Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Playlist

In case you haven't heard (or read), I'm running a 5K in August in honor of my Dad. This last Saturday, at approximately 10am, I started training.

Given that I have grown, birthed and sustained a human being since the last time I ran, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Especially after what happened the last time I started running:


That's me after my inaugural run two years ago. I made it halfway around Como (3/4 of a mile) before I calmly collapsed.
 
The good news is, this time I remained on my feet and ran farther then I thought I could. The bad news is, I ran a little farther then I should because I lost the use of my legs in the days that followed. My quads turned to mush, my shins began to splint and I had to rely on my arms to lower myself onto a toilet – I no longer had the trust of my trunks. Big picture, I survived and I managed to keep my breakfast bagel down. How? I have no idea… but I do have a theory. Actually, I have a playlist.

Shawn likes to run to the sounds of nature, his feet pounding the pavement and his own thoughts. In other words, he runs sans iPod. Me? I need distraction, I need motivation and I need a good beat. I need my iPod Shuffle and I need Rodrigo Y Gabriela.

"The dynamic range of this music is startling. It is both ancient and futuristic, carnally frenetic and romantically seductive, artfully — and even spiritually — played yet drenched in the vulgarity of street life." –iTunes Album Review

Their cover of Metallica's Orion single-handedly, and quite literally, kept me on my feet. I had made it one entire time around (1.6 miles) and was striving to reach the dock (2.5 miles) of my second lap, when I suddenly felt the shakes, some fierce sweat and a lot of saliva. So I stopped. The onset of pain was immediate and I wanted nothing more then to let gravity take me to the dirt and put me out of my misery. I was swallowing like a mo-fo, resting my arms on any surface I could find, raising my head to reach some oxygen while saying a little prayer and forcing myself not to faint. Then Orion came on. The intro alone saved my soul and my soles and slowly but surely I managed to put one foot in front of the other long enough to catch my breath and feel somewhat sturdy, or at the very least, stable. I not only managed to stay upright, I managed to comfortably walk the rest of the way around, completing my 3.2 miles for the day. Sure, I didn't run them all, but I did run at least 2 miles. And that, my friends, is progress.

Got any playlist additions? Suggestions? Requests? If it moves you, it's sure to motivate me and I'll take all the help I can get!

4 comments:

  1. Hope by Shaggy (corny but always motivates me)
    Dog Days are Over by Florence + Machines (slow until the drums start hitting then WATCH OUT!)
    U2 favs:
    I still haven't found what I'm looking for -- good running song...well, I walk -- good solid beat
    Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Just Dream by Great Northern (great cool down)
    I like Birds by Eel -- just because it is a hoot! ("...because I like birds...)


    love Penny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Done and done! Thanks for the suggestions cousin!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. That's on Cities 97 constantly. And now it's in my head. Dammit.

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