In Search of a Theme Song

I’ve been thinking (please no smart aleck responses) that there are songs for every occasion. Every where you go, please are singing. Theme songs on TV shows, songs for commercial products, songs common for weddings (the first dance, the chicken dance, line dancing, and even the Macarena). We have Happy Birthday, songs for church and even songs people try to karaoke to (I wouldn't know). So I have come to realize that I need a theme song to support my weekend of running in January. If politicians can have a theme song to carry them through their campaigning for the presidency, why can’t I have one.

This came to me while running and listening to my MP3 player, as I usually do. Mostly the songs I listen to are just there to distract me while I put in my miles. I don’t really have running playlists on my Ipod. But every so often, as song pops up that really gets the blood flowing. Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" (good for over one mile of running), can distract me quickly. Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" (good for singing/shouting along to) is another good one, and most recently, it was the theme song to Rocky – “Gonna Fly Now” giving me a musical boost while running. You know the one, where he is running through the streets of Philadelphia and up the steps to the museum. I have sprinted up those steps once in my life. Well, it was a semi-sprint, as I was in dress shoes and slacks coming from a work event - but it had to be done. If that song doesn’t put a little extra giddy-up into your step, I don’t know what will. Of course, I can only sustain that giddy-up for about 200 yards before needing to slow down again. Doing it for 39.3 miles would be one heck of an adrenaline rush!

Perhaps a song more appropriate for my training is “Against the Wind” by Bob Seger. The lyrics seems to capture what all of my runs are like “Against the wind. We were running against the wind. We were young and strong and we were running against the wind”. Why is it that all runs seem to have a head-wind??? Maybe that is my generations version walking uphill, backwards, in the snow for 5 miles to school.

Some people know I already have a few theme songs I tend to karaoke to, but I don’t think “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown” or “Copacabana” are right for this occasion. Sinatra’s “My Way” is getting close, but is too slow for pacing. Then there is Springsteen's "Born To Run", (baby we were born to ruuuuuuunnnnnnnn). However, I am sure there have to be other options.

Any suggestions? Use the Comments link below this post to provide your input. Be creative. I can only hope that I won’t have “It’s a Small World After All” ringing through my ears after 39.3 miles through Walt Disney World. Wouldn't surprise me if the people behind the curtain who control the big mouse will find a way to blast that song through loudspeakers along the course. Kill me now…

It may not be a theme song, but it is a motto - "May all of your runs be uphill, and the wind be in your face. It builds character!"