As I was driving to the track this morning for a speed workout (yes... I too see the irony of driving to exercise - a conundrum I've always struggled with), U2's Where A Street Has No Name came on the Sirius - easily one of the top 10 running songs of all time.
As I don't blog much anymore, I want each post to be worth it's salt. Therefore, I present to you - you guessed it - DCTriGirl's Top 12 Running Songs of All Time (it was supposed to be 10, but I counted wrong). These are songs that are always on my Shuffle and never get skipped over. Some are cliche running songs, others are head scratchers. I could go into the details of what makes a good running song (not necessarily fast tempo, but consistent rhythm and motivation), but instead, I'll just get right to the point:
12. Please Forgive Me (David Gray)
As you may recall, David Gray is a sorta-one-hit wonder with that song Babylon. Here's his second single. With interesting synthesizer like sounds and a fake-out ending that fades in with a groovy instrumental, it breaks into the top 10.
11. Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
Well duh. Rocky listens to this when he runs, so obviously we have to as well. Whenever this song comes on, I break out into a shuffle and start punching the air. People are confused...
10. Crazy (Gnarles Barkley)
This is the perfect mid-run song. Up-tempo, yet relatively mellow, it is the exact song you want to come on when you've traveled some distance, yet need the motivation to keep on going.
9. Running on Empty (Jackson Browne)
Okay, so we're at the first song with "running" in the title. I'm not a Jackson Browne fan, and this is the only song of his I really know. But when you're on the last mile or two of a run and this song comes on, it pretty much reflects exactly how you're feeling, as memorialized during Forrest Gump's super long run.
8. The Boys of Summer (Don Henley)
There is something bittersweet about the end of summer. On the one hand, bearable temperature and crisp-smelling air come to pass. But on the other, warm temps and carefree mindsets disappear. This song is for the first run when the leaves start to change.
7. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin)
The first of two rain-focused songs on the list. Who hasn't seen that fool in the rain running joyfully? For many runners, it's the only time they enjoy being in the rain.
6. Solsbury Hill (Peter Gabriel)
Who doesn't want to see the lights when they climb up on Solsbury Hill? Another good middle of the run, calming song, which is obviously perfect for climbing that arduous hill.
5. Running Down a Dream (Tom Petty)
The second song with "running" in the title. In a contrast to the first one, this is best for the beginning of a run, where you're stupid enough to believe that you can actually run down your dreams, that you aren't going to have to work hard, and that the finish line is attainable.
4. Purple Rain (Prince)
The second rain-centric song and also the slowest tempo on the list, this marathon song doesn't have to be played in the rain to be enjoyable. In fact, it's on the list because it's length, to me, represents a run's ups and downs.
3. Breathe Me (Sia)
Probably a lesser known song, but some may recognize from the season finale of Six Feet Under. This song takes you on a journey, a difficult one. I chose it because the piano in the background reminds me of the rhythm of running strides.
2. Where the Streets Have No Name (U2)
Another cliche for sure, but the aforementioned tune that inspired this post deserves it. Who doesn't get jazzed with energy when the opening guitar picks begin. You run faster and faster as the intro ascends. And when the song fades down, you know you've accomplished something.
And my number one (and extremely anti-climactic) running song is....
1. Ghostwriter (RJD2)
Introduced to me by a dear friend in a past life, this instrumental song with minimal humming and gospel-infused vocals, will never leave my Shuffle. Simply put, it captures the rhythm of running and spirit of running (endurance running at least). It is welcomed at the beginning of the run, when you know you have a long road ahead of you; the middle of the run, when you need that melody to make you smile and climb that hill; and the end, when you can look behind you, shrug your shoulders and say "That was nuthin'." If you've never heard of it, here's a version on YouTube. Don't download the remix from iTunes (this one isn't on it unfortunately), it ain't the right one. Please resort to unspeakable methods to acquire it.
And there it is... Some may agree, some may scratch their heads. Either way, I dig 'em, and you should too. Stay tuned for the next installment, where we cover the top 10 (or 12) Cool Down songs.
