The majority of the workouts I do are either accompanied by the cheesy synth-pop exercise video soundtrack (Jillian Michaels, I’m scowling in your direction), or whatever’s blaring through the speakers at the gym. When I run, though, I’m addicted to listening to the loudest, most upbeat stuff I can find. I know, I know, safety rules dictate you leave the iPod at home when you go for a jog, but what can I say, music makes the difference for me between “running” and “collapsing in a heap on the cement”.

I recently huffed and gasped my way through a 5K, and these are the songs kept me going:

M79, Vampire Weekend. (Not their official music video). Poppy and happy and swirly and all-around cool.

Disturbia, Rihanna. I think this is the only Rihanna song I’ve ever listened to. It’s AWESOME.

Salute Your Solution, The Raconteurs. Loud and fast and choppy and shouty and kind of screechy, this one begs to be played at top volume.

Put Your Hands Up for Detroit, Fedde Le Grand. I have some ridiculous long extended mix of this techno/dance song and I swear I could listen to it all day.

Supermassive Black Hole, Muse. I recently fell in obsessive love with the Muse album Black Holes and Revelations, and this is just one of the many kickass songs that helps me pick up my feet when I’m dragging. You may know this tune from . . . uh, Twilight. Cough.

That’s Not My Name, Ting Tings. This song makes me do a goofy little hop while I’m running, and mouth the lyrics even while I’m huffing and puffing. So catchy!

Tamacún, Rodrigo y Gabriela. Someone recommended this song to me recently and I am eternally grateful they did—I was listening to the last minute or so as I approached the 5K finish line and I actually found the energy to pick up my pace and finish at a sprint instead of a crawl.

Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Peas. You know this song. I know this song. We’ve all heard this song. I don’t want to like this song. I especially don’t want to purposefully listen to Fergie. And YET. I cannot help but LOVE THIS STUPID SONG.

(Man, I had little YouTube videos embedded for EACH of these, but they aren’t displaying. Lame.)

Your turn! What music helps you find your second wind while you’re exercising?