Music is Personal

Let me first start off saying that I look up to several accomplished runners who don't listen to music when they run. It is their time for peace, quiet, to pray, to train, whatever it is, they don't need it. I on the other hand NEED to listen to music on my morning runs. I'm pretty sure it is for the sole purpose of drowning out my heavy breathing, but regardless, my run is not complete without it. 

The best part about music is that is is personal. Each and every song out there speaks differently and sounds unique to all of us. We all have our preferences, songs that get you pumped up, songs that help you reflect, songs that bring you back to an exact moment in your past. Music is one of the only things in this world that everyone understands, yet sets us completely apart from one another.

For me, a good running song needs only one thing: a solid beat. When I blast my ipod as loud as it goes - whether is is pop, rap, country, or hip hop - that beat resonates throughout my body and helps each foot to take another step. I tend towards current hits, but usually throw an oldie in my playlist to help remind me of all the runs I have completed in my past (although my "oldie" is almost exclusively "All the Above" by Maino). 

My current playlist is:

1) Some Nights (Fun)

2) Good Time (Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City)

3) Stronger (Kelly Clarkson)

4) Give Your Heart a Break (Demi Lovato)

5) All the Above (Maino feat. T-Pain)

6) Shark in the Water (V.V. Brown)

7) Drive By (Train)

8) Back to Life (Sean Kingston)

9) We Run the Night (Havana Brown)

10) Scream (Usher)

11) 50 Ways to Say Goodbye (Train)

12) Don't Wake Me Up (Chris Brown)

13) Let Me Love You (Neyo)

My First Run

At the ripe old age of 12, like many other 6th graders, I had to run a timed mile in gym glass. As a soccer, basketball, and softball player I certainly had the stamina to run around a field or court, but had never raced the clock before. A glorious vision of being the fastest girl in my grade consumed my mind, and so I borrowed my mom's walk-man and my brother's mixed tape (everyone else ran with music so I assumed this was the correct course of action), and embarked on my very first practice mile. The smell of the air, the music, the sweat, the freedom of a few moments alone...I was hooked.

For a month I practiced running a mile everyday after school and got down to a time somewhere in the 8 minute range (which I would kill for today!). I thought for sure I could and would win. With a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast to start the day, it was time. As I lined up with the other girls in my class, I was ready! I had spent a month gearing up for this moment: 

The whistle blew and I started the course, which was four laps around a big field. The first lap I was neck and neck with the other great athletes, smiling wide as I felt all my preparation paying off. But as laps two and three came the others forged ahead, and with the last lap the early summer heat beat me and I could not pull off the victory I dreamed about. You can imagine my feelings as I saw the other girls pass the finish line before me. Pure devastation.

In hindsight, of course the race didn't matter. Winning would have been great, but my mom assured me that night that her love was not contingent upon my speed. What mattered was that I had set a goal and worked hard to achieve it. What mattered was that I got into the habit of exercising at a young age. What mattered was that I ran my best race and didn't quit. All of these are values that still remain with me today, but oh, how great it would have been to have that victory under my belt!

Later that year, I did go on to beat the school record for most sit-ups by a 6th grader in 90 seconds (96), but this blog is about running:)

It's 6am, Get Up!

I follow several blogs everyday and have contemplated for a couple years now if I could see myself writing my own, keeping up with it, and making it a new hobby. The blogs I currently follow cover the board from cooking to fashion to travel to dieting all the way to what I call diaries (which usually are the most interesting ones, because let's face it, who doesn't want to read someone's diary?)

But what should I write about? I am a decent cook, but don't venture too often with new recipes. I like to look presentable, but am no fashionista. And I have been dieting for what seems like the better part of my life and would never wish a diet on anyone. Ever. 

So I had to keep thinking and I do have one hobby that I've been working on since I was about 12, which is running. I have never run a marathon or even a half marathon, but getting my feet out on that pavement has given me 30 minutes of peace a few times a week for over half my life. 

Many people run and exercise because they say it is their best time to think and sort everything out. I am in fact the exact opposite - I run because for a brief time in my day my mind goes blank and is not filled with work, stress, relationships, diet, cloths, etc. So what then, you ask, could I possibly have to write about running? Hopefully something to keep your interest.

About a month ago, I started waking up in the mornings to run instead of waiting for the end of the work day. 6am comes very early every day, but it is SO worth it once I am out there in the quiet of New York City. Some days I run to Central Park and around the reservoir, but recently have fallen in love with the East River pathway. 

My view from the East River path

In the past week it has become a little darker and colder in the mornings. The East River path is lit, but every once in awhile a light will be out or I'll just space out for a minute or two. Yesterday, on about minute 20, I was gearing up for the 50 steps from the lower part of the pathway to the upper part (technically 3 flights, currently running up 2 and walking the last one, will let you know when I reach my goal of running all 3!) Anyway, I was grooving to my ipod which I keep no lower than full blast and came within inches of crushing an already dead mouse that was sprawled out on the path. Of course in reality only a couple inches long, in my head I couldn't jump high enough or get far enough out of the way to avoid this gigantic creature. As a jumped, lost my footing and fell over trying to grab the railing but miserably failing. As I cursed the mouse, a friendly fellow runner stopped to make sure I was okay as he was right behind me when I fell. All I could do was point and yell "MOUSE" as he came even closer than I did to stepping on it, and jumped even higher to avoid it! An obviously more experienced runner, he was able to keep his footing and not fall on butt, but thanked me profusely for helping him dodge the rodent and I swear he squirmed as he ran away. I picked myself up and kept going, up the stairs, which were a welcomed distraction!

I have lots of ideas of things to write about including other interesting happenings on the path, music to listen to, good clothes to wear, how to get yourself up in the morning, the right food to eat, and why morning runs in NYC are a great part of my day.