions Mash-Up) “That’s the Way It Is” by Celine Dion | (S2R2/True Gomer Confessions Mash-Up) “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus |
| S:2 E:26 | “Your Love is Strong” by Robbie Seay Band | “Just the Way I’m Feeling” by Feeder |
| S:2 E:27 | “It’s Not Your Fault” by Athlete | “Keep Coming Back” by Marc Broussard |
Season 3 – Thanks for putting this together, with some fun quotes, Laura C!
| Episode | Anthony G1 | Steven G2 | Quotes and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S:3 E:1 | Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
Fan Favorite: I Gotta Feelin’ – Black Eyed Peas |
Pour Some Sugar on Me (Let’s Get Rocked also mentioned) – Def Leopard | Best Quote: Stephen saying “Pour Some Sugar on Me” very properly |
| S:3 E:2 | Take Me Out – Atomic Tom | White Room – Cream | Best Quote: “the album is called “The Cream of Eric Clapton”… |
| S:3 E:3 | O Tenenbaum – Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio | It’s in Every One of Us – John Denver and the Muppets | |
| S:3 E:4 | Christmas Lights – Coldplay | Star of Wonder – Sara Groves | Also alluded to, from Home Alone: Setting the Trap
Steven’s Least Favorite Christmas Song: The Christmas Shoes, because it’s “manipulatively sappy” |
| S:3 E:5 | Took a mulligan by re-choosing How He Loves Us – David Crowder Band | Dance Anthem of the 80’s – Regina Spector | Best Quote: “It’s not ‘I can’t hold on to these regrets,’ but ‘I can’t maintain these regrets.’” |
| S:3 E:6 | Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen | If My Heart Was a House – Owl City | |
| S:3 E:7 | Jupiter Symphony, # 41 in C Major, 4th Movement – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | New Morning – Alpha Rev | Best Quote: “I stood up on my chair and Shazammed it like John Cusak with the boom box” |
| S:3 E:8 | Secrets – OneRepublic | First Train Home (more mainstream), then Hide and Seek – Imogen Heap | |
| S:3 E:9 | Empire State of Mind – Alicia Keys & Jay Z | Let the Rain – Sara Bareilles | |
| S:3 E:10 | Do Not Move, Come Awake, & You Are My Joy – David Crowder Band
Bonus Song: Jesus Paid it All – Kristian Stanfill |
When the Saints – Sara Groves |
You guys git the full house theme stuck in my head for 3 days. My wife even caught me humming it in the shower 🙁 how embarrassing.
Learn to Breathe By Thousand Foot Crutch
Sad Sad City by Ghostland Observatory, Viens Mallika Sous Le Dome by Delibes as Arranged by Howard, Dashboard or Out of Gas by Modest Mouse, Hey Yea by Outkast, Lady Don’t Tek No by Latyrx, Hang Me Up to Dry by Cold War Kids, 2 Atoms In a Molecule by Noah and the Whale, Sleepyhead by Passion Pit, You Are a Runner and I Am My Father’s Son by Wolf Parade, Sugar Never Tasted So Good by The White Stripes, Lovely Day by Bill Withers, Thriller by Michael Jackson, Top Yourself by The Raconteurs, Corn flake Girl by Tori Amos, The Seed by The Roots, The Moth Podcast
Hey guys! I’m only about halfway through your first season right now (I’m a total beginner myself, so I’m really enjoying it.) Anyway, I just wanted to throw out two of my favorite songs to run by:
“The Gash” by The Flaming Lips &
“Head On” by The Jesus & Mary Chain
Keep up the good work, and I can’t wait to get caught up on the podcasts!
“Level” by The Raconteurs
“Aerials” by System of a Down
“Rise Against” by POD
“Schism” by Tool
“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
Just tuned in this season. Love your work! I listen while I paint the inside of my parent’s house. I’m training to run a double marathon in January called “The Goofy Challenge” @ Disney in Florida. 1st day run a half marathon: 13.1mi, 2nd day run a full marathon: 26.2mi. Gotta be goofy to do it. Two great songs for driving your feet with speed are: Jai Ho/Slumdog Millionaire and Boom Boom Pow/Black Eyed Peas.