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Where does the time go?! I suppose I should have thought HTFU at that very moment, but I didn't. Let me explain. I'm about 2 miles from the finish line at the inaugural Ironman Kansas 70.3 race in Lawrence this weekend when I make a left turn to finish the last part of the final run loop. But instead of running the last two miles a volunteer blocks my way, points toward the finish line, and says, "Sorry but we've called the race because of weather; you're all done!" I make a hard left into the finisher's chute, cross the line, and they hand me a water bottle, finisher's medal while at the same time strip the chip from my right ankle. Before I know what to say I'm standing in the wet grass looking up at the threatening sky's and wondering exactly what just happened. The entire finish to my race lasted about 5 seconds...and that's probably being generous due to my utter and complete confusion at being pulled from the course so abruptly. There was no: - Savoring the last mile of the run like the cherry on top of the 70.3 mile cake - Sprinting across the finish line to beat another racer - The traditional calling out of my name and hometown by the race announcer - Huge wave of relief to finally be able to stop running and moving - Welcoming arm or arms of volunteers ready to catch me should I stumble No: - Cheering crowds - Waiting family - Exhausted but jubilant finisher's - Post race feed - Post race nap in the sun - Post race waiting for my friends to finish - Satisfaction for completing a brand new race
And sure enough when I got back to my car several larger cars were already stuck in the muck. I managed to move my car and that's when it struck like the thunderbolts from the sky, I had just completed 95 percent of the first Kansas 70.3 and I felt completely cheated of all of the things that make finishing any long endurance race (be it a marathon, long distance swim, or century ride) such a treasure for the age-group everyman athlete. And that's when I thought HTFU. If you are not familiar with HTFU, it stands for...on second thought I better use the urban dictionary to define the term; "Harden The F@#@ Up Used to tell a weak person or persons that they have become far tooweak, and to prevent further embarrassment to the human race, they mustHarden The F@#@ Up. 1. I see that you are on the side of the road witha flat tire. What, you, a fully grown man can't change a tire yourself,and you're waiting for a tow truck? HTFU!" When it comes to endurance racing and more specifically the Ironman distance in triathlon HTFU is normally used when things get tough. As in from Kona Shelly's Blog: "I kept wanting to walk up the steep hills, but I kept telling myself "your competition isn't probably walking, HTFU". But I have to be honest here and say that for the most part I'm not really a HTFU kinda guy...at least not when it comes to most races. I enjoy the ironfit lifestyle. That is to say I really enjoy having a training goal like an Ironman, century ride, or marathon, but I'm usually not the one out for blood at any cost. I'm not fast enough to qualify for Boston, or Kona, or even the 70.3 championships in Florida. So for me the race is most certainly about the living in the moment. That's why I felt so bad when the moment you know "THAT MOMENT", of crossing the finish line was denied to me and hundreds of others. From the Ironman web site: "Ironman 70.3 debuted in Kansas today, featuring both some outstandingracing but also the difficulties of dealing with unsettled weather.Safety concerns due to severe weather conditions forced race organizersto shorten the run course for about a third of the field." It seems such a casual statement to write, "Safety concerns due to severe weather conditions forced race organizersto shorten the run course for about a third of the field." And I suppose that's why I wrote this story today. I thought it was important for us non HTFU everyman types to be heard. Just in case they don't get it the Ironman HTFU crowd and the race organizers need to get an up close and personal look and get a first person view of how we feel when "unsettled weather" strikes. This is not about blame or second guessing the decision to stop the race. Instead, this is just one story of several hundred unfinished tales. The business man in me would strongly suggest that the race organizers go out of their way to give the athletes that were unable to finish a second chance next year. But the athlete in me says just suck it up, HTFU, and move on. * Post Script: If you look at the photo above you'll notice that my friend Dave raced this very difficulty course (read hot, humid, hilly and very windy) on a hybrid mountain bike. He was also denied the opportunity to finish his first 70.3 by the unsettled weather. P.P.S # 2: I looked up my race results and it turns out that I was beat by a bunch of Clydesdale who ran a sub 54 minute half marathon. It seems that the race organizers have a bit of a mess on their hands when it comes to figuring out who ran the entire half marathon and who set a new world record for 13.1 miles. ;-) I want to start by thanking everyone who supported me in this race and took the time to track me as the race progressed. The support is much appreciated. As in, fifty. Five-Oh. 50 yards underwater. 8 lanes across, 8 lanes back. I love my birthday. I haven't worked on my birthday in almost 20 years. It's MY day to play. In birthdays past, I've run up Pikes Peak, done 7 hours rides and now, I've added this new element....the BFIT Bday challenge. This years was the most fun I've had with any of the birthday "treats" I give myself each year. Hello everyone! Just checking in to report on my BFitBDay.com Silver Challenge for my 40th birthday! I originally was to do the gold challenge, but as I have a half-ironman in a week, I decided to do the silver challenge for the sake of my now forty-year-old body! My photos are on my website: http://kellymay.hi5.com This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar. Team, A HUGE congrats to Lana: http://www.bfitbday.com/profile/Lana
For winning last weeks contest by placing the B-Fit B-Day badge on her web site and having our official judge (Tommy) pull her name out of the Rudy Project Helmet. Lana gets the super fast 2XU race shorts and really cool badge for her Blog. I want to personally congratulate Annn, Jan, Sub 6, Pat, GG Iron Guy, Charlie and Dave for finishing the B-Fit Challenge this month.You guys are uber fit and deserve a big B-Day Cake!If you've completed the B-Fit Challenge in May please make sure to add your results to the Finisher's Tent in the forum to qualify for May Sponsor Premium HERE. This month we are giving away a terrific Rudy Project TT (areo helmet 0.00 value) to one man and one women who completed and best documented their B-Fit B-Day Challenge. In order to be included in the voting, your times must be posted in the Finisher's tent. So if you have not posted your times, please do so ASAP as I want to include you in the up coming vote. Finally, thanks to everyone who has helped make this a fun and growing online endurance community. I really enjoy reading your B-Fit Challenge and Race Reports. Keep them coming! Train Hard and Race Safe, Roman I just finished listening to this great Podcast of an interview with some guys over at MIT regarding bikes and aerodynamics. What they had to say floored me. I knew that being aero mattered, but if you had asked me prior to listening to this I would have told you that power was more important if you wanted to be fast. Not so. |
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