Apr
28
It started with deciding to say yes to a challenge that felt impossibly out of reach, which led me to a beautiful city I’d never seen before and a finish line I never thought it would be possible for me to cross. A week later, I thought, I’ve come this far and learned so much about myself in the process—what if I kept going?
We leave on Friday for Eugene. The marathon is on Sunday. The marathon that I’m running in.
I pushed myself out the door a thousand times when I’d have given anything to stay home. I ran through wind and rain and dark night skies. I ran short, I ran medium, I eventually ran 21 seemingly endless miles, all in the name of preparing my body to endure 26.2. I spent money on tights and fuel belts and energy gels and music and hats and shoes. I got sidelined by painful injuries in my knee and hip and foot. I sometimes ran lonely; I always ran alone.
It’s been the hardest thing I have ever done, this training. A lot of it has been, in a word, miserable. I don’t know if I will ever want to do this sort of thing again.
But here I am, about to run a goddamned marathon. It’s not over yet, but I’ve put in the work to get this far and it is a nearly indescribable feeling. I read a quote once: “Out on the roads there is fitness and self-discovery and the persons we were destined to be.” I believe this is true. I believe these last several months of running have forever changed me. Or maybe just revealed what was there all along.
I’ll be thinking of you on Sunday, my friends, you who have helped me out so much with encouraging words and support from afar. Thank you for being such a positive presence in my life. Thank you for the kindnesses you’ve shown me and the advice you’ve shared. It makes a difference.
Now, assuming I don’t black out and die in a pool of my own vomit before I have a chance to make it past the audiobook section of my iPod and into the music, I need what can only be described as the World’s Most Epic Running Playlist, and here’s where you come in: what’s the one song that never fails to revive your flagging spirits, that you’d want piped into your head-holes to help stave off total physical collapse? The request line is OPEN.
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ive got a few that always seem to work and i never seem to get old of them. theyve stood the test of time and at least one of them always appears in the running playlists i keep in rotation.
live: heaven
matchbox 20: how far we’ve come
aerosmith: dream on
all american rejects: move on
goo goo dolls: stay with you
ok go: here it goes again
say anything: alive with the glory of love
foo fighters: everlong
red hot chili peppers: dani california
i know, a lil heavy on the 90s alternative rock/pop. dont judge.
g’luck on sunday. its just one foot in front of the other…
Tik Tok by Ke$ha, good luck!
Good grief, I can’t stop!
“Mean Machine”, The Cramps
“Groove Is In The Heart”, Deee-Lite
“We Care A Lot”, Faith No More
“Down Under”, Men At Work
“Break My Stride”, Matthew Wilder
“Sir Duke”, Stevie Wonder
“Never Enough”, The Cure
“Root Down”, Beastie Boys
“My Philosophy”, Boogie Down Productions
Gold and Warm, Bad Veins
8 Mile Soundtrack (esp. Lose Yourself, Rabbit Run, and 8 Miles and Runnin’)
Hold Me Now, The Polyphonic Spree
Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen
Yer So Bad, Tom Petty
Weezer (The Good Life, Photograph, The World Has Turned and Left Me Here)
Tenacious D! Oh my goodness. “Wonder Boy”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACiA1TX0tvA
Michael Franti & Spearhead: “Say Hey (I Love You)”
The Verve: “Bittersweet Symphony”
Lo Fidelity Allstars: “Battleflag” (go ahead and get the dirty version)
Band of Brotherz: “Back to the River”
Particle: “The Elevator”
Paul Simon: “The Obvious Child”
Deadman: “When the Music’s Not Forgotten”
Tea Leaf Green: “Sex in the ’70s”
Delurking to share my weird mix of faves. But they work for me. You can do it. One foot in front of the other. Can’t wait for the post-race scoop.
I love to run to Andrew WK’s entire catalog, his stuff is very energetic with a consistent beat throughout – it really helps me to run to the beat, so that’s the first thing I look for when choosing music.
Journeys – Don’t Stop Believing
Is that even the correct title? I don’t know – but they played it during my first (and only, so far) marathon at mile 18 and oh dude….to this day I get all tingly when I hear it. It is cheesey and inspiring and that is exactly what some of us need when running 26.2 miles.
You are going to do great!
I read this post this morning just before heading out on my last long run (20kms) before my first half (23 May) and it put me in a much better frame of mind. Good luck for the weekend — I’m really looking forward to reading about it.
The one song that keeps me going is “I Believe” by Yolanda Adams — it’s from the movie Honey
“You worked real hard and you know exactly what you want and need so believe
And you can never give up
You can reach your goals
Just talk to your soul and say
I believe i can
I believe i will
I believe i know my dreams are real”
So cheesy, but it really, really works :-)
You can doooooo it!
