Best Running Song for December!

I don't listen to a lot of rap when I run, but there are a couple rap tunes that always make my long run playlists.

I've been running to this first song for the last 15 years! That's right - 15 years! Most songs wear out their welcome with a lot of repeat listens, especially when running, but this one has never lost a single bit of its power for me. It still pumps me up, still gets me moving faster, still works, every time.

The song is "Luchini aka This Is It" by Camp Lo. And let me tell you, this is the best rap you'll ever hear by a guy with a toothpick in his mouth. Really though, these guys had a bunch of quality songs on this album, "Uptown Saturday Night," but Luchini was only a minor hit and they never really hit it big. Which is a shame. This is a good one. Give it a listen on your next run.

As the backup song, we've got the all-time champion song when you absolutely, positively must get pumped up for a race.

Yep, Eminem with Lose Yourself. Accept no substitutes.

Whether you like Eminem or not, the lyrics just take this one over the top. I mean, a whole song about taking your one shot and giving it your all. What more do you want?

"Opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Go!"

Past Best Running Songs:
November: Wolfmother / "Joker and the Thief"
October: Phoenix / "1901"
September: Matt and Kim / "Daylight"
August: Collie Buddz / "Holiday"
July: Pretenders / "Tattooed Love Boys"
June: The Wombats / "Moving to New York"
May: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros / "40 Day Dream"
April: Foxy Shazam / "Unstoppable"
March: Pharrell / "Fun Fun Fun"
February: Puff Daddy / "Come With Me"
January: We Are Scientists / "The Great Escape"
December: Cee Lo Green / "F**k You"
November: Tokyo Police Club / "Breakneck Speed"
October: Two Door Cinema Club / "Something Good Can Work"
September: Stone Temple Pilots / "Cinnamon"
August: Louis XIV / "Guilt by Association"
July: Devo / "Fresh"
June: Saliva / "Your Disease"
May: Metric / "Gold Guns Girls"
April: OK Go / "This Too Shall Pass"
March: The Hours / "Ali In The Jungle"
February: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs / "El Matador"
January: White Rabbits / "Percussion Gun"
December: Deftones / "Knife Prty"
November: The Kooks / "Always Where I Need To Be"
October: At the Drive In / "One Armed Scissor"
September: Silversun Pickups / "Lazy Eye"
August: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros / "Johnny Appleseed"
July: Deathray / "I Wanna Lose Control (Uh Oh)"
June: Raconteurs / "Salute Your Solution"
May: Tea Party / "Save Me"
April: Bloc Party / "Like Eating Glass"
Ever: The English Beat / "I Confess"