Imagine this: you’re on the treadmill, about to finish the last mile of your run. As you’re running uphill, “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child is pulsing through your headphones, the only thing propelling you forward. The song finishes, and the next thing you hear is a slow jam circa 1998. As your motivation begins to fade and fatigue creeps in, you close your eyes for just a second.

 Before you know it, you’re sliding backwards off the treadmill at 6.5 miles per hour. Your body slams violently into the wall behind you; you break your neck and both of your legs. The doctor says you will never be able to run again.

This is just one of the things that can happen when relying on Internet radio to get you through your workout.

The random world of Pandora may be refreshing at the library, but it’s very different at the gym. When your motivation is at an all-time high courtesy of a fast-paced jam, a slow, sad song can kill the mood quickly.

An alternative to depending on websites like Pandora or 8tracks is creating your own playlist. To me, crafting the perfect workout playlist is an elusive, Bigfoot-ish thing—it doesn’t exist.

Just when I think I have the perfect group of songs to keep me inspired, I’ll hear a new song on the radio that I absolutely HAVE to add. Before long, the list is growing into something that doesn’t even make sense anymore.

The advent of smartphones and portable music players has made working out more fun, even if it is a little more complicated.

 I get distracted often, trying to find the perfect song to accompany me on the Stairmaster. Once I pick out the song to drown out my panting, nothing keeps me more focused.

I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll never be able to create the most ideal playlist, but that won’t stop me from trying.