TUNESday: "Brave" by Sara Bareilles

When I'm running, I require music that gets my heart rate up before I even complete my first stride. While much of my playlist does sound like you just stepped in to a bar on Bourbon Street, very few selections are unrecognizable remixes amped up to 120 beats a minute. The tracks are comprised of feel-good poppy tunes with upbeat lyrics and a steady tempo. That brings me to today's TUNESday selection.

I had been familiar with Sara Bareilles as an artist since her first album, but she didn't fully get on my radar until after I heard her hit single "King of Anything." I distinctly remember the first time I heard it in 2010, driving my rental car down the Potomac River, minutes after arriving in Washington DC to run the Marine Corps Marathon. I immediately Shazamed the song, and downloaded it from iTunes to add it to my playlist days after returning home.

I listened to a streamed preview of Sara's new album "The Blessed Unrest" on iTunes last week, and you can do the same now as it is being released today. Overall it is ballad heavy, not making for great additions to a workout; however, the first single is the main exception. Equally as lighthearted as previous singles from Sara, "Brave" showcases her talent for conveying a positive message through song. With a lyric that states "I just want to see you be brave," it'll make a great addition to your running mix as you train for those fall races.

Check out the official music video for "Brave" below: