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iPod Workout Playlist

All year, the only thing I told my wife I really wanted for Christmas was a new MP3 player.

The one I’ve been using for the last 3 years is an MPIO DMK, which has been a great little MP3 player…but it only has 128 MB storage, or roughly 45 songs-worth. I liked its small design, and it was great for workouts…

But I wanted a player big enough to hold my entire music library. With room to expand.

As much as I had been begging for an iPod, I didn’t really expect to get one. So, after opening my other great gifts (Santa was extraordinarily generous this year), the last gift I opened was a new 20GB, 4th Generation (click wheel) iPod. And in the stockings I found a leather carrying case and the iTrip FM transmitor for my car.

On top of everything else, the iPod was already loaded up with 9 full albums of Led Zepplin, and the greatest hits of Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Johhny Cash. Nearly 1GB of my favorites.

After spending the last several days loading most of my music collection onto the iPod, I realized that I would need to create several different workout playlists. First I would need one for kayaking/canoing. These tunes would consists of sing-along types (since most of my kayaking and canoe training is done solo, in rather remote rivers and creeks, I like to sing aloud while paddling), I filled it with a lot of slower-beat, acoustic blues and folk songs–a lot of Jeffrey Foucault, Townes Van Zandt, Van Morrison, and Bruce and Charlie Robison.

But the rest of my music collection is mostly a bunch of similar Texas music (Trish Murphy, Kelly Willis, Joy Ely, Guy Clark, Patty Griffin, and Pat Green). Not exactly great weight room motiviational music.

So, now I need to figure out some good pumping music for when I’m working out in the gym. I’m open for any suggestions…I could probably get by mostly on the 9 albums of Led Zepplin (what?)…but I’d like a little variety. I’ll let you know if I ever decide on a good playlist for the gym.

Discussion

34 comments for “iPod Workout Playlist”

  1. Just thought I’d comment that I’m in the exact same boat (so to speak). Wife got me an iPod, I have a ton of mellow music, including Kelly Willis, and I need a workout playlist. It’s the weightroom list that’s tough to develop out of a library like mine. Will have to rip some of those CD’s from my younger days. I came here on a search for workout playlists!

    Posted by Oscar | January 3, 2005, 11:57 am
  2. I’m still not sure what I’m going to use for my weights workouts. I don’t really need upbeat, fast paced, music for my weight lifting, as my workouts are more about slow, controlled movements than keeping my heart rate up to a certain level.

    I’ll probably just keep my pod on random shuffle for now whenever I’m at the gym working out, and anytime a aprticular song strikes me as a particularly good gym tune, I’ll add it to a new playlist.

    I’ll post that list in about another 2-3 weeks after I get one together. Feel free to come back and post your list once you get it together; I’d be interested to see what someone else’s list looks like.

    Posted by Robbie | January 3, 2005, 7:25 pm
  3. well i dont kno if i can help much but mainly when im working out with weights i usualy listen to things like Cake and blink 182. my all time favorite workout song is the distance by Cake. its a good wokout song cause its not to fast but yet its not realy slow either.

    Posted by Logan | January 25, 2005, 9:20 pm
  4. We are producing podcasts for working out with your iPod.

    MARINA’s Workout podcasts

    http://www.marinaspodcast.com

    Posted by Roy kamen | April 12, 2005, 11:56 pm
  5. I love listening to aggressive music in the gym. I got some ideas from a body building forum. I thought “no way” when I downloaded them onto my comp but give them a try in the gym-it’s a different kettle of fish. I use Win MX for downloading – great prog. My fav song of the list if I had to choose would be Korn-Here to Stay (but SOD – Bigger Than The Devil isn’t far behind).

