Tag Archives: iPod

Band on the Run: The Day The Music Died

Posted on June 26, 2009 | 2 Comments

The self-proclaimed King of Pop ruled the airwaves before spiralling from his throne amidst bizarre appearance changes, creepy allegations, and freakish reclusivity.  Although becoming a tragic figure in his latter years, I still fondly remember MJ at the top.  I spent the early 80s moonwalking, doing the zombie dance in the schoolyard, and coveting my classmate’s pleather dress with a glittery Thriller scrawled across the torso.   Before ”Wacko Jacko” became a tabloid joke, he was the unrivaled musical phenomenon of my generation and still boasts the best-selling album of all time.  I have it on vinyl, the cover featuring Jackson in a white leisure suit sporting a long-forgotten normal looking nose, somewhere in my makeshift storage unit otherwise known as my parent’s basement.  His death came as a surprise to fans around the world, particularly the 750,000 holding tickets to his much-anticipated upcoming London shows.  A Michael Jackson concert has always been my top choice for show I’d pay the extortionary Ticketmaster charges to attend.  I admit, for a moment I secretly wondered if he faked his own death, Elvis-style, to avoid his creditors and the paparazzi that followed his every moonwalk.  Conspiracy theories aside, no way would he abandon Bubbles the Chimp and his three children.  His death is a sad end to a very strange life.

In tribute to MJ and his vocally blessed family, I present you with my top ten picks for the Jackson tunes that should grace your running playlist.

Can You Feel It – The Jacksons.  The perfect pre-race single.  The whole world is coming together now.  Can you feel it?

Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Michael Jackson.  A starting line song to get your engine revvin’.  Yeah yeah.

Bad – Michael Jackson.  Well they say the sky’s the limit and to me that’s really true, but my friend you have seen nothing.  Just wait ’til I get through . . . because I’m bad, I’m bad.  You know it.  Now get your bad self to the finish line.

Runaway – Janet Jackson.  Okay, sometimes I listen to songs when I run simply because the word run is in the title.   A little not-so-subtle motivation.  This one is for you Husband, runaway with me my love.

ABC – Jackson 5.  A dose of optimism can go a long way on a long run.  Easy as ABC.  Simple as do re mi.  Shake it, shake it baby, come on now.

Beat It – Michael Jackson.  You better run, you better do what you can.

Control – Janet Jackson.  I’m in control, never gonna stop.  Control to get what I want.  Just watch out for those nipple slips.

Don’t Stop ‘Til You get Enough – Michael Jackson.  Keep on with the force, don’t stop.  Don’t stop ’til you get enough.  Hopefully “enough” kicks in after the finish line.

Blame it on the Boogie – The Jacksons.  A post-run bag full of performance excuses.  Don’t blame it on the sunshine.  Don’t blame it on the moonlight.  Don’t blame it on the good times.  Blame it on the boogie.  But my favourite?  I just can’t control my feet.

Thriller – Michael Jackson.  If you don’t know why this song is on my list, read this.  I see dead people.

R.I.P. M.J.

 

Title Reference:  Don McLean – American Pie.  From the album American Pie.  1971.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Band on the Run

Tagged , , ,

Band on the Run: The Telly Edition

Posted on May 23, 2009 | 4 Comments

Little ditties from the ghosts of TV past are the perfect pick-me-up when your legs resist all movement.  The Small Screen Theme Song genre of running playlist tunes is largely overlooked; but runners are missing out on a goldmine of inspirational beats for the feet.  Simplistic and repetitive jingles, the attraction is in the familiarity.  Surrounding yourself in well-known lyrics and melodies readily removes your mind from the grueling task at hand and takes you back to your comfy sofa and dear old friends.  As Homer Simpson sagely advises, the answer to life’s problems aren’t at the bottom of a bottle, they’re on TV.
 

Top 20 TV Theme Songs for Runners*

Road Runner – The Road Runner Show.  I named my iPod Roadrunner for a reason.  Just runnin’ down the road’s his idea of having fun.

MacGyver Theme Song – MacGyver.  The guy could do anything, get through any impossible situation, with a shoelace, a safety pin and a Swiss army knife.  If Mac’s can-do spirit isn’t motivation enough, maybe you’ll find some inspiration in this jazzy tune with the escalating tempo.

Believe It or Not – The Greatest American Hero.  A song that perfectly captures finish line bliss.  Look at what’s happened to me, I can’t believe it myself.  Suddenly I’m up on top of the world.  Now show off that hard-earned medal.
 
Wonder Woman – Wonder Woman.  This one is for the ladies dressed in satin tights.  All the world’s waiting for you and the power you possess.  Armed with your FuelBelt instead of a golden belt of cunning and strength, you are ready to take on any distance.
 
Love is All Around – The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  You’re gonna make it after all.  A surefire power song for those last few kilometres.
 
One Day at a Time – One Day at a Time.  A sometimes much needed reminder to embrace every moment of your run.  This is it.  This is life, the one you got, so go out and have a ball.  So up on your feet. 
 
Suicide is Painless – MASH.  At first glance this seems a strange pick, but the song makes me feel strong and invincible.  Through early morning fog I see visions of the things to be, the pains that are withheld for me, I realize and I can see. 
 
With a Little Help From My Friends – Wonder Years.  Few of us would ever get to the starting line without help, support, and words of encouragement from our friends.  That delicious pasta dinner, the early nights, a simple ‘you are awesome’ when you feel decidedly not awesome, and a friendly face taking your photo as you run through the wall.  We get by with a little help from our friends.
 
Sesame Street – Sesame Street.  A little dose of nostalgia never hurts, especially when you hurt all over.  It’s a song about a street, a street filled with happy people on some sort of marvellous drug.  A song about a street makes it a song about running, sorta.

It’s a Different World – A Different World.  Here’s our chance to make it, if we focus on our goals.  A Jello pudding huckster can’t be wrong.
 
Making Our Dreams Come True – Laverne & Shirley.  This duo sure knew the power of positive self talk.  Never heard the word impossible.  This time there’s no stopping us.  We’re gonna do it.  On your mark, get set, and go now, got a dream and we just know now, we’re gonna make our dream come true. 

Cosy in the Rocket – Grey’s Anatomy.  Set the fuse to go, go, go.   You heard him, go, go, go!
 
Where Everybody Knows Your Name – Cheers.  Okay, this one is a blatant shout out to folks trying to achieve a Boston qualifying time or those training for the Boston Marathon (or perhaps those running the Boston Marathon – although if you are running Boston put those headphones away and listen to everybody).  If you wear it on your shirt, you’ll discover they really do.
 
I’m Always Here – Baywatch.  The Baywatch theme brings up one timeless image: slo-mo running into a wind machine.  Don’t Hassel the Hoff, heed his wise words: in us we all have the power.
 
I’m No Superman – Scrubs.  You’ve crossed the finish line.  Won the race but lost your mind.  Don’t worry; it will come back with some carbohydrates and rest.
 
Theme from Beverly Hills, 90210 – Beverly Hills, 90210.  Nothing outcools Brandon’s cheeky double upper cut in the upbeat opening sequence.  When the going gets tough ask your self, WWBD (what would Brandon do)?
 
Frolic – Curb Your Enthusiasm.  A big-band sounding instrumental song with a most excellent title.

Little Boxes – Weeds.  One for the anti-suburbanites (or for the not easily offended suburbanites).  If you take insult to the notion that you live in a ticky-tacky house avoid.  If you like to look down your nose at ticky-tacky boxes on the hillside download and enjoy.  Unlike many theme songs, this one gives you a little something to think about as you run around the neighbourhood.

It’s a Jungle Out There – Monk.  It really is a jungle out there.  ‘Nuf said.

Think – Jeopardy.  If you think that time is running out you just might run faster.

* In no particular order.

→ 4 Comments

Posted in Band on the Run, Running Tids & Bits

Tagged , , ,

I see dead people

Posted on May 4, 2009 | Leave a comment

I spend a lot of time in cemeteries.  This weekend I returned to the cemetery of my near undoing. Cemeteries are great places to run – well maintained, quiet, and best of all, gloriously free of traffic.  Something about myself – I’m an only child who grew up in a rural area.  I think this is why I have such an active internal (fine, fantasy) life.  I have a tendency to become lost in dream-like thoughts during long runs, especially when I don’t need to be vigilant about my life (i.e. when I’m not in or near traffic).  The longer the run, the more absurd the visions.  I think it somehow speaks to diminishing glucose levels and an impending brain-bonk.  A couple of months ago, during an unseasonably warm long run, I wanted to stash some extra layers in the cemetery with the intent to retrieve the clothes on my return trip home.  After many moments of indecisiveness (one of which resulted in momentary panic when my foot got stuck in some sort of quicksand like snowpit) I opted for a semi-open mausoleum.  I found a dark corner in the back that looked low-traffic, ditched my gear, and continued on my 32K journey. 