Here are songs with lots of shouting! For you!
TKO, Le Tigre
The Power Is On, The Go! Team
(You know the second one is special because they have an exclamation mark in their name. They also have so many members it’s like having your own cheering section.)
I love “Money Maker” by Ludacris & Pharrel,
“Get Up” by 50 Cent, & “Krazy” by another rap artist who’s name I can’t remember. Lil Jon, maybe?
Goodluck!
de-lurking to wish you the best of luck on Sunday! I’ll be thinking about you fulfilling a dream after a ton of hard work.
Some of these I’ve already shared with you, but I can’t resist this question. :)
“So Alive” by Love and Rockets and “Take Your Medicine” by Cloud Cult are my go-to songs for lyrically convincing me to keep moving while providing a good steady beat at the same time. See also “Steady as she Goes” by the Raconteurs.
Then there’s “Machine” by Regina Spektor. The beat’s maybe a tiny bit slow, but for my elliptical workouts I love it. Not sure how much of that is enjoying the irony of being, you know, Hooked Into Machine to get my exercise, but it might work for running, too.
“Glittering Clouds” by Imogen Heap, “Sweet Dreams are Made of This” by the Eurythmics, “You Spin Me Right Round” by Dead or Alive, “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey, “Silent Running” by Mike and the Mechanics (omit the 45-second intro), “Bring Me To Life” by Evanescence, “Legs” by ZZTop, “So What” by Pink, “Sweet Child Of Mine” by Guns ‘n’ Roses, and a whole boatload of techno (Basshunter and Darude are my favorites) also keep me moving.
Mock at will. :)
If you are not opposed to country. I like Rodney Atkins, If You’re Going through Hell. Spin class instructor used to play it during the hardest parts.
Atomic – the Trainspotting soundtrack version
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
The Way I Are – Timbaland
Sandstorm – Darude
Smooth – Santana
The only other thing I can think of are songs that make you sing in the shower. Whatever those are, they make you happy, so play ’em.
Good luck! Run like the wind!
Fuck the Pain Away (Peaches)
You Can Do It (Ice Cube)
Try Again (Aaliyah)
Push It (Garbage)
Take Your Time Do It Right (The S.O.S. Band)
Knock ’em dead!
So, so corny: Gonna Fly Now, otherwise known as the Rocky theme song.
Also: Coldplay, Viva La Vida
And: Persephone’s Bees, City of Love
And how about: The The, This is the Day
I’ll stop now. I’ve got a million of ’em. Good luck!
You rule and I can’t wait to see photos of you kicking ass at the finish line.
Running music . . . my standard “get pumped” playlist is “Safe and Sound” / Idlewild, “Priceless” / Jealous Sound, “In Circles” / Sunny Day Real Estate, “The Pod” / Hum (“Hi! I’m Holly and I haven’t listened to any new music since the 90s!”)
“Misery Business” by Paramore. Also prominently features the line “But God does it feel so good!” and I swear once in a while, running to it, I actually do.
Another vote for Eye of the Tiger!
Also, “Le Disko” by Shiny Toy Guns. I think they used it in some badass Motorola commercial at one point. Either way, it rocks.
Break a … uh… record! Best of luck!
Rage Against the Machine – Bulls on Parade
Beastie Boys- Sabatoge
Kanye West – Stronger
Beyonce – Single ladies
Eminem – Lose Yourself
Iggy Pop- Lust for Life
Jay-Z – 99 Problems
Missy Elliot – pass that Dutch
Notorious BIG – Mo Money Mo Problems
GOOD LUCk!!
So What by Pink
You rock. You’re still a rock star! Do it for all us moms!
Allow me to be the second Sara (with no h) to suggest The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army. (weird!!!)
Also, good luck! I’m so proud of you.
Runnin with the devil – Van Halen.
Love that song, makes me feel free and alive. Good luck!
You should totally play “Chariots of Fire” just as you’re about to cross the finish line! :)
And to get you pumped up, I like “Rock the Casbah” by the Clash.
Good luck, and by the way, you are a total inspiration!
An Australian outfit called The Presets.
Go Girl!!
Kick ass Linda! You’re awesome.
Also I can’t believe no one said this, but “Run” by Gnarles Barkley. I mean, sure, it’s obvious, but it really gets me going.
People already have me covered with Kanye’s “Stronger,” but I’ll throw in “Gold Digger” as well (is it worst if I tell you I prefer the Glee version? Don’t throw things).
“City of Angels” by the Distillers tends to pep me up. Ditto “C’mon C’mon” by the Von Bondies and “Chain me Free” from The Matches.