    -Aphex Twin – Come to daddy
    -Clawfinger – Biggest and the best
    -dope – Die Motherfucker Die
    -Drowning Pool – The Game
    -Hatebreed – I Will Be Heard
    -Hatebreed – Bound To Violence
    -Heaven Shall Burn – The Weapon They Fear
    -korn [here to stay]
    -Korn – Blind
    -Linkin Park – By My Self
    -Mnemic – The Audio Injected Soul – 04 – Deathbox
    -Powerman_5000-Bombshell
    -Public Domain – Operation Blade
    -Rage Against The Machine – Calm Like A Bomb
    -Rammstein – Du Hast
    -Rob Zombie – Dragula
    -Rob Zombie – Reload
    -Rob Zombie – Super Beast
    -Slipknot – Spit It Out
    -Rammstein-Sonne
    -Stone Sour – 05 – Choose
    -The Roots & BT-Tao Of The Machine
    -The Crystal Method – Name Of The Game
    -DMW-Where Da Hood At

    Posted by Benson Veasey | July 21, 2005, 1:02 pm
  6. Benson…thanks for the list.

    I haven’t been in the gym much in the last few months. Most of my exercise has been outdoor, with a heavy focus on paddling (30-40 miles per/week on a local lake). For this kind of workout, I perfer music with a slower beat and less…well, noise.

    But I’m a big fan of some of the bands and songs you’ve listed. I think Korn, The Roots, and SOD are especially great gym workout picks.

    Posted by Robbie | July 21, 2005, 1:22 pm
  7. i was just browsing around for workout tunes, im downloading a bunch from your list thanks.
    my personal favorite is almost everything Papa roach. im not a huge fan in general but i started pumping it in the gym and its amazing. lately ive just left his album on repeat while in the gym :)
    papa roach – getting away with murder is my #1 these days.

    Posted by shd | August 1, 2005, 3:11 am
  8. Getting away with murder is a pretty good song!

    In addition, I would recommend the following for an aggressive weight lifting session or a fast run:

    Dead and Bloated – Stone Temple Pilot
    One, Am I Evil, Harvester of Sorrow, just about anything else by Metallica
    The Seeker – The Who
    We Will Rock You – Queen
    BYOB, Chop Suey, Prison – System of a Down
    Here to Stay, Right Now – Korn
    By Myself- Linkin Park
    Wake Up – Rage against the Machine
    Greeting Song, Give it Away – Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Start Me Up, Jumpin Jack Flash, Gimme Shelter- the Stones
    Get a Job – The Offspring
    Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
    Pity – Drowning Pool
    Born on the Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Rusty Cage, Spoonman – Soundgarden
    Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo – Edgar Winters Band
    Zero – Smashing Pumpkins
    Live at Brighton Beach (entire album) – Fat Boy Slim (if you aren’t afraid of techno – the lack of words and seamless transitions between songs helps me get through long runs without wondering when the next song is coming on)
    Disco Science – Snatch Soundtrack
    Eye of the Tiger -Rocky Soundtrack

    Posted by Christie | December 3, 2005, 2:12 pm
  9. I run with my dog everyday. I need a wide range because I get bored easily, and these songs are pretty hot for short sprints or drawn out endurance tests…

    elastica – stutter
    white stripes – hotel yorba
    vines – get free
    missy elliot – for my people
    pie tasters – out all night
    the strokes – last night
    atb – its a fine day
    trick daddy – let’s go
    ladytron – playgirl
    garbage – push it
    NIN – perfect drug
    outkast – hey you
    fischerspooner – emerge
    bloodhound gang – mope
    buju baton – champion
    outkast – bombs over baghdad
    will smith – switch
    sean paul – get busy
    eminem – lose yourself
    ladytron – destroy everything
    rihanna – pon de replay
    violent fems – blister in the sun
    electric six – synthesizer
    DK7 – white shadow
    fallout boy – dance dance
    rilo kelly – portions for foxes
    bloc party – banquet
    magnetic fields – fio your leash is too long
    cranberries – forever yellow skies
    veruca salt – volcano girls
    doris day – i love being a girl
    johnny cash – ring of fire
    99 luft balloons

    Posted by Tarushka | January 8, 2006, 11:24 am
  10. I like lifting weights to Foo Fighter (my hero) and stone temple pilots (wicked garden).
    Does anyone have other suggestions for cardio??