Back then I was still battling Evil Knee Pain (soon after, I won).  As the kilometres klicked by the pain in my knee intensified and as the pain intensified I cranked up my iPod in an effort to distract from the simultaneously stabbing and throbbing sensations.  Despite the injury the run was lovely, mostly because of the surprisingly glorious temperatures (record-setting as it turns out).  By the time I returned to the mausoleum the music was pumping (read: louder than safe) and I had spent the last 5K amusing myself with ridiculous fantasies starring the undead who had found my gear and decided to take up running.  With the lumbering stiff-legged zombie gait (years of burial will do that to you)  the movement was more like a jog-gallop than a run, but still impressive.  Curiously, they did not jog-gallop with their arms straight out in front in traditional zombie-style, rather they ran with their arms bent at a 90-angle in the classic Fonzie position.  Nice and efficient running form for chasing the not so dead like me.  Which they did, but I outran them.  They were well rested, but I seemed to be better hydrated.  I also wore superior shoes.  As in, I wore shoes and they jog-galloped barefoot.  These daydreams provided some much needed comic-relief.  When I’m glucose starved I find myself to be incredibly funny.  For some people this happens when they drink.

During the run myPod had shuffled up an excellent mix of motivational music to get me through that painful final 10K.  As I headed back to the crypt to get my stuff Eminem’s Lose Yourself totally hit the spot.  Now, I will admit – my overactive imagination had left me feeling a bit jumpy.  Nevertheless, I bravely crept toward the back corner of the tomb to retrieve my gear.  As I bent over to pick up my stuff I heard it.  It was the heart-stopping sound of a creepy haunted house door opening.  The classic horror movie scary door; the kind of door you never want to go through unless you are young, female, wearing a negligee, and are about to be killed.  Easily spooked due to the zombie movie that had been playing in my head, my heart rate (and I wear a monitor so I confirmed) spiked by no fewer than 40 BPM.  As I frantically scanned the coffins to locate the mysterious door (of certain doom) even more confusing and horrifying sounds echoed around me. 

I am not entirely sure how many seconds (felt like minutes) passed before I came to the embarrassing realization that, at the exact moment I entered the darkest corner of the crypt and bent over to retrieve my mittens, the song Thriller had started playing on my iPod.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Band on the Run, On the Road Again, Running Tids & Bits

Tagged , , , ,

Band on the Run: The Poptart Edition

Posted on April 30, 2009 | 3 Comments

Thou shalt not judge another runner’s playlist.  On every song list, amongst all the hipster beats, lurks a track embarrassing in its decade, cheesiness, divaness, or pre-teeniness.  Today’s playlist pays homage to poptart musicians and their bubblegum hits.  The infectious chorus and catchy hooks readily lend themselves to a 42.2 km ordeal.  Something about manufactured artists and their cloying lyrics (when you seem to know every single word despite never having made a conscious effort to learn, let alone listen to, the song) is a blessed distraction as one gets into wall territory.  The simple uptempo hits contrast well with the arduous task at hand.  Sometimes an angry heavy metal beat will drive you forward, but other times a teen idol with questionable vocal talent and an annoyingly catchy tune will do the same.  Although often rejected as quickly as they were embraced by a fickle public, for better or worse these hits and hitmakers are a part of our musical zeitgeist.  Now these pop tunes have found a new life in many running playlists (be it proudly or secretively) . 
 
 
Stronger – Britney Spears.  She may be a tabloid mess, but the girl has one helluva motivational line.  Now I’m stronger than yesterday, now it’s nothin’ but my way. 

Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves.  The power of positive thinking.  I’m walking on sunshine and don’t it feel good.   It’s not a question, it’s a statement: don’t it feel good!

Micky – Toni Basil.  The lyrics are lame (you’re so fine you blow my mind), but the song earns a spot for the so-bad-it’s-good cheerleading video.  Three kilometres from the end we can all use a little rah rah sis boom bah to put the kick back in our step.

