What kind of music do you like? That's one of the first questions you ask any potential co-driver. You don't have to like the same stuff, but you do have to tolerate it.

Me? I like a little of almost everything. I don't travel cross-country without some mix-tapes from my past, tapes I made for myself to prepare for races as an athlete, tapes I've made for my athletes to prepare, tapes our athletes here at Carolina have made, although in the past three years we've moved to CDs.

And I like AM radio. Late at night, there's another world out there, talk about things I never could have dreamed. On a clear night in Texas you can pick up stations from Chicago, New York, L.A., and all over.

NPR is always good to pass a few hours at key times, when you can catch the news or Prairie Home Companion or similar. Occasionally, you can find an FM rebroadcast of the BBC's World Service, which is always a treat. I'm often better informed after two days on the road than I am at home.

But, still unanswered, to what do I listen?
* 80's Pop
* Classic Country, from Buck Owens to Merle Haggard to Bob Wills
* Classic Rock
* Oldies from the 50s and 60s
* Big Band (During the day, especially if you can find some crooners)

You name it. If it's not gangsta rap or hard core metal, it can get a whirl on the radio.

Most reliable tape or CD to get me through a tough spot: Paul Simon, Negotiations and Love Songs

Soothing, but enough up-beat songs to keep the blood flowing, each one familiar. I've heard them enough that as one song ends my mind moves to the next one.

What doesn't work?
* Miles Davis' Kinda Blue after it gets dark
* Anything tinny. Flock of Seagulls won't cut it for more than three minutes.
* Speed Metal, or anything that elevates your heart rate for too long
* "Smooth Jazz"
* Bad remakes of good songs
* "Pure Moods"