I'm not going to say much because this list is lengthy! Like a marathon, my playlist is a collection of different moods and intensities. With that said - enjoy!
Beer on the Table - Josh Thompson
Why Don't We Just Dance - Josh Turner
Ridin' Solo - Jason Derulo
Bedrock - Young Money
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and The News
Take It Off - The Donnas
Rock Star - R. Kelly
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Life After You - Daughtry
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
Telephone - Lady GaGa
Some Days You Gotta Dance - Keith Urban
Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West
Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
Hillbilly Bone - Blake Shelton
Got Money - Lil Wayne
My Life Your Entertainment - T.I.
Keep On Lovin' You - Steel Magnolia
Rude Boy - Rihanna
All the Right Moves - OneRepublic
Something to Talk About - Bonnie Raitt
Fix You - Coldplay
Gimmie That Girl - Joe Nichols
Hell on the Heart - Eric Church
Ain't Back Yet - Kenny Chesney
When I Look At You - Miley Cyrus
All I Do is Win - DJ Khaled
Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Fighter - Christina Aguilera
Blind - Jason Derulo
That's How Country Boys Roll - Billy Currington
In The Ayer - Flo Rida
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Tricky - Run DMC
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
Find My Way - The Gabe Dixon Band
Get A Haircut - George Thorogood and The Destroyers
Whatcha Say - Jason Derulo
In My Head - Jason Derulo
Young Forever - JayZ
Impossible - Kelly Clarkson
Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf
Last Resort - Papa Roach
Walking in Memphis - Lonestar
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
The World's Greatest - R. Kelly
Outside My Window - Sarah Buxton
Cowboy In Me - Tim McGraw
Work Hard, Play Harder
Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Buble
Hold On - Michael Buble
Skynrd Nation - Lynrd Skynrd
Simple Things - Lynrd Skynrd
That Ain't My America - Lynrd Skynrd
Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
Kris Allen - Live Like We're Dying
Tik Tok - KeSha
Bad Romance - Lady GaGa
Surprisingly I don't even know if I got them all but you got the gist. :-) 19 days to go!!
- merebrown01
- Raleigh, NC, United States
- Ex-field hockey player turned runner! After school I started running to keep in shape. I ran a few shorter races until I played a hand on a marathon. I qualified for the Boston Marathon on the first shot and then qualified again. There's nothing like pushing yourself so hard for something that not everyone has the guts to do ... and experiencing a rewarding accomplishment. These are my thoughts when I'm hitting the pavement.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Coasting to the Start
And let the taper begin! Three weeks to go until Boston and I've thrown my gear into neutral and am hoping for a seamless ride to April 19. Before I could do that I had to brave the longest run in my training program, 22 miles. Fortunately, the run could not have gone any better but to best honest, I was terrified of the mileage beforehand so I had to pay special attention to my mentality before I hit the road.
One thing I mastered during my OBX training was my outlook before each run. Thinking 'I'm just going for another run' made a world of difference. I would erase the intimidating numbers, like mileage, time and pace, out of my mind and only focus on going for a simple run. This allowed me to find a comfortable stride and have some peace of mind as I set out on some of those longer runs. I applied this technique to my last training run of Boston, and luckily, I was successful. Mentality is EVERYTHING!
Starting at a relaxed pace, I let my body naturally pick up a speed that was fitting for that day. Something else that always sets me at ease is good music and I downloaded a few handfuls of new music the night before so I was set. I also knew that I had my sister, Kate, waiting for me at mile 12 to finish out the last 10 miles of the run. Who doesn't love running buddies?! Needless to say, odds were in my favor that day. I felt and finished strong and that's all I could ask for to begin my taper optimistically.
Before the run I was nervous about the blisters I've been getting on my feet during my runs. I went into the Raleigh Running Outfitters (one of my favorite places) and asked for advice. They told me to use Body Glide on the problem areas. Shocked, but I gave it a shot. To my surprise it worked like a charm! Thank you Raleigh Running Outfitter guys! :-) Oh and thanks for all the GUs, the Mizuno shoes, the 50 percent off running pants, the sports bra, and for letting me kill time during my lunch hour.
