A Good I.D.ea

One of my two pieces of required running equipment (the other is my shoes). An absolute necessity in the event of a serious injury. I'm not affiliated with this company in any way ... but I highly recommend them.

Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen
Nebraska
Columbia Records

Recorded on a 4 track cassette machine in Springsteen's kitchen, Nebraska contains some of the most haunting music in his entire catalog. The album, frightening, simple and pure, represents some of his most immediate material. A stark contrast to his work with the E Street Band.

Use for: trail runs

Since I Left You

The Avalanches
Since I Left You
Modular Recordings

An astonishing amalgam of everything from Madonna to the Isley Brothers. Seamless and beautiful. Listen (and run) in awe.

Use for: early morning training runs (preferably by streetlight)

Obscured By Clouds

Pink Floyd
Obscured By Clouds
Harvest/Capitol

Arguably the Pink Floyd album best suited for running, Obscured By Clouds is often overshadowed by the group's better known late 70's works. Recorded during a period of particular cohesion between Waters and Gilmour, the album rolls along with satisfying psychedelia yet still manages an average song length of around four minutes. The total playing time for the record (slightly over 40 minutes) is an excellent length for 4-5 mile runs.

Note: some may wish to omit the last track "Absolutely Curtains" which would bring running time to about 35 minutes.

Use for: easy recovery runs

If You Haven't Already ...

Girlfriend

Matthew Sweet
Girlfriend
Zoo Entertainment

Girlfriend sounds just as good now as it did when it was released over 15 years ago. Kudos to Quine and Lloyd (of Voidoids and Television fame, respectively), who make the guitar work sound (paradoxically) spastic, tight and urgent all at the same time.

Use for: LSDs

All Hail Hayward!

Pictured above is my current go-to shoe - the Nike Air Zoom Hayward (or Skylon as it was formerly known) in its now discontinued blue/silver/white color scheme. Weighing in at only 9.9 oz, the shoe is somewhat of a cross between a racing flat and a coushined trainer, which makes it perfect for average or light weight neutral runners.

Use for: training runs under 10 miles and races up to half marathon

Thunder, Lightning, Strike

The Go! Team
Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Memphis Industries

While pairing hip-hop cheerleading with 70's theme songs may not sound all that great on paper, in practice it is the basis for one of the best running records ever committed to wax. Originally concieved as a bedroom project for documentary filmmaker Ian Parton, The Go! Team has grown into a sextet which includes a full-time MC and two drummers - all of whom contribute to the relentless, catchy charm of Thunder, Lightning, Strike.

Use for: XT, hills, tempo runs

Radiodread

Easy-Star All Stars
Radiodread
Easy Star Records

As a song-for-song reggae translation of Radiohead's epic OK Computer, Radiodread delivers exactly what it promises. It's actually quite impressive that the Easy-Star All Stars manage to incorporate every element of the original recording using no samples, given the complexity of the album's chord progressions and structure. "Paraniod Android", for example, breaks from the traditional time signatures of the genre before progressing into a full-on heavy skank complete with stacatto horns in place of Radiohead's soaring guitars. Even the usually unsetteling "Fitter Happier" is interesting on a run when delivered in a thick rasta drawl.

Use for: LSDs, easy recovery runs

Classics

Ratatat
Classics
XL Recordings

The third release from New York indie/electronic duo Ratatat is a great record for almost any workout. While sometimes derided as sounding too much like an overextended Volkswagen commercial, Mike Stroud's pounding guitars paired with the beats and synthesizer of Evan Mast never begin to seem repetetive (even after several miles). As an added bonus, the group's live shows involve up to two hours of exuberant butt shaking - also an excellent form of exercise.

Use for: speedwork, racing