I have a lot of songs that I love to run to but my current favorite is I am Free by the Newsboys. It has a great beat and I love it when it gets to the part that says “I am free to run….”
I love the podcast. Listening for the big reveal right now actually!
My favorite song to run to is Huddle Formation by The Go! Team. If I need a lift on the last part of my run it’s the best song, like cheerleaders singing to me. 🙂
The podcast is awesome you guys, keep it up. Your accents crack me up (I lived in Manitowoc for a bit).
lol I almost hate listening because I wish I could join in the conversation.
Two good songs: “Leapyear” Maria Taylor, “Have You Got It In You?” Imogen Heap
a few of my favorite songs:
Violet Hill by Coldplay
Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve
Angels on the Moon by Thriving Ivory
🙂
I just came across another great song to run to. Very uplifting and upbeat. May be one of my top songs now that I came across it again. It is Salvador-You are there. Check it out.
What are the exact names of the podcasts you mentioned in Episode 9? I forgot what they were and figured I could just get them from the show notes but you didn’t list them.
Just added those podcast names (plus a couple extras!) under Episode 9 above! Thanks Eileen!
My song to run to is an Ivor Cutler track. It gives me motivation when I forget that unless I exercise my ‘Moobs’ (man-boobs) will return! The track is simply called “If your breasts”. p.s. it’s only 8 seconds long!
Lose YOurself – Eminem……hands down the most motivating song out there. The tune, the lyrics, the message. Well….maybe the second most motivating song behind the theme song to Full House.
Hey Gomers! I make playlists every month to listen to at work, but this month I made a whole playlist of songs to run to, just for you guys! You can download the album at:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=K0CCO978
I hope you get some use out of it on your runs!
What? No Motown/R&B hits? Check these out –
“Baby I Need Your Loving” – The Four Tops
“Hit the Road Jack” – Ray Charles
“Dancing in the Streets” – Martha and the Vandellas
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” – James Brown
“walking in Rhythm” – The Blackbyrds
One of my favorite upbeat songs is Runaway by Pat McGee Band. The song is a great motivating happy rock song. Awesome harmony, modest but driving beat… great for running. The song title even has ‘run’ in it! 🙂
Love the podcast!
Hey Dudes,
Why don’t you put together an itunes store imix of your S2R2?
why no jazz? hearing miles and the bad plus in your show mix is what made me stick around. jazz is great for zoning out. my choices:
– miles, tribute to jack johnson (whole album). long, rockin, varied
– freddie hubbard, red clay (song) long, varied, great climax in solos
Oh so many good ones already mentioned. Here are a few of my fav’s:
Do Not – John Reuben
Going the distance – Cake
Short Skirt Long Jack – Cake
Sonny Moon – The Cat empire
Mr Hurricane – BEAST
Play that Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Wavn’ Flag – K’naan
Love the podcast guys! Keep it up!
Just about anything by RED.
Rawkfist – Thousand Foot Crutch
Into Black – Disciple
Game On – Disciple
Live Like We’re Alive – Nevertheless
Better than Drugs – Skillet
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead – The Wedding
This one is old school, but check out “Welcome to the Pleasuredome” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Two very different songs that got me going today:
“Whenever God Shines His Light” by Van Morrison
“Heading Out to the Highway” by Judas Priest (great lyrics for running)
As the mileage increases I move the following later within my playlist just when I suspect I will be faltering and questioning why I am doing this. They work magic for me. Let me know if they work for you!
“By Your Side” – Tenth Avenue North
“Whatever You’re Doing” – Sanctus Real
and for the Biggest Best Finish Line Tune …..
“All Along” – Remedy Drive
What is the song you play in the background to the introduction to the “songs to run to” segments? The one that starts “never gonna let you go”?