Stay tuned for my Boston Marathon mix - coming in the next day or two! Thanks for the continued support!
One thing I mastered during my OBX training was my outlook before each run. Thinking 'I'm just going for another run' made a world of difference. I would erase the intimidating numbers, like mileage, time and pace, out of my mind and only focus on going for a simple run. This allowed me to find a comfortable stride and have some peace of mind as I set out on some of those longer runs. I applied this technique to my last training run of Boston, and luckily, I was successful. Mentality is EVERYTHING!
Starting at a relaxed pace, I let my body naturally pick up a speed that was fitting for that day. Something else that always sets me at ease is good music and I downloaded a few handfuls of new music the night before so I was set. I also knew that I had my sister, Kate, waiting for me at mile 12 to finish out the last 10 miles of the run. Who doesn't love running buddies?! Needless to say, odds were in my favor that day. I felt and finished strong and that's all I could ask for to begin my taper optimistically.
Before the run I was nervous about the blisters I've been getting on my feet during my runs. I went into the Raleigh Running Outfitters (one of my favorite places) and asked for advice. They told me to use Body Glide on the problem areas. Shocked, but I gave it a shot. To my surprise it worked like a charm! Thank you Raleigh Running Outfitter guys! :-) Oh and thanks for all the GUs, the Mizuno shoes, the 50 percent off running pants, the sports bra, and for letting me kill time during my lunch hour.
Stay tuned for my Boston Marathon mix - coming in the next day or two! Thanks for the continued support!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Four Long Runs Left
Eleven weeks of training completed and only five more to go. Better yet - I only have four more long runs to brave before I jump on a place to Boston. Once again I recorded another week of successful runs last week, which gave me confidence heading into an 18 mile run. Instead of running my long run according to my typical routine on Saturday, I postponed the adventure until Sunday. That decision left me with two rest days before my longest run yet in my training for Boston.
I feel like a broken record but my goodness – those Raleigh hills! There’s no catching a break. All in all I would describe my run as OK. Just OK. It wasn’t great – my pace (8:40) was significantly slower than my 8:11 average during my 16-miler the week before. My shoes are giving me hellacious blisters … something I didn’t experience with my last pair. If I haven’t said it before I bought last year’s model of the Mizuno Nirvanas (the orange pair). When I was fitted for a pair they insisted that I needed a pair of shoes with the most support because of my in-step and my arches and naturally I listened because they are the experts, not me. Well, this particular pair feels like it has no support at all so I don’t know how that math works out. Anyway, I walked a few times for less than .1 mile each time. I’d defeat a majority of many of the hills I encountered and then had a need/want to take it down to a walk over the crown of it, which is always the worse part. If I am not prepared for these Boston hills then I really don’t know what else I could have done.
Rounding out training I have 14 miles to look forward to this weekend and then a whopping 22 before I start to taper. I am ecstatic that the word “taper” is in my very near future. And yes, two weeks and 22 miles is considered near future in a 16-week training program. After my 22-miler I have a 14-miler and then eight before the race on April 19. There is a big 35 written on a pad of purple post-it notes in my cubicle at work, signifying the number of days until Boston. It’s exciting to tear away each day and see how quickly it’s coming. Butterflies are swarming with the thought of it.
I feel like a broken record but my goodness – those Raleigh hills! There’s no catching a break. All in all I would describe my run as OK. Just OK. It wasn’t great – my pace (8:40) was significantly slower than my 8:11 average during my 16-miler the week before. My shoes are giving me hellacious blisters … something I didn’t experience with my last pair. If I haven’t said it before I bought last year’s model of the Mizuno Nirvanas (the orange pair). When I was fitted for a pair they insisted that I needed a pair of shoes with the most support because of my in-step and my arches and naturally I listened because they are the experts, not me. Well, this particular pair feels like it has no support at all so I don’t know how that math works out. Anyway, I walked a few times for less than .1 mile each time. I’d defeat a majority of many of the hills I encountered and then had a need/want to take it down to a walk over the crown of it, which is always the worse part. If I am not prepared for these Boston hills then I really don’t know what else I could have done.