    Posted by Angelina | January 23, 2006, 10:42 pm
  11. for cardio i love listening to Call On Me-eric prydz

    Posted by ashley | January 24, 2006, 2:53 pm
  12. The majority of these songs keep me at the same level of strides per min.

    The hand that feeds – Nine Inch Nails
    Closer – Nine Inch Nails
    Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
    Naughty Girls – Beyonce
    Fireworks – the tragically Hip
    golddigger
    Switch – Will smith
    Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani
    Money Jane – Baby Blue Soundcrew
    River Below – Billy Tallent
    Pon De Replay – Rihanna
    Son of a gun – Janet Jackson cover
    Hey ya – Outkast
    Bubble Pop Electric – Gwen Stefani
    Holllaback girl – Gwen Stefani
    Crash – Gwen Stefani
    My Favourite Game – The Cartigans
    Mr. Brightside – the killers
    Somebody Told me – the killers (good to end the workout because of the tempo change)
    Beep – Pussy Cat Dolls
    Don’t Stop – Janet Jackson

    My new fav…….. SOS (Rescue Me) – Rihanna

    To cool down to
    The Flaming Lips
    Dashboard Confessional
    Death Cab for Cutie

    Posted by barbara | January 30, 2006, 12:16 am
  13. just a few I like that I havn’t already seen on the lists here..

    man in motion- john parr (st.elmos fire theme)
    standing outside the fire- garth brooks
    til i collapse- eminiem
    bring em out- t.o.
    alone- lasgo
    lean back remix

    Posted by Lauren | February 18, 2006, 12:37 am
  14. Cascada – Everytime We Touch
    This will FOR SURE get you movin’!

    Posted by Aim | March 1, 2006, 7:46 pm
  15. one comes to mind, and though I hate Ashlee simpson, her songs are catchy… dammit.
    L.O.V.E

    Posted by Laura | March 2, 2006, 6:57 pm
  16. I’ve been doing 30-45 mins of elliptical and then weights, and I’ve used this playlist for the whole shebang.. It’s been quite a good playlist (especially the beats and timing for ‘don’t phunk with my heart’ and ‘me against the music’ which are perfect for elliptical!)

    I must say this list consists music I would never usually listen to and it’s almost embarassing to post this, but it seems to do the trick in the gym…

    Bathwater – No Doubt
    Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson
    Toxic – Britney Spears
    Work It – Missy Elliott
    Miss Independent – Kelly Clarkson
    Shake Your Bon-Bon – Ricky Martin
    Me Against the Music – Britney Spears/Madonna
    Fighter – Christina Aguilera
    U Can’t Resist – Missy Elliott
    Don’t Phunk with my Heart – Black Eyed Peas
    Can’t Stop – Missy Elliott
    Work It – Nelly/Justin Timberlake
    Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
    Still a G Thing – Snoop Dogg
    Get Ur Freak On – Missy Elliott
    Right for Me – Justin Timberlake
    Hey Ya! – OutKast
    Hourglass – Snoop Dogg
    She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5 (cool down)

    Posted by diana | March 7, 2006, 5:33 pm
  17. heres a few i noticed that you dont have on there:
    Justify my Thug – Jay Z
    99 problems – Jay Z
    Ace of Spades – MotorHead
    Temperture – Sean Paul
    Space Lord – Monster Magnet
    Bat Country – Avenged Sevenfold
    da rockweilder – Methodman & Redman
    Chokeme Spankme – xzibit
    American Badass – KidRock
    Master of puppets – Metallica

    Posted by J-Dub | March 8, 2006, 3:08 am
  18. How do iPod workouts WORK?

