Run, Karla, Run!

I listen to a lot of music from the ‘80s—a lot—especially when I run.  Since I’m in an ‘80s cover band, The FADES, I’m often learning “new” tunes. Running gives me extra time to drill them into my head.  But more than that, I love the ‘80s as a musical genre (otherwise I wouldn’t be in an ‘80s cover band), and there are many, many, many songs from the ‘80s that are great for running. I even listen to ‘80s tunes that The FADES don’t cover.

So I thought I’d share my favorite ‘80s music running mix. You can download all the songs via the iTunes affiliate links provided. Enjoy!

Karla’s Radical ‘80s Running Mix

AC/DC—You Shook Me All Night Long

A-ha—Take On Me

The B-52’s—Love Shack

Bananarama—Venus

The Bangles—Walk Like An Egyptian

Billy Idol—Dancing With Myself and Rebel Yell

Blondie—Call Me

Bon Jovi—Livin’ On a Prayer

The Cars—Just What I Needed and Let’s Go

Cheap Trick—I Want You To Want Me

The Clash—Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The Cure—Boys Don’t Cry and Just Like Heaven

Cyndi Lauper—Girls Just Want To Have Fun

David Bowie—Modern Love

Dead or Alive—You Spin Me Round

Devo—Whip It

Dexy’s Midnight Runners—Come On Eileen

George Harrison—Got My Mind Set On You

George Michael—Faith

The Go-Go’s—We Got The Beat

The Hooters—Karla With a K

The Human League—Don’t You Want Me

Janet Jackson—Nasty

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts—Bad Reputation

John Cougar Mellencamp—Authority Song

Journey—Any Way You Want It and Don’t Stop Believin’

Juice Newton—Queen of Hearts

Kenny Loggins—Footloose

Kim Wilde—Kids in America

Loverboy—Workin’ for the Weekend

Madonna—Into the Groove and Material Girl

Men Without Hats—Safety Dance

M.C. Hammer—U Can’t Touch This

Michael Jackson—P.Y.T.

Modern English—I Melt With You

Naked Eyes—Always Something There to Remind Me

Nena—99 Luftballons

New Order—Bizarre Love Triangle

Pat Benatar—Heartbreaker

The Pretenders—Mystery Achievement

Prince—Kiss and I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man

The Proclaimers—I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)

Queen—Another Bites the Dust

Ready For the World—Oh Sheila

The Rolling Stones—Start Me Up

RUN-DMC—It’s Tricky

RUN-DMC with Aerosmith—Walk This Way

Salt-n-Pepa—Push It

Stray Cats—Rock This Town

Tiffany—I Think We’re Alone Now

Toni Basil—Mickey

Van Halen—Hot For Teacher and Panama

The Vapors—Turning Japanese

Violent Femmes—Blister in the Sun

Wham!—Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Young Guns, Bad Boys, Freedom…. (Yes, I’m still a Wham! Fan)

Young MC—Bust a Move

Now go bust a move out there on the pavement ‘80s style.

Karla Bruning is a journalist and running nerd. She has completed four marathons, trains with the New York Harriers and is a member of New York Road Runners. Follow Karla’s “Notes From a Running Nerd” at RunKarlaRun.com, Facebook and Twitter@KBruning. To listen to an interview with Karla, check out The Marathon Show, available for streaming or download on BlogTalkRadio and iTunes.