Jogging isn't always an easy task. Even for those who do it every day, getting into the proper rhythm, or even just the proper mood, can be difficult. What's more, it can be tough to keep motivated once you're on the road: fatigue mounts up quickly no matter how strong you are, and the temptation to stop can soon become overwhelming.
My solution? Get the right music running on your CD or MP3 player. The right tracks at the right times can really keep your motivation high and allow you to (literally) run that extra mile. Here are some of my favorite songs or bands to jog to, and, in some cases, when it's best to listen to them during your jog.
Eye of the Tiger, by Survivor: Yes, it's horribly cliche, but what can I say? The cream of the fight really gets me pumped to go for the long haul. Chances are good it's energy by association (Eye of the Tiger, for those of you who don't know, is famous for its part in Rocky III), but I don't care: the steady beat is good for regularizing breathing, and the lyrics practically insist you beat out everyone else. Best for those end bits where you're starting to fall apart and need some motivation.
Kryptonite, by 3 Doors Down: If it has to do with Superman, it's usually going to have the energy you need. And while Kryptonite is a little darker than most similarly themed songs it has the regular beat needed to keep your legs moving. I prefer Kryptonite at the start as a motivator.
Anything by Avenged Sevenfold: Aside from a few of their calmer selections most of Avenged Sevenfold's stuff is high-energy and makes you feel like a real cool guy or gal. I especially like A Little Piece of Heaven, mainly because it has a long narrative - you'll pay attention so closely to what's happening in it that you won't necessarily notice how tired you are.
You Know My Name, by Chris Cornell: An odd choice considering it's the theme for the Bond movie Casino Royale, but I can't help but love this one. There's an element to danger in it that keeps you flying down the paths, as though somebody's gonna jump out of the bushes with a gun at any moment.
I'm an A*hole, by Dennis Leary: You'll be so busy singing along to Dennis Leary and his jerkish ways that you won't realize that your legs are wobbly. Just don't sing so hard that you hyperventilate.
Through the Fire and Flames, by DragonForce: It may be a Guitar Hero song at heart, but the frantic pace of this one is great for those who really want to get into their jog - perhaps to the point of straight-out running. It's good for any point of the exercise but the end, where you don't want the crazed pace to drive up your adrenaline.
Dance Dance, by FallOutBoy: Most of FallOutBoy's stuff is pretty good, but I find Dance Dance has the get-up-and-go factor you'll want on a jog. It's especially good if you like to run short distances, slow down, run fast, slow down and so forth: it has a tendency to move from slow to quick and back and forth.
Superman, by Goldfinger: Yes, another song based around the Man of Steel. Infinitely more upbeat than Kryptonite, Goldfinger will have you dashing down the streets with wild abandon, and you'll be cheerful the whole way.
The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by Steve Ouimette: Another Guitar Hero offering, this one works similarly to Through the Fire and Flames - only this time you'll feel as though you're running to beat the devil, which is always great motivation. Again, good for any point but the end.
Shut Me Up, by Mindless Self Indulgence: An excellent song for maintaining a steady pace. I'm not an enormous fan of the music itself, but pacing is everything when you're in the midpoint of your journey and trying to keep a steady rhythm.
The Groove, by Muse: A bit better as a slow-down song (in fact, most of Muse's stuff is good for that). Might normally be considered a bit too angsty for a jogging song, but I still think it's a good, hypnotic choice for slowing the heartbeat.
Don't Stop Me Now, by Queen: Again, most of Queen's songs are pretty good, but Don't Stop Me Now basically screams endurance.
Island in the Sun, by Weezer: Purely as a slow-down song. Island in the Sun is about as lax and upbeat a song as you're likely to come across, despite the occasional dips into heavier guitar playing, and an awesome way to regulate your heartbeat after keeping it elevated for that long run.
Quite frankly any song you enjoy can be considered a good jogging song, as long as it keeps you motivated to step up the pace. Keep your player well stocked with motivating songs that don't screw up your rhythm - and you'll know if they do just by testing them - and you'll find your jog greatly enhanced as a result.