Ray of Light – Madonna.  She’s the fast girl your mother warned you about.  Quicker than a ray of light she’s flying.

Beat It – Michael Jackson.  Listen to the wise MJ: you better run, you better do what you can.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper.  They just wanna.  Miles and miles of fun.

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go – Wham.  When I’m delusionally tired this song makes me go-go faster in the hope that I can outrun it.  Jitterbug into my brain, goes a bang-bang-bang ’til my feet do the same. 

Dressed for Success – Roxette.  This is the ultimate starting line song.  Decked out in your spiffy high tech race day gear you are dressed for success.  Shaping up for the big time baby.

Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles.  Form is everything.  Slide your feet up the street bend your back.  Shift your arm then you pull it back.

SexyBack – Justin Timberlake.  Runners everywhere, we’re bring sexy back.  Yeah. 

Step by Step – New Kids on the Block.  When the going gets tough, take it step by step, ooh baby.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Band on the Run

Tagged , ,

Sounds of Silence

Posted on April 14, 2009 | Leave a comment

Whew:

Are headphones permitted?
Although the B.A.A. [Boston Athletic Association] discourages the use of iPods and headphones, they are allowed except for those athletes eligible for prize money.

That’s me breathing a sweet sigh of relief.  Perhaps this surprises you.  As you may recall, I have a no racing with music rule.  To date I have never ran a marathon with music, but I like to know that I have the option.  My music rule has a critically important exception clause: I may listen to music as a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day back-up plan.  It’s like an insurance policy: I hope I won’t need it, but I want to have it in case I do.   When the going gets tough the music gets me going.

USA Track & Field, the National Governing Body for Track & Field in the US, sets the rules for all races under its jurisdiction.  Decisions by the USATF directly impact only about 60% of US marathons, but the rulings do not go unnoticed by the other race directors.  In 2006 the USATF changed their position on rule Rule 144.3 from recommending headphones not be used (but leaving it to the discretion of race directors) to an outright ban on headphones and electronic devices.  iPod loving runners everywhere went into a collective panic.  Compliance was variable and races attempting to enforce the ban found that policing was difficult.   Early reports surfaced about headphone-wearing disqualifications, striking fear in the hearts of those dependent on their music-makers.  Imagine an after-the-fact disqualification based on a race photo of you with those illegal little headphones in your ears.  Race organizers were met with a deluge of frantic emails.  Will I be disqualified if I listen to The Village People? [Answer yes, but only for your poor taste in music.  RIP YMCA.].  I recently flouted a race’s anti-headphone policy and I was convinced at any moment a power-hungry official would reach out a yank me from the course.   I spent a good chunk of my energy on the look-out for the running police.  Rule-breaking stresses me out.  I would not be a successful criminal.

Predictably, ‘to wear or not to wear headphones’ became a hot button issue among runners, particularly endurance runners.  Ostensibly, the driving force behind the ban was insurance and safety issues (the inability to hear emergency vehicles and official announcements, for instance).  While I think that this holds true for a minority of runners [I understand that your music motivates you, but it is annoying me, so please keep your ridiculously loud tunes to yourself - you know who you are, clomping man in mint green short-shorts], most music lovers seem to listen to their tunes at a sensible, not life-endangering, volume.  Self-proclaimed running purists feel that the music changes the race experience and that runners should soak up the atmosphere, not Madonna.  Musicophiles in turn believe it is their race to run how they see fit and if music enhances their race experience so be it.  Some say that if you can only run with music you can’t really run, but one could easily rebut that runners use all sorts of aids to help them run – from running shoes to wicking gear to strategically placed band-aids. 

Although the back and forth continues, a greater power has spoken.  In January 2009 the USATF amended the headphone rule to include this caveat:

The visible possession or use by athletes of video, audio, or communications devices in the competition area.  The Games Committee for an LDR [long distance running] event may allow the use of portable listening devices not capable of receiving communication; however, those competing in Championships for awards, medals, or prize money may not use such devices.

According to the USATF, if you aren’t running for a championship, award, or prize money [i.e. if you are me] you can keep the iPod, so long as the race director agrees.  The very wise Boston Marathon bosses are on board.  I hope I don’t need a Queen fix to get me up Heartbreak Hill, but if I do I’ll gladly plunk in those earbuds – at a low volume of course, because I certainly don’t want to miss the roar of the crowd motivating me along.   Welcome back Plan B, welcome back.

