Resilient and Relentless

The sun shines bright in a clear blue sky this morning; the wind is light. The air is cool but not cold, fresh and tangy with salt.  I am dressed for a run, the bad knee covered in gauze and wrapped in paper tape.  Although I absolutely cannot squat down, I can move forward.  I can barely wait to get back on the road.

This is one of those runs where I am so grateful to be out here that I have no goals in mind— I am not watching the clock, I am not planning a set distance.  I’m going until I’ve had enough and whatever that looks like is just fine with me.  A revised running playlist is in order on my iPod and I start out listening to OutKast’s “Git Up, Git Out”.  Perfect.

I run the first mile easy, easy, listening to my body for any signs of protest.  “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People pounds in my ears as I pass by Front Beach and Back Beach.  The heel does not hurt.  The left shoulder and hip feel good.  My arms are still a bit sore, but I don’t mind.  As I finish my warm up and pick up my pace I turn onto Granite Street to the melted-chocolate-rich vocals of Notorious B.I.G. rapping “Can’t You See”, a great tune from the soundtrack to the film The Wackness.  I run uphill and then down, cringing inside as I pass the spot by the Tool Company where I wiped out the other day.

Before I know it, I’m all the way to Halibut Point State Park, listening to Journey’s “Any Way You Want It”.  The song and the air and the wind in the trees and the blue, blue sky are deliciously satisfying to every sense, and the touch of each foot on the soft ground is almost unbearably good.  I gasp aloud with pleasure as I pass the deep quarry set in front of the vast expanse of ocean all visible from the path.

A family is out for a walk on the thick wood chip path that leads out of the park.  The dad is lumbering ahead, the mother and two tiny little red-haired  girls trail behind him, laughing, loving this morning as I am.  I think tiny hurdles as I zip past, laughing.  The two little girls call out after me, hi, hi, and I turn my head and wave to them as I head back to the street.  I take the long way, first down Phillip’s Ave., then Point De Chene, my breath in sweet rhythm with the motion of my legs.  The sound of Girl Talk’s “Bounce That” and “Peak Out” play as I turn back toward town.  I sprint down Broadway fast enough that my hair flies out behind me; I watch my shadow for a moment and see one long-legged runner move with joy.

I run eight miles this morning.  I trot up the final hill, listening once more to The Notorious B.I.G., this time the song “Sky’s the Limit” and I agree, grateful for having a resilient body and a relentless passion for running.

Tunes

This morning I ran 8 miles.  It was colder than yesterday, and I kept wishing I had worn the turtle fur scarf.  At least I had the sense to wear a hat!  I wanted to make my goal for the day mostly because I hate to disappoint myself, but also because I am training for a race.  I haven’t decided on which one yet, but definitely feel it’s time to go for a PR and see where I stand (run) under a little pressure from someplace other than within myself. I’m looking for a 10K sometime this spring.

I have to express my gratitude for music on a day like this—I recently created a playlist from my iTunes library I titled “Runner’s Delight” that includes some of my all-time favorite music, mostly fast and all with lyrics that inspire me to move.  I confess to stopping by my house at mile 6 to smear pommade on my cheeks and let out a little coffee, but I only stopped for three minutes, then bounded back out to finish the run.  The music is what helped me maintain my pace.  The list starts off with a couple of slower tempo songs for warm-up, then goes right into tunes that trick my brain into thinking that running is really the hottest dance floor craze in existence.  Some of the songs seem like they were made for running, like “Middle of the Road” by The Pretenders,  “Hey Ya” by OutKast, and “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas.  There’s also a couple of songs by Notorious B.I.G., (‘Sky’s The Limit’ is great!), The Corrs, The Propeller Heads, and the charming Belle and Sebastian, whose retro 70’s sound and wild and sometimes sexy lyrics make me grin as I sprint.  Moby’s there, with “Honey”, “Body Rock”, “Run On”, and South Side”.  And finally, India Arie, whose lyrics make any woman feel like she’s perfect just the way she is.

These songs all have their own tempos, and I can lengthen or shorten my stride, increase the intensity a little or a lot to maintain the rhythm in a way that lets me maintain my speed.  These songs work for me because they reflect a lot of my feelings and experiences, and have beats and rhythms I love.  They are written and performed by artists whose whose lyrics touch me and inspire me, whose sounds make me want to move my body.  They motivate me to keep running.

For anyone out there looking for inspiration to get going or to keep going, even on lazy feeling days, on icy cold days, on little aches and pains days, music is a great way to lose your attachment to the ease of quitting.  It’s one of my top recommendations as a trainer.  You can draw more from yourself when music becomes a part of your workout.  It has to be the kind of music that calls out to you.  The music that makes you want to sing along, even if you don’t know the words, even if there aren’t any words.   Even if you are running your hardest and have to sing in your head.

What music motivates you?  Go make your playlist and get out there!

Today:  8 miles.  64 minutes.