    When a friend told me about personal training on an iPod player I actually laughed. Why would anyone want to listen to someone telling them what to do, and how could you tell them what to do and not be there? This is impossible. So being the personal trainer that I am I had to sample it. And being the do it yourself guy that I am, I made a few demo files and uploaded them to my Mp3 player.

    So I created the Treadmill Burner 30 minute workout and the elliptical calorie cruncher for my cardio workout. For my weight lifting routine The Latpulldown, the chest press, the smith machine squat, and the leg press machine, all are between 6 and 7 minutes long. So that gave me about 90 minutes of exercise to take to the gym with me.

    Since I use windows I had to save the file as Mp3 and then add it to my windows media player library, I also have an iPod, so I had to save it on my iTunes as well. The process was really easy. The hard part was making the music and compressing the files. I saved them at 128 BPM and 96 BPM for the cardio (larger files). The files totaled around 45 MB. Kinda large but wanted to maintain near CD quality.

    So I went to the Gym, stepped on the treadmill put my earphones on pressed play and started the treadmill. My intro informed me what I was about to do. Then I followed the voice instructions. Oh yea, my voice. After 30 minute of treadmill work I must say I was impressed with the workout. Reason being, I had to listen to the commands. It forced me to do that workout. And because I had to follow the commands it felt like I burned more calories in that 30 min workout.

    But my workout wasn’t over. I had to do the weights. So off to the smith machine I go. By the way I decided to mix a favorite song in between each exercise, 2 for the cardio. So by the time I was ready for the smith machine the iPod workout song started. Once again I followed the instructions and using less weight than I normally use still had a really good exercise. I believe because I couldn’t listen to myself. I had to listen to the iPod workout voice. Not only that, but when I recorded the Mp3 files, I made the actual sets count to the beat of the songs, a workout cadence so to speak. So I had to move to the count of the song, which forced my body to be more controlled during the movements. I felt complete muscular fatigue.

    So I’m sure you get the picture about the rest of my workout. Needless to say I was wrong. Really wrong about this iPod workout craze. I’m sold! Also most Gyms have the same Basic Exercise equipment, just different makers or brands. So this can work for anybody. Maybe the advice for me is to listen to my friends. And my advice to others, listen to your iPod. Thanks Marc. You can find my Mp3 files at http://www.PODFITNESSBOD.COM

    Charlie Trainer

    Posted by Charlie | March 28, 2006, 1:06 pm
  19. slow motion-juvenile
    shake it off-mariah carey
    rich girl-gwen stefani
    drop down n get your eagle on-nelly
    run girl (clean)-david banner
    hips dont lie-shakira
    get busy living or get busy dying-fallout boy
    cupids chokehold-gymclass heroes
    dance-jamiriquoi
    you owe me an iou-hot hot heat
    grillz-nelly
    roses-outkast
    just a lil bit-50 cent
    beep-pussycat dolls
    1-2 step-ciara
    run it-chris brown
    SOS-rhianna
    everytime we touch-cascada
    bring out the freak in you-lil rob
    laffy taffy-d4l
    get busy-sean paul
    my hump-black eyed peas
    touch the sky-kanye west
    worked up so sexual-the faint
    pretty girl (the way)-sugarcult
    apache (jump on it)-sugarhill gang
    belly dancer-akon

    sample of one of my cardio playlists

    Posted by Sarah | May 21, 2006, 4:49 pm
  20. A new online store for “iPod Workouts” has opened at

    http://www.marinaonline.com

    MARINA has over 360 “mp3 workouts” and “workout songs” in a mix & match menu. Real easy to download.

    Plenty of great “fitness music” there arranged by BPM

    Posted by Roy Kamen | June 17, 2006, 7:23 am
  21. I’m a fan of cardio, and love upbeat songs that are easy to keep me motivated.

