1. "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
This song seems to warrant mandatory inclusion for any runner's playlist in the 20th Century, and it's difficult for me to argue beyond personal preference. The "story of a kid trying to make it" angle gets played up a little too much for my liking, and it's difficult for me to get too enthused about the lyric that name drops Mekhi Phifer.

2. "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West
I whole-heartedly agree with this selection, but I'll nit-pick on one point that Pearlman makes: it's not merely a moralistic social commentary that West is making, it's a straight-laced denouncement of the anti-Christian hypocrisy in pop music that is condemning.

3. "King of the Nighttime World" by Kiss
Calling this thing an "unappreciated classic" is wrong on two accounts, and if you're looking for a disco-era hard rock song to get the blood firing, why not go with "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin. The only downfall to that track is that it's so intense, you might pop and artery.

4. "I Try" by Talib Kweli with Mary J. Blige
You won't find a bigger Talib fan on this site outside of yours truly, but I'll take "Get By", with it's bouncier rhythm over this track- the MJ soften things up a little too much, and it might slow your pace.

5. "Layin' it on the Line" by Jefferson Starship
Jefferson... Star? Ship? This song wouldn't inspire me to run, it'd only motivate me throw my iPod into the Rio Grande. You want inspirational '80s cheese? Do you love America?

6. "Scenario" by A Tribe Called Quest
Can't speak ill of this group, or this song. For a '90s hip-hop alternative, I'll take "Protact Ya Neck" by the Wu-Tang Clan, so long as you cut out the jabber-jawing at that track's onset.

7. "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
The only place where Metallica is more ubiquitous than the gym is at the pool hall. But we're not hear to pump iron and we're not here to drink, so I'll go with some driving metal, like Wolfmother's "Dimension", Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" or some earlier, faster-tempoed, Metallica ("Master of Puppets", most of Kill 'Em All).

8. "Jump Around" by House of Pain
I'll have to categorically disagree with Pearlman's claim that this song is "sadly ... played out"; it still brings the house down at closing time in almost any Boston bar. My personal running playlist, too, is speckled with Irish-influenced music: Dropkick Murphy's "Tessie" and the Pogue's "Sick Bed of Cuchulainn."

9. "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC
I like me some AC, but most of there stuff is a bit too bluesy (read: slow) to really keep a good running pace. So here, I'm taking a cue from Nike's "Awake" commercial, which utilizes "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" and it's "get ready to get ready" tempo.

10. "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce with Jay-Z
Totally missed the pun opportunity with Destiny Child's "Survivor" at this spot. For a similarly Jay-Z-intruding cut, I'll take "Umbrella" by Rihanna. "Breakin' Dishes", "Shut Up and Drive" and "99 Problems" are all on my list, too.

11. "Harder to Breath" by Maroon 5
I don't even know where to start with this snoozer. Let's just move on.

12. "Too Cold" by Vanilla Ice
I get it. Let's go out and pick something so decidedly horrible that its kitsch value alone will make it worth it. Why not "Rollin'"? Why not "She Hates Me"? See, I can do this, too. Better yet, if rap-metal is necessary, how 'bout some Rage Against the Machine? If, "to run angrily is to run successfully," as Pearlman writes in a very Confucian manner, then why not at least have that anger based on something that has real world meaning? "Take the Power Back" and "Renegades of Funk", for instance.

13. "Panama" by Van Halen
"Panama" would be the VH song of choice for prancing, or perhaps skipping, but for a workout? Not so much. "Runnin' with the Devil" is one of the slowest songs ever to include the words "running", "devil" or both in its title. But their cover of "Aint Talkin' 'Bout Love" is fantastic and appropriate in terms of meter.

14. "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne
In the mid-to-late '90s, the Wareham High School Viking hockey team would enter onto the ice with "Crazy Train" blaring over the crude skating rink loudspeakers. I always found that a little odd, because this song is so ridiculously fast that unless you're absolutely flying around the ice, you will always look comparatively slow when "Train" is playing. "No More Tears" is a bit more my speed. (On skates, I'm closer to "Mama, I'm Coming Home.")

15. "Hot In Herre" by Nelly
Pearlman credits Nelly with the lyrics and "fast beats" of this track, even though the Neptunes are the real brains of the operation. But that's an immaterial criticism. This is a better club track than a running one. How 'bout Three 6 Mafia's "Stay Fly" instead?

16. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" by Public Enemy
I'm pretty sure Keith will revoke my posting privileges if I badmouth PE in any way. I'd prefer, "Welcome to the Terrordome" and it's Marcus Camby approved opening.