Rounding out training I have 14 miles to look forward to this weekend and then a whopping 22 before I start to taper. I am ecstatic that the word “taper” is in my very near future. And yes, two weeks and 22 miles is considered near future in a 16-week training program. After my 22-miler I have a 14-miler and then eight before the race on April 19. There is a big 35 written on a pad of purple post-it notes in my cubicle at work, signifying the number of days until Boston. It’s exciting to tear away each day and see how quickly it’s coming. Butterflies are swarming with the thought of it.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sweet Sixteen
Oh, Monday. Hello again.
I logged some great training last week. The short of it … on Monday I paid a favor to my knees and did an hour on the elliptical, on Tuesday I ran a good seven miles on the treadmill with altering speeds and incline percentages, on Wednesday I was able to get back outside and get in five miles and yesterday I squeezed in a little over five and a half miles outside before dark fell. I’m running consistently at an average pace of 8:25 to 8:30 per mile, which is fine. When Boston comes around I would bet that the adrenaline will pick up the difference and get me down to an 8:10 pace. This is what I’m hoping at least. Not like I can avoid it much in Raleigh but as I’ve been saying, hills have been incorporated into every run for the most part; and not just some rolling hills, I am facing hills I would describe as monstrous! Others may think differently. To my surprise I keep a good pace up the hills too – I just hope I can maintain that for 26.2 miles.
That brings me to my 16-mile long run on Saturday that I was dreading in the worst way. Thankfully it was an awesome run. I had one of those running experiences where I couldn’t help but smile and enjoy myself. My guess is a lot of it had to do with the weather – sunny and mid- to high-50s. Perfect running weather. Spring fever was going around and I was undoubtedly a victim. This was the hilliest run I’ve faced yet and I handled the hills just fine. I focused on what I could do when being challenged with a hill to make it easier. Long, deep and relaxed breathing really helped. I’m so happy that I had a good run because my motivation was getting slim and I was scared I was headed for a bad marathon experience. Anyway, I averaged 8:11 – running below 8:00 for a majority of the run. Am I happy with that? Uh, ECSTATIC!
On a different note - I’ve been thinking about the idea of the training program lately. For a lot of beginner runners – it’s like the Bible. If you don’t hit the mileage recommended for that day, for example the six-miler in week seven of training, then there’s no way you’ll finish your race. Hmm … not true. It’s kind of like relationships if you want to think about it like that, because when you’re training for a race you tend to feel like you’re involved enough for it to be considered a relationship. There’s isn’t a need to marry the program. Sure, it’s stable and always there for you, but it’s better to date and keep it in close reach in case you ever do want to cling to it. But seriously, who wants to be committed when you have so much going on in your life, like work or school, a social life and not all that much time. When I was running with the man I talked about in my previous post he told me about his “perfect 50” week. First he asked me how many miles I do a week and maybe I’m just that new of a runner but that isn’t how I calculate my training mileage. I’m a day-to-day kind of runner – not weekly. Anyway, his “perfect 50” was something to this nature – eight on Monday, seven on Tuesday, six on Wednesday, nine on Thursday and then his long run on the weekend. No thanks. I rarely hit seven during the week, and if I do, that’s probably the max.
When it comes down to it, it’s whatever works for you. That guy likes his “perfect 50” and that is good for him. I typically don’t exceed 40 during the week (not including my elliptical or video workout) if I were to count like that. The program is just a skeleton for ideas on how to build up your endurance and ability – but it’s not a schedule set in stone to follow. I know some who only run four or five miles during the week and their long run on the weekend. The most important run is your long run and so I DO recommend hitting those numbers, but other than that listening to your body is crucial. What works for one may not be your best compass.
I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather. I know I am!! Oh, and six more days until DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!