“Forever”-Chris Brown
“O…Saya” Slumdog Millionaire Sountrack
“I Know Who I Am” Israel & New Breed
“Man In the Mirror”-Michael Jackson
“Motown Philly” Boyz II Men
“American Dream” Switchfoot
“Gone” Switchfoot
“Father, Spirit, Jesus” Casting Crowns
I am enjoying the show guys! Got me running for the first time ever. And I’m telling everyone I know about your show. A while back you mentioned the band Parachute… Just wanted to let everyone know that their whole cd “losing Sleep Deluxe Edition” is on sell for $1.99 on iTunes. It includes “She is Love” with a video… And of course I plugged your show on several of their album reviews… Keep up the good work! I really enjoy the show! Have fun in Atlanta! – @timt97
“Breathe” – Ryan Star
Any 175-180BPM Podrunner podcast – Perfect cadence for running.
“Mo Drums” Entrain
“CatchaFire” tobyMac
“Battle Hymn of the Republic” Erich Kunzel Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
“We Didn’t Start The Fire” Billy Joel
Your Grace is Enough Chril Tomlin
Believe RUN LOLA RUN Soundtrack
Running Two RUN LOLA RUN Soundtrack
Long Black Train – Josh Turner
Gonna Make you Sweat – C+C Music Factory
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
Upbeat song to run to: Vampire Weekend – Horchata
Build Up Song: Stars – Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
Mellow song: City And Colour -Sleeping Sickness
Band: Silversun Pickups
Songs: Lazy Eye – a smooth song that ebbs and flows, a great one to just zone out and be one with the road.
Panic Switch – wailing guitars and a solid bass makes this a good upbeat pace song. Not to mention some awesome drum solos that insipire hard core air drumming. I use it to pump myself up for that last couple miles.
Bittersweet symphony-the verve
shadow of the day-linkin park
king without a crown-matisyahu
jerusulum-matisyahu
learn to fly-foo figheters
speak-godsmack
smooth criminal-alien ant farm
american idiot-green day
crawling-linkin park
whats left of the flag-flogging molly
snow-red hot chilli peppers
indestructible- disturbed- a good, fast song to keep you guys motivated
standing still- DOGFIGHT- a really fun song to run to.
shadows fall- another hero lost
seether- walk away from the sun- a nice mellow acoustic song
seether – fine again – another mellow song
killswitch engage – arms of sorrow – a song with a powerful
instrumental riff with a really nice chorus
i think you guys will really like these songs and enjoy running to them
from yr aussi fan glen
happy running !
I love “Move Along” by the American Rejects ( on Lance Armstrong’s playlist);
“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen; “Pump it” by the Black Eyed Peas; “Fighter” by Christina Aguilara; “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay; “Gives you Hell” by Glee Cast….
check them out!
Do the evolution – Pearl Jam
Also I would like to hear what this embarrassing song is.
Switchfoot, “Hello Hurricane” the whole album begining to end. If you saw them in concert this year, they played the whole album to start the show and it was amazing. Way cool. Keep running.
Hey guys, new listener. Just listened to all of season two the last couple of days. Love the songs to run to segment. I wrote a blog about songs that I think would be good over at http://runningfromthepast.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/songs-to-run-to/
A couple that I think have a good beat but also running related or inspirational lyrics:
Rascal Flatts – Life is a Highway, Kanye West – Stronger, Metallica – Fuel, Journey – Don’t Stop Believing.
Keep up the good work guys!
one of my favs…”Burn for You”, by TobyMac
Hi guys. Great podcast. Half way through your first marathon (season 2). Returning to running after 4 months out. Plantar Fasciitis. Pffff.
My motivational songs:
“Extreme Ways” – Moby (Bourne Identity theme)
“Victory” – PDiddy/Notorious BIG
“Come with me” – PDiddy again (Godzilla soundtrack!!)
Many Grace tunes – “Not over yet”, “Hand in Hand” etc
“Ready to Go” – Republica
“I got a feeling” Black Eyed Peas
“Pretender” Foo Fighters
“Where the Streets…” – U2 live from the Point Depot 1989 New Years Eve, beware though, its a long build and when Bono cuts in I guarantee you will be bustin your lungs!