Good luck Linda! Is it weird to be proud of someone you’ve never met? I’m proud (and weird, if it is so.)
I always liked running to Pedal to the Metal by Kazzer, but I’m not sure it’s really cool to admit it. Oh well.
Good luck! I’ll be thinking of you on Sunday!
You go girl! SO impressed, proud, motivated by you!
Katy Perry / Timbaland: If We Ever Meet Again
The Temper Trap: Sweet Disposition
Black Eyed Peas: Rock That Body
The Potbelleez: Are You With Me
Pit Bull: I Know You Want Me
Daft Punk: Around The World
Kelly Rowland/David Guetta: When Love Takes Over
David Guetta (ft. Kid Cudi): Memories
Scissor Sisters- Take your mamma out tonight
(makes me want to get up and dance everytime I hear it)
MGMT- Electric Feel
Radiohead- – 15 Step
Black Eyed Peas – I gotta feeling
You WILL kick some major effing ass on Sunday girl! Run Linda, run. And as you are running, remember that if you just made it 5 steps, you can make it 5 more.
If you get bored, start writing that book of yours in your head. Kill two accomplishments with one stone!
Carry on- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Good.Luck.
Shipping Up to Boston, by the Dropkick Murphys.
If this is not already on your running mix, you have been missing out! I guarantee you it will move your butt over the finish line. It worked for me.
The Pretender -Foo Fighters
Kick some ass this weekend! Your dedication to your goals and training are part of what’s getting me through my training for my first 10K. I’m already thinking about running a half in November, and it’s all your fault. By which I mean: thank you!
Oh, and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” has been my go-to anthem since 2002.
“Wake Up” by Arcade Fire.
THE END.
Also, you are awesome. Get out there and rock it on Sunday, and enjoy every little second. Youve earned it, you’ve earned it, holy hell, you’ve earned it. WOOWOO!
“1,2,3,4” by Feist
“Oh My God” Ida Maria – it will knock your socks off.
bleed it out by linkin park.
When the music stops working I go to self talk. When you’ve got nothing left, you’ve always got your will/belief in your own mental toughness.
watching nike commercials on youtube plus the any given sunday coach speech and miracle on ice coach speech gets me very inspired in my ability to do anything too.
Good luck!
If I’ve posted here it’s only been once or twice but I have been reading you for a looooong time. Best of luck on Sunday. You will make that race your bitch…or bastard…whatever, you get the point.
Oh, and thank YOU. For inspiring and motivating so so many including me.
Go kick some ass.
I’m not the first to say it, but Lose Yourself by Eminem is my #1 go-to song — makes me want to punch my fists in the air like Rocky every time. :-)
I’ve loved following your journey over the last few months and I know you will kick some serious ass this weekend.
Florence and the Machine, “You’ve Got The Love” & Shiny Toy Guns, “Le Disko”
Eminem – Till I Collapse
Kick ass Linda
So, I’ve been quietly reading but had to give my input for this:
“Runs in the Family” – Amanda Palmer
“Till I Collapse” – Eminem
These both always get me through that last leg of a run (be it much shorter than yours!)
Good luck! Can’t wait to read about it – I’ll be living vicariously through your experience (since I’ll never be brave enough to run one!)
Congratulations and good luck!
I also want to say thank you, as you have definitely helped inspire me to exercise more and harder.
Two of my favorite exercise songs are “Fire Burning” by Sean Kingston and “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry.
Stronger by Kanye West always makes me run faster!
It’s cheesy, but I had “Gotta Get Thru This” by Daniel Bedingfield on my playlist for about mile 22 (when it’s pretty tough).
But, after that, gotta go for Eminem, Lady Gaga, Dance Express (s’xpress), Runaway by the Real McCoy’s (gotta trust me on that one), Mr. Cab Driver (Lenny Cravitz), Baby Got Back, Why not Me by the Judds (if you don’t mind country), and It Takes Two.
And, I should not go hide in shame after admitting that to the world.
Good luck!!!!
I think Liz has the right idea. Here’s what helps me…
These are the two that help me push it farther when I feel like I’m going to collapse:
Ain’t No Love (In the Heat of the City) – Jay-Z
The Seed (OG Lyrics) – The Roots
Also, strangely helpful are:
I Was Made To Love Her – Stevie Wonder
Getting Jiggy With It – Will Smith
Connected – Stereo MC’s
Most important – you go kick some ass, Linda – you’re a rockstar!
Arg, sorry, that would be “Ain’t No Love (In the Heart of the City)” not “heat” of the city.
Seriously, screw the emo stuff – for 26 miles you need hip hop or some heavy, heavy guitar shredding. :)
Apollo 440 – Stop The Rock
gotta love a band with TWO drummers