Additions to 8/30/07 "Hot New Athletic Activity"

To the Ironmans and half Ironmans in the 8/30/07 post, I'm adding marathons and half marathons. The best resource on the Internet for these is Marathonguide. When you click on a race, it takes you to a Marathonguide summary page that includes comments by those who have run the race and a link to the race website.

There's a search function where you can search by nearly any race-specific keyword or by location, date, and more. The marathon map with marked race locations will help you find a race by location or by date.

Comments by those who have already run a course are helpful. Racers discuss hotels, restaurants, race amenities, parking, the type of course (hilly/flat, etc.), the weather, expected times (whether it's a course where you can realistically expect to qualify for the Boston Marathon or set a new personal record, for example) and more.

You can view races two months at a time. The list itself shows the city, state and exact date of the run, and it links to a summary page for that race. The list also links to all available info by way of comments, news, press releases, course maps and results for each race listed. Not all races have all these items available.

Since I'm in Washington State I looked for races in WA. There were many, with full descriptions and comments by past runners. It's inspiring me to get back out on the road and get ready to run one!

To cast a wider net than the U.S., visit 42k195, billed as "the worldwide marathon directory."

To train properly for a marathon--there's more to it than just running a lot until you can run 26 miles--go to Marathons, Marathon Training, Marathon Training at Runner's World (where you can get your own training plan), and many more sites.

Many marathoners like to try to run a race in every state. If you've run marathons in at least 10 states, you qualify to join the 50 States Marathon Club.

Half marathoners can consult Half Marathons.

Workout Music List

I like to exercise to music that has good syncopated percussion, or a strong bass line, or both. Most of the songs on this list fit the bill. The few that don't are fun to listen to, and good to intersperse between the "heavier" songs.

I exercise to rhythm, not words, so I don't pay much attention to lyrics. If this is a big thing for you, pick accordingly.

"Abandon Opening Titles," Clint Mansell (from the movie "Abandon" and sung by Katie Holmes)
"Addicted to Love," Robert Palmer
"Ain't No Sunshine," Bill Withers
"All She Wants to Do Is Dance," Don Henley
"Allegretto" and "Libertango," Bond
"American Woman," Lenny Kravitz
"Any Man of Mine," "Man! I Feel Like a Woman," Shania Twain
"Axel F," Sound Chip (this isn't the original from "Beverly Hills Cop," but it's as close as I could find)
"Because of You," "Since U Been Gone," Kelly Clarkson (plus the Bermudez & Griffin dance remix of "BoY")
"Boogie Shoes," KC and the Sunshine Band (plus the dance remix)
"Buttons," The Pussycat Dolls
"Caught Up," Usher
"Cell Block Tango," Danny Elfman (from "Chicago," the movie)
"Chasing Cars," Snow Patrol
"Collide," Howie Day
"Crazy," "Kiss From a Rose," Seal
"Danger Zone," Kenny Loggins (from "Top Gun")
"Desperado," Eagles
"Die Another Day," "Into the Groove," "La Isla Bonita," Madonna
"A Different Corner," George Michael
"Every Breath You Take," The Police (the percussion is nice although the lyrics are icky)
"Every Time We Touch," Cascada--Radio Mix
"Eye of the Tiger," Survivor (from "Rocky III")
"Fighter," "Genie in a Bottle," Christina Aguilera (I prefer Jordin Sparks' cover of "Fighter" but can't find it)
"Flight of the Snowbirds," "Tapdance," "Winter Games," David Foster
"Fuego," Pitbull
"Galaxy Bounce," The Chemical Brothers
"Get Up Offa That Thing," James Brown (highly appropriate for exercise)
"Give Me One Reason," Tracy Chapman
"Have a Nice Day," "It's My Life," "Wanted Dead or Alive," "You Give Love a Bad Name," Bon Jovi
"Here With Me," "White Flag," Dido
"Hiphip Chinchin," Club des Belugas
"Hotel Intro," Moby
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," Aerosmith (on iTunes this is a live and pretty cool recording)
"I Grieve," Peter Gabriel
"I Like That," Chingy & Houston
"I Need to Know," "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You," Marc Anthony (that last one is a duet with Tina Arena from "Zorro")
"In the Air Tonight," Phil Collins
"A Little Bit More," Jamie Lidell
"Love Don't Cost a Thing," Jennifer Lopez
"Making Love Out of Nothing At All," Air Supply
"Man of La Mancha," Linda Eder (from "Man of La Mancha")
"Mas," Kinky
"Mr. Tiddles," Sasha
"Not Ready to Make Nice," Dixie Chicks
"Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps," Cheryl Serio
"Prelude 12/21," AFI
"Princes of the Universe," Queen
"Rise Up (Y.A.N.O.U. Remix)", Dexxlab
"Shout," Tears for Fears
"Soak Up the Sun," Sheryl Crow
"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)," John Parr
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," Eurythmics
"The a la Menthe," Nikkfurie de la Caution (from "Ocean's Twelve")
"A Thousand Miles," Vanessa Carlton
"Trim," Underworld
"Venus," Bananarama
"The Way I Are," Timbaland
"Whatever Lola Wants (Gotan Project Remix)," Sarah Vaughan & Gotan Project
"Wherever You Will Go," The Calling
"Who Wants to Live Forever," Queen
"Wikked Lil' Grrrls," Esthero

Hey, add your workout favorites to this list. Everybody's iPods can use fresh material. What do you recommend?