17. "All These Things That I've Done" by the Killers
Even though the Killers have one of the best names in rock and roll history, musically they're a boring New Order. There are some better running spots on Hot Fuss than what Pearlman suggests, such as "Mr. Brightside". Or even better, why not go straight to the source then? Pretty much any song by New Order would be great, one personal running choice is, "Regret".

18. "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim
I suppose this track is meant to represent all techno, electronica and all subgenres there in. Truth is, in the summer after my senior year of high school, this (along with "Rockafeller Skank") was probably on my running playlist. But upon further inspection, the slow down on "Praise You" would be so detrimental to your flow. It's probably redundant to pick LCD Soundsystem's "45:33", but it is perfect for running. So would LCD's "Tribulations", and it would transition perfectly from the New Order track before it.

19. "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns 'n' Roses
Professional sports stadiums play this song ad nauseum, ranging from the fitting (Cincinnati Bengals), to the nonsensical (Boston Celtics), and everyone in between. For good reason, too! This track is a blistering assault, both lyrically and musically. If you're too lazy to put together a playlist, just pop on Appetite for Destruction in its entirety.

20. "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
This is where Pearlman begins to add in songs that were on his running mix cassette tape in college. I don't know a single person that even owns this song.

21. "Son's Gonna Rise" by Citizen Cope
Don't know much about this track, but Pearlman describes it as a "magical mixture of folk, blues, reggae and R&B," and that sounds like G. Love or maybe Everlast. And wouldn't want to run to either one of those guys.

22. "Walk This Way" by Run D.M.C.
This influential track certainly fits the purposes of this assignment, but I've really got to question Pearlman when he writes, "[Run D.M.C] wanted to change all the lyrics. Thank God they didn't." Really? Thank God that they didn't change "Singin' hey diddle diddle /With your kitty in the middle"? That's even bad for an Aerosmith lyric, which is kind of like being unhealthy for a McDonald's hamburger.

23. "New Sensation" by INXS
INXS is kind of a poor man's U2, so why not go with "Where the Streets Have No Name" (which Pearlman gives an honorable mention nod to) or "Beautiful Day", both of which are good running playlist openers.

24. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" by Michael Jackson
It's good to see someone in the national media who is still willing to stand up for MJ. There was a time, not to long ago, when Michael was the baddest motha' on the planet (except maybe Eddie Murphy). Sadly, these kids today only know him as some plastic-faced, child-molesting freak. "Beat It" would work well here, too.

25. "Spin Around" by Kay Hanley
Holy darkhorse, Batman! Is this Pearlman's attempt at indie cred? "Here and Now", by Hanley's band Letters to Cleo is much, much better than this forgettable track This begs the question, though: Can something be forgettable if no one know it to begin with? Got a hankerin' for some early '90s alterna-chick rock? Go with the Breeders' "Cannonball".

26. "WAR" by Edwin Starr
Interesting choice to end the playlist with. I usually go with a mellower track, something to cool down to, to walk it off with. If this were the last thing blaring into your headphones, you'd likely punch your roommate once you got home.

++++++++++

If I've learned one thing through this exercise, it's that choosing the best running playlist for yourself has less to do with BPM and everything to do with what moves you, so to speak. Because of that, running music should not be weighted with traditional music criticism. Not to get all "feelings" here, running music is a lot like driving music: at its best, it's something that you can sing along to and gets your blood working is better than anything any professional (or amateur) runner could suggest.

Here are some of those tracks that I run (slowly) to:
"Take Ecstasy with Me" by !!!
"My Coco" by stellastarr*
"Ex-Lion Tamer" by Wire
"The Quiet Things That No One Knows" by Brand New
"I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You" by Black Kids
"Copy Cats" by DM + Jemini featuring Prince Po
"The Swish" by the Hold Steady
"Ocean Breathes Salty" by Modest Mouse
"You Are the Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve" by Johnny Boy
"Woolly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
"Time for Heroes" by the Libertines
"Sweet Talk" by Spankrock
"Song 2" by Blur
"Let There Be Rock" by Drive-by Truckers
"From Here to Eternity" by Giorgio Moroder
"Sunshowers" by M.I.A.
"Where's Your Head At?" by Basement Jaxx
"Sidewalk Surfer Girl" by Super Furry Animals
"Miss Me" by the Wrens
The entire Thunder, Lightning, Strike by the Go Team!
"Burn Piano Island, Burn" by the Blood Brothers (for the ending sprint)
"Farmhouse" by Phish (for the cool down)