Keep up the great work guys, cant wait to see if you get through this marathon, and am happy to see there is another series continuing…
Tony Jackson (Bristol, UK)
“My Humps” by Black Eyed Peas always cracks me up thinking of Will Ferrell singing it on the treadmill in Blades of Glory. Love it!
Hi guys. Hands down best running podcast EVER! Thanks for making me look like a fool on my longs runs as I run around the trail laughing to myself. I probably look like a crazed lunatic, but it works for me. I have two songs I think you’d like if you haven’t heard them already.
1. No More, No Less by Mercy Me. I’m not a huge fan of christian rock, but this song is awesome. The lyrics are great and the song has a good build to it.
2. Good Life- One Republic. It just makes me feel good. that’s all.
Keep it up and happy running!
Kim from Utah
The End Titles from the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy by Daft Punk. The whole soundtrack is spectacular but the end titles really get me going when I’m tired.
Heaven Is Counting On You – Ray Boltz
I was putting together a running list and noticed that S2R2 hadn’t been updated for this season on the website. Spent the afternoon listening to S2R2 sections (while doing work), and here ya go:
Season 3
Episode 1
Fan Favorite: I Gotta Feelin’ – Black Eyed Peas
Anthony: Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
Stephen: Pour Some Sugar on Me (Let’s Get Rocked also mentioned) – Def Leopard
(Best Quote: Stephen saying “Pour Some Sugar on Me” very properly)
Episode 2
Anthony: Take Me Out – Atomic Tom
Stephen: White Room – Cream
(Best Quote: “the album is called “The Cream of Eric Clapton”…)
Episode 3
Anthony: O Tenenbaum – Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Stephen: It’s in Every One of Us – John Denver and the Muppets
Episode 4
Anthony: Christmas Lights – Coldplay
Stephen: Star of Wonder – Sara Groves
Also alluded to, from Home Alone: Setting the Trap
(Stephen’s Least Favorite Christmas Song: The Christmas Shoes, because it’s “manipulatively sappy”)
Episode 5
Anthony: took a mulligan by re-choosing How He Loves Us – David Crowder Band
Stephen: Dance Anthem of the 80’s – Regina Spector
(Best Quote: “It’s not ‘I can’t hold on to these regrests,’ but ‘I can’t maintain these regrets.’”)
Episode 6
Anthony: Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Stephen: If My Heart Was a House – Owl City
Episode 7
Anthony: Jupiter Symphony, # 41 in C Major, 4th Movement – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Stephen: New Morning – Alpha Rev
(Best Quote: “I stood up on my chair and Shazammed it like John Cusak with the boom box”)
Episode 8
Anthony: Secrets – OneRepublic
Stephen: First Train Home (more mainstream), then Hide and Seek – Imogen Heap
Episode 9
Anthony: Empire State of Mind – Alicia Keys & Jay Z
Stephen: Let the Rain – Sara Bareilles
Episode 10
Anthony: Do Not Move, Come Awake, & You Are My Joy – David Crowder Band
Anthony Bonus Song: Jesus Paid it All – Kristian Stanfill
Stephen: When the Saints – Sara Groves
Do you think y’all could hyperlink the songs to the song on youtube? It would make it A LOT easier to listen to them all, especially since I purchase many of them. Not all of course, but some. It’s how I channel my inner gomer when I run…
This might make me a Gomer, but what is the song that is played as the intro for the “Songs To Run To” portion of the podcast on Season 3? I have tried to look it up, and it is driving me nuts!
It’s Kings of Leon, Use Somebody. Thanks for listening, Adam!
Thanks for the help, but that is the intro to the entire podcast. I am looking for the intro song and artist for the S2R2 portion. Listening is a blast. Keep up the good tunes and the good work.
Oops! That’s Lonely Nation by Switchfoot.
Awesome!!!! You are a lifesaver. My insanity shall subside (at least for a while).
Just discovered a great running song by mistake. Loser by Beck. Solid beat and makes you want to strut while you run. I give it 5 stars.
Just a few of my faves, faith-based songs:
Brother Moon – Gungor….love it
Set a Fire – Will Reagan & United Pursuit
I’m waaay behind on the podcast (May), but still loving every minute of it.