I logged some great training last week. The short of it … on Monday I paid a favor to my knees and did an hour on the elliptical, on Tuesday I ran a good seven miles on the treadmill with altering speeds and incline percentages, on Wednesday I was able to get back outside and get in five miles and yesterday I squeezed in a little over five and a half miles outside before dark fell. I’m running consistently at an average pace of 8:25 to 8:30 per mile, which is fine. When Boston comes around I would bet that the adrenaline will pick up the difference and get me down to an 8:10 pace. This is what I’m hoping at least. Not like I can avoid it much in Raleigh but as I’ve been saying, hills have been incorporated into every run for the most part; and not just some rolling hills, I am facing hills I would describe as monstrous! Others may think differently. To my surprise I keep a good pace up the hills too – I just hope I can maintain that for 26.2 miles.
That brings me to my 16-mile long run on Saturday that I was dreading in the worst way. Thankfully it was an awesome run. I had one of those running experiences where I couldn’t help but smile and enjoy myself. My guess is a lot of it had to do with the weather – sunny and mid- to high-50s. Perfect running weather. Spring fever was going around and I was undoubtedly a victim. This was the hilliest run I’ve faced yet and I handled the hills just fine. I focused on what I could do when being challenged with a hill to make it easier. Long, deep and relaxed breathing really helped. I’m so happy that I had a good run because my motivation was getting slim and I was scared I was headed for a bad marathon experience. Anyway, I averaged 8:11 – running below 8:00 for a majority of the run. Am I happy with that? Uh, ECSTATIC!
On a different note - I’ve been thinking about the idea of the training program lately. For a lot of beginner runners – it’s like the Bible. If you don’t hit the mileage recommended for that day, for example the six-miler in week seven of training, then there’s no way you’ll finish your race. Hmm … not true. It’s kind of like relationships if you want to think about it like that, because when you’re training for a race you tend to feel like you’re involved enough for it to be considered a relationship. There’s isn’t a need to marry the program. Sure, it’s stable and always there for you, but it’s better to date and keep it in close reach in case you ever do want to cling to it. But seriously, who wants to be committed when you have so much going on in your life, like work or school, a social life and not all that much time. When I was running with the man I talked about in my previous post he told me about his “perfect 50” week. First he asked me how many miles I do a week and maybe I’m just that new of a runner but that isn’t how I calculate my training mileage. I’m a day-to-day kind of runner – not weekly. Anyway, his “perfect 50” was something to this nature – eight on Monday, seven on Tuesday, six on Wednesday, nine on Thursday and then his long run on the weekend. No thanks. I rarely hit seven during the week, and if I do, that’s probably the max.
When it comes down to it, it’s whatever works for you. That guy likes his “perfect 50” and that is good for him. I typically don’t exceed 40 during the week (not including my elliptical or video workout) if I were to count like that. The program is just a skeleton for ideas on how to build up your endurance and ability – but it’s not a schedule set in stone to follow. I know some who only run four or five miles during the week and their long run on the weekend. The most important run is your long run and so I DO recommend hitting those numbers, but other than that listening to your body is crucial. What works for one may not be your best compass.
I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather. I know I am!! Oh, and six more days until DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Bad Run, Decent Time
Contrary to my previous post …
There are good runs and there are bad ones. When it’s bad … es no bueno. My usual routine before my long run when it comes to mapping a run is either set out on a route that has been recommended to me or go to MapMyRun.com, make a few twist and turns and write down the directions. Then, off I go without much of a clue in how the run is going to pan out. Needless to say, the verdict was not in my favor this time.
Let me start with some positivity since there isn’t a great deal of it that pours out of this past long run. I was a little more than a mile into my 11-mile run when I saw an older man running in my direction. He was obviously a veteran runner with his spandex running outfit and long, lean physique. To my surprise, he slowed up when we crossed paths and asked if I wanted some company. “Sure, I’d love company,” was my response. We chatted about running, races we’ve competed in and the Boston Marathon for about two miles. He’d run Boston twice roughly 20 years ago and he was going to try and qualify again next year. Of course I asked for advice being a relatively new runner and a virgin Boston marathoner and like everyone else he had heard countless things about heartbreak hills before he faced Boston for the first time. So, he concentrated on those and during the race he worked to conquer them. Around mile 20 when the hills were evening out he realized that he still had another six miles to go … something he did not concentrate on. I guess that goes for most things in life … don’t focus on the tough parts or one thing in particular … keep your eye on your bigger goal and all else will become just a part of the race (figuratively and literally).