    Lindsay Lohan – Rumors
    Sum 41 – The Hell Song
    Linkin Park – Faint
    Panic! at the Disco – The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage
    The Ceasars – Jerk It Out
    SugarCult – Memory
    Steriogram – Walkie Talkie Man
    Will Smith – Switch (dont we all love this one)
    The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love
    The Police – Message in a Bottle
    Ace of Base – Its a Beautiful Life
    Hot Hot Heat – Talk To Me, Dance With Me
    Akon – Bananaz
    Fall Out Boy – Champagne for my Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends
    Vengaboys – Boom Boom Boom (if nothing else, GET THIS SONG!)
    Zebrahead – Now or Never
    Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (duh!)
    Nina Sky, Twista, Youngbloodz – Move Ya Body Remix
    N.E.R.D. – Brain
    Sean Paul – Temperature
    Rob Thomas – This is How a Heart Breaks (best for the last push, a personal favorite)

    All in all, its a lot, so you can get lots of variety each workout!

    Posted by Sami | June 30, 2006, 1:17 am
  22. I have my entire workout playlist at http://mog.com/donateyourweight, I find it extremely helpful for bike riding and walking fast. Hard stuff for lifting? I would recommend Prodigy and Naked Raygun, especially the song New Dreams. A favorite overall motivational tune with a great beat is Galvanize (feat. Q-tip) by Chemical Brothers.

    Posted by Sheri Zampelli | July 2, 2006, 12:23 pm
  23. search for a song called batucada
    I’m not really sure who made it but Carl cox & Spiller is what the text said on the file…

    Posted by m | October 11, 2006, 8:55 am
  24. Bodyrockers – I like the way you move (get the remix)
    It will change your life…

    Posted by Dustin | December 20, 2006, 12:13 am
  25. Try fitnesssongs.com for customized fitness songs that train you on fitness equipment in the gym, like the treadmill, weight machines and more.

    Posted by cdtrainer | March 10, 2007, 1:47 am
  26. HI, I’M LOOKING FOR WORKOUTS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR BIKE RIDING, …INDOOR OR OUTDOOR BIKE RIDING, …SONGS, BUT ALSO THE “TALK ALONG”, MOTIVATIONAL WORKOUTS, …..CANT SEEM TO FIND ANY THOUGH, ….ANY IDEAS?

    Posted by KAT | July 11, 2007, 9:21 pm
  27. I’ve been lifting for a while and recently got an ipod shuffle to use while I’m working out and I find that it is great to use.

    For cardio I like songs that have a consistent beat to them and maintain flow throughout the song. Most of these songs will be rap because they maintain flow and don’ rise and fall too much.

    Top Back (remix)- TI
    Da Heavy Hittas – Jazze Pha
    How we do – The game
    Gone – Juelz Santana
    Anything with a good beat really

    For lifting I like to listen to heavy metal while I do my sets because the heavy guitar and fast beat gets my heart rate up and makes it easier to focus. Then when the set is over I switch to a slower song to help bring my heart rate back down and get ready for the next set.

    Wait and Bleed – Slipknot
    The second Coming – Juelz Santana
    Duality – Slipknot
    My 64 – Mike Jones
    Dig – Mudvayne
    Motivation – TI
    Fuel – Metallica
    Like Father Like son – The Game

    It has been studied that listening to music does not increase the amount of work you can do, but the psychological effects that you perceive the music to have allows you to work harder.

    Posted by Peter | July 23, 2007, 12:19 pm
  28. i like elton john, rick james, britney spears , and anything gay in workouts

    Posted by dick butter 69.2 | August 5, 2007, 12:47 am
  29. Well, I’m still putting my workout playlist together, but here is what I have so far:

    Never Gonna Stop – Rob Zombie
    Demonoid Phenomenon – Rob Zombie
    I’m your Boogy Man – Rob Zombie
    Now You’re Messin With A Son of A Bitch – Nazareth
    Scum of the Earth – Rob Zombie
    Black Betty – Spiderbait
    This Is Not – Static-X
    Black and White – Static-X
    Push It – Static-X

    I need to add some AC/DC, Metallica, and some other favorites.

