what's your song: version 1.2...

I skipped doing this last month and am now desperate for some new tunes. I need to beef up my long running playlist. My picks this month are a little random, they are songs I've just picked up along the way and am currently enjoying. On those long runs all I need is variety, so random is perfect. Right now I'm working on packing my marathon list full of great stuff. Feel free to share your current favorites.

In no particular order:

1. High and Dry -Radiohead
2. Blinded by the Light - Manfred (yep, there's my no shame song of the month)
3. Single Ladies - Beyonce
4. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (this is my shout out to Julie and my mad RockBand skillz)
5. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina & the Waves
6. Flume - Bon Iver
7. Wanna Be - Pussy Cat Dolls
8. Dead and Gone - T.I. and J.T.
9. Comes and Goes (In Waves) - Greg Laswell
10. Boom - Flight of the Conchords (and for good measure and a little entertainment, I give you their music video, it gave me too much enjoyment not to share)
    
    
    

My "I Just Don't Wanna" Pick (the song I hit when I need major motivation):
Let it Rock - Kevin Rudolf (this get's played the last mile or more of my long runs)

Here are links to the past two versions:
version 1.0
version 1.1

And Travis I know you aren't a runner, but I have a feeling you could suggest some excellent songs seeing how your blog is mus-tacular. Waiting sweetheart.... just waiting....

what's your song, version 1.1...

It's that time again, feel free to list some of your spectacular new running tunes, from old favorites to new stuff, just share! My picks this month range from songs that mean something to me that get me thinking and reminiscing, some throw backs to old school runs, some are just old school, and some I just plain love right now so added them in.

All of the below songs are on my 'long run' list because I have to mix it up with more than just fast paced, hard core and hip-hop tunes during those endless miles.

In no particular order:

1. Fake Palindromes - Andrew Bird
2. Stand in the Rain - Super Chick
3. Float On - Modest Mouse
4. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey (yes, you read that right, and I have no shame)
5. The Light - Mason Jennings
6. Such Great Heights - The Postal Service
7. Under Pressure - David Bowie
8. Mexico - Cake
9. Politik - Coldplay
10. The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived - Weezer

against the wind...

I ran four miles on Saturday. This was a big day for me, a day full of firsts since my stress fracture: first long run, first run alone, first run with my orthotics, first run with my new and improved short run playlist (thanks ladies!), first run where I belted out tunes to myself at the top of my lungs....

The odds were against me, it had warmed back up Saturday to about 50 degrees when I went out in the late afternoon, but the wind was just ridunckulous! The four mile route I did is the hilliest in my neighborhood. The hills, combined with the straight-line, gale-force wind, proved for a challenging, yet fantastic, run. If I wasn't running up a hill, I was running into the wind, or was facing both straight on. Maybe it's the sick mind of a runner, but I enjoyed every single challenging moment of it.

Since I know myself so well, and since I was running alone and left my doorstep charging, I realized I needed something to help me reign it in for most of the run. I decided to sing to myself. Out loud. Please note I am a horrible singer, and am even worse with lyrics. Think of the worst imaginable person on American Idol try-outs, I am worse. Plus, you would think someone who knew a song well could repeat the lyrics, but no, not me. I throw in a few of the actual words to my mostly "mmmmm laaaa ffaa beeoo booo laa laa"-ing when I sing along. Unless of course, I'm at the Sound of Music sing-a-long at Hollywood Bowl (best time EVER) while consuming more guacamole, cheese and wine than humanly possible..... back me up here Meaghan! But did that stop me? Absolutely not. In fact, it really did help me keep an even pace. There is your tip for the day runners, if you need to keep a slower pace and are alone with no one to help pace you, sing to yourself.

With about a half mile left, I was running into the wind while going downhill and I decided to let myself have a treat and did a sprint until it leveled out. There I am, sprinting down the hill, straight into the hard wind, singing "Paper Planes" at full volume and wiping my runny nose on my sleeve, when I spot a guy walking his dog. I'm sure at this point he had noticed me, so it was either let him think I was embarrassed and stop singing and wiping nose, or just keep on going full force and smile at him to let him know I didn't care. So I smiled and sang, he smiled back. I'd like to think he danced to it, even if just for a few seconds.

This running route ends by going back up hill for about a quarter mile until I hit a one-block plateau right before my house. I try to end all my neighborhood runs going up that hill. I like to end my runs alone as hard as possible, again sick, I realize this. I was finally tired, my arches were screaming at me from the orthotics, but I charged up that hill in the wind like nobodys business. I stopped singing and let my legs go. I felt like I was back. There was something so satisfying about running my heart out this afternoon, knowing I could do it in brutal wind with feet aching.

It was a good run. The thing that I loved about it was running into that wind, belting out a song and going full force. It was the most freeing thing I had done in weeks. I needed that run. It made me feel like my months and months of hard work, long miles, and speedwork before my fracture weren't entirely lost. I ran those four miles in 36:40. I declared it a success. I'm praying my guts out that it wasn't a fluke, and I really am back...

what's your song, version 1.0...

Having my iPod on a long run or during speed work is vital. I'm assuming that all runners who use an iPod have their running playlists. I have a playlist for short runs and one for long runs. The short play list is full of music that I do not listen to in "real" life, like at work or in my car. In real life I typically only listen to mellow, singer/songwriter and generally happy stuff.

However, while I run I need anything but my norm. I go for Kanye and Outkast to Beyonce and Britney, even a little country, and I'm not ashamed. With races coming up and playlists from last spring, I decided to do some updating, but still want to add more.

I wanted to wait to do this post until I knew at least six people read my blog since I want to share playlist ideas. But I'm curious right now, and not a patient girl, so I'll hope the three of you reading this will chime in with your favorite tunes, it's always good to refresh the playlist, especially when gearing up to train!

Some songs from my 'short run' list:
Live Your Life - T.I.
The One I Love - Greg Laswell
Love Lockdown - Kanye West
Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Every Day - Rascal Flats
Don't Cha - The Pussycat Dolls
Gold Digger - Kanye & Jamie Foxx
Up in Here - DMX
How Far We've Come - Matchbox Twenty
Gimme More - Britney Spears

The song I need when I feel like "I just don't wanna" (some call this a power song, I find that term stupid, I prefer my term which is obviously superior):
If You're Going Through Hell - Rodney Atkins

Ed's current favorite running song:
Hypnotize - Notorius B.I.G. (milo, milo, milo, can't you see, somehow you are so big and beefy.... ed made his own lyrics to the song. yes he is almost 30, yes he makes up songs and sings them to our dog and yes he is a lawyer. )

Your turn!
(meaghan i was tempted to write 'you're' just for you;)