Anyway, he left just short of three miles into my run and I was on my own for the next eight. It started out with rolling hills here and there, nothing to speak of, but I made a turn and it was for the worst. Maybe I wasn’t hydrated well-enough and maybe I just wasn’t in the moment but the steep inclines got the best of me that day. I walked for a minute or so about three times, feeling pretty terrible for a majority of the run. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought I was pulling a 30 pound wagon behind me with lead in my shoes. My average pace ended up being 8:27. I’m more than satisfied with that considering how I felt.
I wasn’t going to do anything on Sunday but I knew a recovery workout might work in my favor. A run outside didn’t seem too appealing, especially after the day before, so I went to my apartment’s fitness center and did an hour on the elliptical. I didn’t push any limits but I was worked hard enough to break a decent sweat. Time passed quickly as I watched the end of the Louisville basketball game (Chris is a huge UofL fan). They won in the last seconds! Then I watched the USA hockey game. Very exciting but a disappointing finish to the game. Oh well – I’m proud of our boys.
Tonight was another elliptical night. I think my knees appreciate a break from the constant pounding. Again, it was an hour-long workout and this time I worked a lot harder.
I’ll post again soon but in the meantime, happy running! We have Daylight Savings Time to look forward to!!!! YAY! :-)
There are good runs and there are bad ones. When it’s bad … es no bueno. My usual routine before my long run when it comes to mapping a run is either set out on a route that has been recommended to me or go to MapMyRun.com, make a few twist and turns and write down the directions. Then, off I go without much of a clue in how the run is going to pan out. Needless to say, the verdict was not in my favor this time.
Let me start with some positivity since there isn’t a great deal of it that pours out of this past long run. I was a little more than a mile into my 11-mile run when I saw an older man running in my direction. He was obviously a veteran runner with his spandex running outfit and long, lean physique. To my surprise, he slowed up when we crossed paths and asked if I wanted some company. “Sure, I’d love company,” was my response. We chatted about running, races we’ve competed in and the Boston Marathon for about two miles. He’d run Boston twice roughly 20 years ago and he was going to try and qualify again next year. Of course I asked for advice being a relatively new runner and a virgin Boston marathoner and like everyone else he had heard countless things about heartbreak hills before he faced Boston for the first time. So, he concentrated on those and during the race he worked to conquer them. Around mile 20 when the hills were evening out he realized that he still had another six miles to go … something he did not concentrate on. I guess that goes for most things in life … don’t focus on the tough parts or one thing in particular … keep your eye on your bigger goal and all else will become just a part of the race (figuratively and literally).
Anyway, he left just short of three miles into my run and I was on my own for the next eight. It started out with rolling hills here and there, nothing to speak of, but I made a turn and it was for the worst. Maybe I wasn’t hydrated well-enough and maybe I just wasn’t in the moment but the steep inclines got the best of me that day. I walked for a minute or so about three times, feeling pretty terrible for a majority of the run. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought I was pulling a 30 pound wagon behind me with lead in my shoes. My average pace ended up being 8:27. I’m more than satisfied with that considering how I felt.
I wasn’t going to do anything on Sunday but I knew a recovery workout might work in my favor. A run outside didn’t seem too appealing, especially after the day before, so I went to my apartment’s fitness center and did an hour on the elliptical. I didn’t push any limits but I was worked hard enough to break a decent sweat. Time passed quickly as I watched the end of the Louisville basketball game (Chris is a huge UofL fan). They won in the last seconds! Then I watched the USA hockey game. Very exciting but a disappointing finish to the game. Oh well – I’m proud of our boys.
Tonight was another elliptical night. I think my knees appreciate a break from the constant pounding. Again, it was an hour-long workout and this time I worked a lot harder.
I’ll post again soon but in the meantime, happy running! We have Daylight Savings Time to look forward to!!!! YAY! :-)
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