Title Reference:  Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence.  From the album Sounds of Silence.  1965.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Band on the Run, My Amazing Races, Running Tids & Bits

Tagged , , , , ,

You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you

Posted on March 31, 2009 | Leave a comment

The songs on my running playlist are selected more for the lyrics than the tempo.  I like upbeat music, but 30K of oomcha oomha oomcha oomcha would make me lose. my. mind.  Luckily (or not), I’m completely amusical and so the tempo doesn’t really mess with my running rhythm.  I can (and do) run to any kind of music.  I prefer running songs that are at least a wee bit energetic, don’t misunderstand, but I also like a song with a message.  I need to run to songs that speak to me.  Motivate me.  Build my confidence.  Stroke my ego.

Since I started listening to music on the run I’ve discovered that I become terribly impressed with myself during long runs (maybe it happens on short runs too, but I only listen to music on long runs).  I hypothesize that there is a strong correlation between my glucose levels and my self satisfaction – the more glucose depleted I become the more amazing I think I am.  For some people this happens when they drink.  I think I may have uncovered the secret of the mythical “runner’s high” – it has nothing to do with endorphins, rather it is a state of euphoric delusion brought on by a brain bonking from lack of glycogen. 

In my own deluded state I believe the people on my iPod are singing not directly to me, but about me.  The Police are right, every little thing I do is magic.  My face is a map of the world, is a map of the world.  Ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride, nobody gonna slow me down.  My hips don’t lie.  I’ve got to have faith faith faith.  Here I go again on my own, going down the only road I’ve ever known.  I’m simply the best – better than all the rest.  You get the point.  It’s all about me me me.

Title Reference: Carly Simon – You’re So Vain. From the album No Secrets. 1972.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Band on the Run, Running Tids & Bits

Tagged , ,

Crank Up myPod

Posted on March 17, 2009 | 2 Comments

I used to be a low tech runner.  Past tense.  Then my husband bought me an adorable little iPod shuffle.  Sound familiar?  Roadrunner (that’s the name of my shuffle) is racing-stripe red and holds a playlist that took me months of trial and error to perfect.

Much as I love Roadrunner, I don’t want to become a runner that can only run with music.  My Garmin dependency is enough in the way of gear addiction.  So, I’ve developed a set of Roadrunner Rules to which I strictly adhere:

  1. Music is for solo running only.  Yes, that means if even one other person* joins me on my run the Roadrunner stays home (*to whom I’m not married).
  2. No music during high intensity running (like tempo runs, hills, speed intervals).
  3. No music on runs less than 16 km.
  4. No music during races. Except as a backup when the going gets tough.

I’ve only had to invoke the Rule 4 exemption twice.  The first time was during a 30K race in August when the timing (evening run) and heat (I’m part penguin) turned me into an icky gooey mess. For the first time ever I contemplated a DNF.  At one point I looked at the benches along the route and quite rationally thought it would be a good idea to plop down until someone I knew ran by, at which point I would easily get up (in theory) and run to the finish with them.  Like the Hare who lost to the Tortoise, just a little nap along the way.  That day those earbuds were in at kilometer 8.  That’s also the day I threw up at the finish line.  The second time was during a 50K ultramarathon in 32C weather in June (before summer acclimatizing was complete) with a gorgeous blazing hot sun relentlessly beaming down on me.  With the aid of many ice cubes down my top, shorts, and anywhere else I could fit them I lasted until about 43K before numbing the pain and ignoring the delirium with music.

Following the rules means that I typically only listen to music on solo endurance runs.  BF (before roadrunner) I thought that the music would mess up my rhythm and take away from the experiential aspects of my long runs, but as it turns out I’m not bothered much by the beat (it certainly helps that I usually can’t find the beat anyway).  But I’m all about the lyrics.  Sometimes I tune in to the music, sometimes the music is background noise to the thoughts in my head, and sometimes the music and the thoughts in my head mingle.  And when I really, really need it, that racing-stripe red music box is a life-saving (I exaggerate, make that a run-saving) distraction device. 

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Band on the Run, Running Tids & Bits

Tagged , ,