Running with emotion. And music …
When you go out running before dusk, you might wanna consider leaving that iPod behind, because there is nothing like a forest waking up. I can hardly remember any moment when i felt more alive and at peace with myself than being out running and hearing the first bird calls.
Any other time i take the music with me. After i have covered the first five kilometers and everything has settled in so i can leave my legs unattended for a while, i can concentrate on the music, go to autopilot and start dreaming. I think of runs i did and what to learn from them and also of major mistakes i made and what to learn from those as well (and this applies to more than just running) and i am always amazed at what kind of thoughts pop up during those long runs. To help me relax and have a good time while running i have an iPod just for running (not that i am so wealthy. It was a gift from Electronic Arts when i worked there) with a special playlist.
I read abouit how you should take music that has a tempo which will not disturb your running, but i don’t really go for that. I have ballads and up-tempo stuff with me and nothing really gets in the way of my pre-set pace. Luckily i am really good at maintaining a given tempo. And after all those years i pretty much know where my heart rate is at even without checking the heart rate monitor.
I just took songs that meant something to me. Had meaningful memories, lyrics that leave you with some food for thought or just a mood i happen to like. So let me share some of the songs and the reason why they have their place in the playlist.
Gonna Fly Now / Bill Conti – This is from the movie soundtrack of “Rocky” and it still gives me the shivers. Whenever this comes on, i straighten up and it DOES mess with my pace and makes me run a tad quicker. But i don’t mind. Anyone not reacting to that song in some kind of way is dead inside. Period.
One Moment In Time / Whitney Houston – If you don’t know what “corny” means, the song explains it all. But it is a nice way of corny. And the words are just perfect: “Give me one moment in time when i’m more than i thought i could be.” Yeah. Gimme.
Don’t get me wrong / The Pretenders – One of the best songs to brighten up a gray day. Also works in the shower and while cleaning the apartment.
I’m gonna be / The Proclaimers – Just hilarious. Even when going anaerobic i feel like singing along. No breath or not …
I will survive / Gloria Gaynor – That’s the attitude. ‘Nuff said.
Born To Run / Bruce Springsteen – This song has been with me for like 25 years. Probably #1 on my all-time-charts. Lots of meaning and in spite of the title, no connection to running whatsoever.
The Man Comes Around / Johnny Cash – I hadn’t known this side of Cash for quite some time. And although i like his old stuff, this now is Cash to me. Creepy. And wise.
Jump / Van Halen – I grew up in the 80s, so what? This one always makes me jump over stuff that sometimes isn’t even there.
God Is A DJ / Faithless – It’s driving, in a way monotonous like a long run and the couple of words it has, appeal to me a great deal. I mentioned this in another post already. Read more there.
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina / Sinéad O’Connor – I haven’t seen the movie and i don’t know whether Madonna’s version is better, but this one is so full of emotion i can hardly imagine anyone else doing it better. And it’s a perfect example of the slow stuff i take along and NOT slow down to an old man’s shuffle.
Diesel Power / The Prodigy – Kinda MY song. I can’t run too fast or at least i don’t want to because it makes me feel like crap, so i always thought of me as a diesel. Not fast, but i keep trucking forever. So this had to be on my list really.
Go Down /Rom Di Prisco – This is from the original soundtrack of the video game “Unreal Tournament 3″ and the original version came with the first in the Unreal Tournament series in 1999. As a fan of the Unreal franchise and of electronic music in general i DO love this one. There is more really good stuff in all of the Unreal titles, but this one kinda stood out for me.
The best part on my playlist though is a monologue that Rocky has in the last of the Rocky movies, as he is talking sense into his son. Here’s what the man says:
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and i don’t csre how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward. Thst’s how winning is done!
Now, if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth, but you gotta be willing to take the hits and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”
I sometimes switch the iPod to shuffle mode and promise myself i won’t stop until i hear Rocky speak. Sometimes that SOB makes me wait forever. But listening to it, it’s always worth the wait. Always …
