There are a lot of ways in which I am not your typical runner: I don't follow a training plan. I don't care about different makes and models of running shoes. I don't foam roll.
And I don't run with music. Never have, and probably never will. I find it a distraction, and I like being in tune with my body and my surroundings and all of that zen kind of crap. Plus I'm a cheap bastard and have never owned an iPod, so I just got used to running without music and being stuck inside my own head.
But I do love music. I was a radio DJ in college and would meticulously craft my playlists before each show. I did the same thing for my wedding a year and a half ago. While driving home the other night, Led Zeppelin came on the radio, and I sat in my driveway for a good ten minutes waiting for the song to finish. It didn't matter that I could go inside and listen to the same song on my laptop all night if I wanted to. A found song on the radio will always trump one you play yourself.
If I ran with music, though, I might enjoy running a bit more, but I would also spend more time air drumming and scaring small children (i.e. singing) instead of concentrating on pace.
But let's pretend I just got back from a crazy intense run in which I laid waste to the space-time continuum, fueled by the greatest playlist of all time. You're dying to know what gave me my edge. Well, here is what I might be listening to while pounding the pavement:
And I don't run with music. Never have, and probably never will. I find it a distraction, and I like being in tune with my body and my surroundings and all of that zen kind of crap. Plus I'm a cheap bastard and have never owned an iPod, so I just got used to running without music and being stuck inside my own head.
But I do love music. I was a radio DJ in college and would meticulously craft my playlists before each show. I did the same thing for my wedding a year and a half ago. While driving home the other night, Led Zeppelin came on the radio, and I sat in my driveway for a good ten minutes waiting for the song to finish. It didn't matter that I could go inside and listen to the same song on my laptop all night if I wanted to. A found song on the radio will always trump one you play yourself.
If I ran with music, though, I might enjoy running a bit more, but I would also spend more time air drumming and scaring small children (i.e. singing) instead of concentrating on pace.
But let's pretend I just got back from a crazy intense run in which I laid waste to the space-time continuum, fueled by the greatest playlist of all time. You're dying to know what gave me my edge. Well, here is what I might be listening to while pounding the pavement:
- The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
- Queen - Hammer to Fall
- Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
- AWOLNATION - Kill Your Heroes
- Billy Idol - Mony Mony
- Foster the People - Houdini
- Ryan Bingham - Bread and Water
- Led Zeppelin - Trampled Underfoot
- Jan Plewka - Ein Jahr
- Cro - Intro
- Cro - Die Welt Gehört Dir
- B.o.B. - Airplanes (w/ Eminem)
- Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
- Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now (Rocky Theme)
- Die Atzen - Party (Ich will abgehn)
- R.E.M - What's the Frequency Kenneth?
- The Darkness - I Believe in a Thing Called Love
- The Stone Coyotes - Shake
- Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
- The Bouncing Souls - True Believers
- The Animals - Boom Boom
- Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance
It's heavy on classic rock and heavy guitars and drums, and a few random German/indie/oldie/rap songs thrown in. I'm too lazy to link to any of this stuff, but I'm sure you can find it all on YouTube if you want.
And now the obvious question: what's on your running playlist?
I agree with you. I don’t listen to music while I run. I am always amazed at the songs that pop into my head while running. Because of my age, most of them are grunge-era songs. Most of them have a constant, repetitive groove like a freight train rolling down the tracks. Anyhow, here are some examples (in no particular order):
ReplyDelete1. Primus - Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers
2. Nirvana – Milk it
3. Smashing Pumpkins – Quiet
4. Jane’s Addiction – The Riches
5. Helmet – Milquetoast
6. Dinosaur Jr. – Feel the Pain
7. Taking Back Sunday - A Decade Under the Influence
8. Sonic Youth - Titanium Exposé
9. Cowboy Mouth - Jenny Says
And, of course: http://youtu.be/okUrGG66KpQ
I could list a lot more, but you get the idea. There are musical selections that pop into my head from other genres / eras, but it is mostly grunge.
However, I would say that Underworld’s Everything Everything entire album has played (in my head) more often than anything else, while running. Especially “Push Upstairs.” That song is, like, the default position.
Congratulations on your (2nd) BQ. You had a busy year last year, and it is really impressive that you worked that one in! Man, when you see your name on that list (in September-ish), you are going to be walking on clouds for weeks!
-Tom K.
Hey Tom, wow that's a lot of grunge. Can't say I ever got into it myself, but then again I grew up on the opposite coast of grunge's epicenter, and it was a little before my time anyway. I do appreciate the odd Nirvana or Smashing Pumpkins song, but that's about it. Thanks for the music input. I enjoy hearing what other people are into.
DeleteAnd thanks re: the BQ. Here's hoping everything works out with registration in September. Lots of people from both my side and Stevie's side of the family are planning to come up with me to help cheer me on, so that should be a good time.
Ha!, sorry about the Too Much Grunge thing. I'm 43. It is what I know!
ReplyDeleteIn 2014, the cut off was -1:38. You are at -1:55, right? That should get you into the first wave!
1. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
ReplyDelete2. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
3. Run Like an Antelope Out of Control - Phish
4. Glory Days - Springsteen
5. Brown Sugar - The Stones
6. Tumblin' Dice - The Stones
7. Up Around the Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival
8. Magic Bus - The Who
9. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
10. Shout - Otis Day & the Knights (or the Isley Brothers)