    Posted by Adele | September 30, 2007, 12:14 am
  30. I started working out and i like hip-hop and upbeat music that keeps me going and has a fast pace because i like cardio/eliptical/biking. So here is my playlist.

    1) Low – Flo Rida ft T-Pain
    2) Good Girl Gone Bad – Rhianna
    3) Oh – Ciara & Ludacris
    4) Superman – Eminem
    5) Cyclone – Baby Bash ft T-Pain
    6) Down With the Sickness – Disturbed
    7) Piece of Me – Britney Spears
    8) Money Maker – Ludacris
    9) Switch – Will Smith
    10) Crank That – Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em
    11) Outta My System – Bow Wow ft T-Pain
    12) Get Buck In Here – Dj Felli Fel ft. Akon
    13) Sugar (Gimme Some) – Trick Daddy ft Ludacris, Lil Kim & Cee-Lo
    14) Dem Jeans – Chingy ft. Jermaine Dupri
    15) Lose Yourself – Eminem
    16) Candy Shop – 50 Cent
    17) Kiss Kiss – Chirs Brown
    18) Lose Control – Missy Elliot ft. Ciara & Fatman Scoop
    19) Crawling – Linkin Park
    20) Fuego – Pitbull
    21) Crazy Bitch – Buckcherry

    That is some of the songs, i like variety and so I put it on shuffle and that can for sure get me through an hour workout. Hope this helps and gives you some more ideas.

    Posted by Jessica | January 16, 2008, 12:04 am
  31. Here is a decent workout playlist

    http://beachbodytips.com/gym-playlist-2/

    Posted by Nate | March 4, 2008, 10:47 am
  32. Twisted Transistor-Korn
    Dragula- Rob Zombie
    Down With the Sickness- Disturbed
    Enter Sandman- Metallica
    Bombshell- Powerman5000
    Raining Blood- Slayer
    Reap the Storm- Suidakra
    Comming Undone-Corn
    Inside the Fire-Disturbed
    Dropping Plates-Disturbed
    Full Circle- Drowning Pool
    Bodies- Drowning Pool
    Stricken-Disturbed
    Sons of Plunder-Disturbed
    Guarded Disturbed
    Breaking me Down-Soil
    Before I forget-Slipknot
    Beast and the Harlot-Avenged Sevenfold
    Cant Be Touched- Roy Jones Jr (this song is bad ass)
    Heart of a Champion-Nelly

    Posted by RedOx | April 20, 2008, 8:43 pm
  33. Everyone who posted playlists on here, you did a great job! Thank you all- it’s just what I was looking for. A lot of my personal faves made it onto various lists and I’m glad to see that there was some thought given to the different circumstances for which one might be needing a playlist (fasted paced cardio versus steady, rocked out galvanizing inspiration for weights, versus sing-along viability for paddling.) Google rarely steers me in the wrong direction and so I’m glad my search for “ipod workout playlist” landed me here at this blog and with these posts. If I come up with anything original to contribute, I’ll be back to put up my own list!

    PS – The ipod-getting canoe-paddling hubby who owns the blog is adorable. Being genuinely grateful to your wife is always a good thing. Cute~

    Posted by emmjay | October 7, 2008, 2:46 am
  34. i usuallly listen to parkway drive when i pump out some weights
    they are really intense and like all screaming if you like that kinda stuff
    gets me pumped tho

    but bullet for my valentine
    underoath
    arch enemy
    slipknot
    atreyu
    slayer
    all that remains
    metallica
    ac/dc
    KISS
    nikki sixx solo album amazing just to listen to also
    ill nino
    so many more and asll of those are great bands i think

    Posted by ryan | December 27, 2008, 12:11 pm

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