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What puts the fun in a run? Smile and say, 'Cheese!'

Photo by SCOTT PURKS

Clarisa Gerlach runs with her girls in a double jogging stroller through the streets of her neighborhood down to Bayshore Boulevard.

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By CLARISA GERLACH

cgerlach@tbo.com

Published: October 6, 2009

Updated: 10/08/2009 11:22 am

What moves me - and I don't say this lightly - is cheese.

Yeah, that's right, I love cheesy guilty-pleasure songs.

Vanilla Ice (Go ahead, say what you want). Hootie and the Blowfish (OK, dolphins don't make me cry, but still!).

C'mon, let's admit it, exercising brings out the skeletons in your iPod closet.

I've been running for 16 years, and I have many days when I don't feel like putting one foot in front of the other. Shoot, some days lacing up my running shoes is a chore.

But then I hear the Black Eyed Peas ask, "What you gon' do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk?" And all of a sudden I'm thinking, "What AM I gonna do with that junk in my trunk? Well, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna run.

"Yeah, and thank you, Sir Mix-a-Lot. I appreciate you writing that beautiful, heartfelt song ("Baby Got Back"), cause this baby is gonna work on that back."

Anyway ... back to the point: I don't have a gym membership. It's just me and the (somewhat) open road. Well, usually it's me pushing a double jogging stroller with my girls talking nonstop, and the (somewhat) open road. Fortunately I live near Bayshore Boulevard, so I have one of the nicest running routes in Tampa.

I plan my path and mileage before I leave the house, then I choose my slice of cheese.

Bad day at work? Then it's Matchbox 20's "Yourself or Someone Like You." Their cheese factor is up for debate, so please don't send me hate mail, Rob Thomas fans. The album's theme is rather depressing (just listen to "Push"), but it's one of those albums I can sing every song to. And I do ... in my head.

Completely unmotivated? Cue the '90s rap. Most often, my first running song out of the gate is "O.P.P." (Naughty By Nature). "Yeah you know me." I dare you not to move to it. ... That's right, I thought so.

Scanning my playlist (which my husband says is a glimpse into my psyche), I realize most of my music is from the '80s and '90s - music I listened to in high school or college. Music that makes me happy.

Hootie? The Outfield? Spin Doctors?

Currently I'm training for the Women's Running Magazine Women's Half-Marathon in St. Petersburg and looking for new musical motivation. Most recent download? Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA."

"I'm noddin' my head like 'Yeah.'

"Movin' my hips like 'Yeah.'"

See, I'm not stuck in the past for motivation. I'm stuck in the cheese.

But hey, at least I admit it.

My Top 5:

1. Early '90s rap. These three songs probably get the most play: "Ice, Ice Baby" (Vanilla Ice), "Baby Got Back" (Sir Mix-a-Lot), "O.P.P." (Naughty By Nature).

2. "You Make Me Feel So Good" (Book of Love). My sister and I wore out the tape (yes, tape) of their self-titled album in 1986. Remember the music you loved as a teen? Search for the bands on iTunes. I guarantee it'll bring a smile to your run.

3. Your kids' music. Admit it, you download a song that your kids love, and you end up listening to it when you're alone. My current favs: "I Like To Move It" (Will.I.Am from "Madagascar 2"), "That's How You Know" (Amy Adams from "Enchanted"), "Accidentally In Love" (Counting Crows from "Shrek 2").

4. "Rockstar" (Nickelback). There are over a million search results in Google for Nickelback/Rockstar/Cheesy, with one site saying "it's lyrical cheese at its best." Ah, who cares? When Chad Kroeger sings, "We'll all stay skinny cuz we just won't eat," I get a little spring in my step.

5. "Hips Don't Lie" (Shakira). Trust me, you can incorporate a little hip shaking into your run. I have an affinity for Spanish music, and nothing can get me moving like that rhythm does. Also check out Marc Anthony's "I Need To Know."

From You:

We asked you to share music that gives a boost to your run, walk, bike ride, whatever. Here are some of your selections. To let us know your favorite, go to TBO.com, Keyword: Workout Playlist.

"Every Time We Touch" (Cascada) - Brian Mason

"We Like To Party" (Vengaboys) - Rebecca Piatt

"Eye of the Tiger" (Survivor) - Rebecca Piatt

"Just Fine" (Mary J. Blige) - Jennifer

"Push It" (Salt-N-Pepa) - Jill Murphy

"Super Freak" (Rick James) - Tonya H.

"You Spin Me Round" (Dead or Alive) - Tonya H.

"Rebel Rebel" (David Bowie) - Juanita Friedenberg

"Good Girls Go Bad" (Cobra Starship) - Tania

"Lovefool" (The Cardigans)

"Zip-pity Do Da" (Disney's "Song of the South") - Julie Adcock Whitney

Clarisa Gerlach is an audience editor for TBO.com, News Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune.

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