Something strange happened a few months ago. I started looking forward to my evening jog.

I’ve been jogging with varying levels of dedication for several years. But only recently have I been passionate about it. These days, I run three or four times a week for 45m or longer. There are times on these jogs, I swear, that can only be described as ecstatic. I’ll be 20 minutes into the run, I’ve defeated the initial bodily resistance, the sun breaks at a precise angle through the trees, children are playing noiselessly in my midst, and a great beat fades onto the headphones. The visuals are cinematic. Without effort, my footfalls synchronize with the meter of the song and I feel I can go on forever.

I credit this transformation to my mp3 player. I never used to jog to music. Now I run, mainly, on Air.

Here’s the magical “Running Man” playlist. Turn it up and run. It’s a recipe for a great jog.

Running Man

Sexy Boy – Air
There Goes the Fear – Doves*
Ce Matin La -Air
Stars and Sons – Broken Social Scene
Mike Mills – Air
Punch Up At A Wedding – Radiohead
Lover’s Spit – Broken Social Scene
Remember – Air
I Bleed – Pixies
Surfin on a Rocket – Air
Myxamatosis – Radiohead
Too Young – Phoenix
Cherry Blossom Girl – Air
I’m Still Your Fag – Broken Social Scene

*added

If anyone has any suggestions for great jogging music, please leave a comment! I seem to prefer lyricless, beat-driven music. The less thinking, the better.