by Character Diva
I don’t know about you, but I am much more productive when I’m listening to music. Whether it’s cleaning my house or working out, I definitely like to rock out to my music playlist.
I’m also not a huge fan of running, but I do love runDisney and am hoping to participate in another race soon! And because I also have a love of Disney music, it only made sense that when training for a runDisney event, my running playlist would include some of my favorite Disney songs. And coming in at a total of 45:59, it’s the perfect length for a warm up and short run (for those of you following the Jeff Galloway Plan… or who only have time to exercise in a short amount of time).
So what songs made my list? Well let’s scroll down through some of my favorites and why I chose them:
The Circle of Life from “The Lion King” (Also available on the “Now That’s What I Call Disney” soundtrack)- 3:59 Doesn’t it just have a great opening? I mean the whole thing really just gets you into a great mood…. It inspires you… like you have something great to accomplish. Because let’s face it- running in any of the runDisney races is a great accomplishment (and definitely something to cross off your Disney Bucket List!)
I Can Go the Distance from “Hercules” (Also available on the “Now That’s What I Call Disney” soundtrack)- 3:14 Okay… so this isn’t exactly the fastest tempo, but that’s what makes it great for a warm up or cool down song… When I first began running, I had many different Disney quotes as my mantra to help me stay focused. And the whole, “I know every mile will be worth my while” was definitely true. No, I don’t enjoy running, but I love that feeling of accomplishment once I’m done… especially if there’s Disney magic involved!
When Will My Life Begin from “Tangled” (Also available from the “Now That’s What I Call Disney Volume 2” and the “Now That’s What I Call Disney Princess” soundtracks)- 2:32 I loved Tangled. It’s one of my favorite Disney movies. And I also love it’s soundtrack. It’s just awesome. And inspiring. And also really, really great to work out to. I love this song, because just like The Circle of Life, it just seems to have that great introduction and is a great way to get your pace up while feeling like you can accomplish something, because let’s face it… we’ve got some training to do!
Try Everything from “Zootopia“- 3:16 Zootopia doesn’t have a lot of songs in it compared to most Disney movies, but just like Gazelle inspired Judy Hopps, this song will help motivate you to get moving and get going to reaching your goal.
Under the Sea from “The Little Mermaid” (Also available from the “Now That’s What I Call Disney Volume 2” soundtrack)- 3:15 This is a great song to get you moving around! Whether it’s the five year old in you wanting to break into a dance session, or you’re just looking for a fun, energetic song to work out to, this song will definitely get your heartbeat going and your adrenaline running.
I’ll Make a Man Out of You from “Mulan“- 3:21 Speaking of an adrenaline rush, I can’t think of a more appropriate song to help you train for any event than I’ll Make a Man Out of You, particularly if this is your first run, or it’s been awhile since you’ve exercised regularly.
I Just Can’t Wait to Be King from “The Lion King” (Also available from the “Now That’s What I Call Disney Volume 3” soundtrack)- 2:50 This is another great song to get your blood pumping. Anything upbeat (and really, that’s the majority of The Lion King soundtrack) is definitely a must for your playlist.
Hakuna Matata from “The Lion King“- 3:33 Continuing on with The Lion King theme, I like to have this song in the middle of my playlist… it has such a great relaxed rhythm while still being upbeat. I feel like this is the perfect song to listen to when I’ve hit my stride and just want to coast along in my run.
Life is a Highway from “Cars” (Also available on the “Now That’s What I Call Disney” soundtrack)– 4:36 I don’t know of any song that makes you think of coasting and cruising along better than this one!
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride from “Lilo and Stitch” (Also available on the “Now That’s What I Call Disney” soundtrack)- 3:28 Keeping with the coasting idea, to me this is a great song to relax to while pacing yourself. It’s not the most upbeat song, but it has enough of a tempo that it keeps you going.
Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? from “Frozen“- 3:26 I love the Frozen soundtrack. I think it’s great to work out to. I realize many of you have heard the soundtrack a bazillion times, but Frozen Fever never really hit my household full force, and I can still listen to the soundtrack over and over again. (In fact, I’ve probably listened to it dozens of more times than my kids). Like the last couple of songs, it’s not really the quickest speed, but it is great for when you want a song to coast to (and it works as a great warm up song too)!
Love is an Open Door from “Frozen” (Also available from the “Now That’s What I Call Disney Volume 3” soundtrack)- 2:04 While you have the Frozen soundtrack going on, you might as well keep coasting along with the next song on the soundtrack. It’s a little bit more upbeat, which is great because we’re almost near the end of our run and we want to finish strong.
Almost There from “The Princess and the Frog” (Also available on the “Dream Big Princess” and “Now That’s What I Call Disney Princess” Soundtracks)- 2:24 At this point, you really are “Almost There”. Nothing can feel better than that.
Let It Go from “Frozen“- 3:43 So I realize many of you have heard this song, a bazillion times, but there’s something about this song that is just so triumphant… this is a great song to listen to towards the end of your run, right about that time you’re giving it your final push, giving it everything you’ve got and literally letting it go.
We Are the Champions from “Chicken Little“- 0:38 Okay. So this isn’t really much of a traditional “Disney song”, but for those of you who have ever watched Chicken Little or listened to it’s soundtrack, you know the classic Queen song is on there… only with Chicken Little singing his own version. To me, this is a great way to end your race after you’ve crossed the finish line, because let’s face it… no matter where you are in your training, no matter how many times you had to stop for water breaks or to walk it off, you my friend, completed it, and that makes you a champion.
So those are the songs that have made my list. Of course, there are plenty more to add, especially if you want to go for a longer run (I definitely recommend adding songs from the Aladdin soundtrack as well). Need more motivation? Or are you more of a visual person? If you’re running on a treadmill inside your home (and you happen to have a dvd player nearby), consider watching the classic Disney Singalong dvd “Disneyland Fun“. Nothing helps get you excited for a Disneyland race quite like seeing glimpses of Disneyland! Good luck, and happy running!
