I briefly mentioned listening to Shawn Brady play at the pub after my 5K race last weekend. I didn’t mention that he recently released the album Electric Blood featuring the song All for the Run, inspired in part by the book Once a Runner. Also inspired in part, as Canadian Running reports, by his own running (he’s also an accomplished runner). Continue reading
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, marathon, music, running, running playlist
Attentive followers of My Running Shorts may have noticed that 99% of my blog titles are a lyric from a song. I admit, song titles are easier than original titles. Still, even with this crutch I rarely show much inspiration in title choice: I simply write the first line that comes to mind. Usually it is an embarrassingly obvious section. When my own brain fails to conjure a lyric from its musical memory vault, however tangentially related to the topic, I’ll command Husband to fill the gap. A musical savant, he seldom disappoints.
With a frequency that surprises even me, the lyrics I recall are from songs that I missed at first release and later experience in classic form. Usually because I had not yet made my appearance on this earth. Or because I was in my Raffi phase. Or because I was still under my parents’ CCR spell.
As my facial wrinkles lines give away, my formative music years are the late 1980s and the 1990s. I grew up with the weird mix of Madonna like a virgin scandals and skinny guy hair metal, grunge/Kurt Cobain’s death was a really big deal, REM was the soundtrack to my many teen angst-filled days, and my wedding song is a Depeche Mode track.
Yet my blog titles are almost exclusively 1960s, 1970s and 1980s hits/”hits”. The 1990s, which I consider to be My Decade, is a distant fourth. My running playlist echos this tribute to the 70s and 80s. I have retained almost nothing – musically speaking – from the last ten years.
I wake up every morning to a classic rock station (because the beep beep beep gives me The Morning Rage) and I don’t get out of bed until an appropriately motivating song is played. I define motivating loosely but the rule still gets me an extra 12 minutes of laziness, on average. Which I calculated. Along with the median.
I’m not sure what happened. One day I got wrinkles old lined and regressed back in time. Musically speaking. Is this a weird aging thing? What’s next, black and white reruns? I blame the Britney generation for my musical fall back. And now you are subjected to my classic rock flashbacks.
Title: The Beatles – Let It Be. 1970.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, marathon, music, running, running playlist
Happy Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure what this “holiday” celebrates, so I went to Wikipedia, my source of all information. The entry was long and talked about a lot of dead people … so I quickly lost interest. The gist of it is that we can blame Chaucer for associating the date with romantic love. I think we can blame Roman and/or Greek mythology for the creepy naked boy armed with an arrow.
Today this palooza of heart shaped gift giving is just another excuse for a themed playlist. The list is not particularly romantic – in song lyrics people tend to run away from love or run around on their partners – but it is about running + love. With a decidedly dark twist.
Disclaimer - my playlists are -in a word- embarrassing, but even with my very low standards most of these songs are still too horrible to make my cut. Download at your own risk.
Warming Up:
Getting the job done:
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, marathon, music, running, running playlist
When I get sad I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
Yes, I still watch How I Met Your Mother even though the characters have evolved into caricatures and the laugh track hurts my ears and seriously, am I the only one who hates Ted? But once I’m in, I’m in. I watched 90210 until the bitter end. Ten long years later. I gave up CSI slowly, skipping an episode every couple of weeks before finally making the painful break (note: and today I read that Grissom is returning for a guest appearance and this cheap ratings trick will not! lure me back in). HIMYM has been around long enough to live forever in reruns that air twenty-seven times a day so it is impossible to avoid and I recently re-watched the NYE limo ride with Barney’s “Get Psyched” Mix. It is so good not-Moby stole it. I won’t tell you how many of these lendgen-wait for it -dary songs already grace my playlist. I’m too ashamed.
Barney’s Get Psyched Mix
I Wanna Rock – Twisted Sister
You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi
Lick It Up – Kiss
Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses
Dancing with Myself – Billy Idol
Rock You Like a Hurricane – The Scorpions
Panama – Van Halen
Talk Dirty to Me – Poison
Thunderstruck – AC/DC
Dr. Feelgood - Mötley Crüe
Round and Round – Ratt
Title: Joe Esposito – You’re the Best Around. 1984.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, marathon, music, running, running playlist
I need a new Psych Up power song. Lose Yourself has become cliché. Fine, a power song is a cliché, but I need the extra psychological training for my No Training Marathon Training Program three-day cram session. And by cram I mean listen to psych up songs.
I’ve narrowed it down to two songs, although if they both suck (lame and/or cheesy does not equal suck) and you absolutely must recommend another I’m open to suggestions.
Please vote responsibly.
1. The Warrior – Scandal
Opening Line: You run, run, runaway.
Chorus: Bang, Bang, I am the warrior. Yes I am the warrior.
2. The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
Opening Line: Hey, don’t write yourself off yet.
Chorus: It just takes some time, little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride. Everything everything will be just fine, everything everything will be all right.
——————————————————————————–
Title: Snap – The Power. 1990.
Posted in Running Tids & Bits
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, marathon, music, running, running playlist
After a recent date night to see Rock of Ages (side note: as one of only a few audience members not in high school or university in the 80s I haven’t felt that young in years, although I am awaiting the tribute to my formative decade in the form of Grunge, The Musical) and featured in the show is the song I sing to myself at the start of every long run. I was listening to MiniPops, not Whitesnake, when this song was released but I have discovered a love of 80s hair bands that emerges when I run. Here I go again on my own …
Now all I need is a wind machine.
Title Reference: White Snake – Here I Go Again. 1982/1987.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, music, running, running playlist
This weekend Summer will strike my fair city my city. Something about heat alerts, stay inside, don’t move unnecessarily. I will disobey TV and run. Even though hot runs leave me feeling nauseated and worrisomely red in the face. I am troubled that this is a sign of things to come. Bad things. Hot things. It’s still June. Last summer was fantastic. For runners. We had eight months of spring. I ran at 10 am in August. Of the four million residents I think I ranked number one on the happiness list. This spring it has rained fire and brimstone and it’s still spring. My will to run melts with the weakest of sun rays. It’s summer. It’s a concrete jungle. It’s overheated. I better learn to like it. Or tolerate it. No one wants to listen to me complain about the heat for the next four months. And by no one I mean Husband. I need to remember why I love the city.
Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the City. This song may be my summer anthem. All around, people looking half dead, walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head. I kind of want to cry. What kind of car to I need to buy to kickstart Global Cooling?
Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City. The surgeon general says it’s hazardous to breathe. I’m petitioning for traffic free Sundays. Can I count on your signature?
We Built This City – Starship. It’s just another Sunday in a tired old street. During my Sunday long runs I often feel like the street is new and I’m tired and old. Good thing they built this city on rock and roll!
Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day. I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don’t know where it goes, but it’s home to me and I walk alone. I run alone, I run alone.
Downtown – Petula Clark. This playlist is more depressing than intended. Time to bring out Petula. Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city. Linger on the sidewalk where the neon lights are pretty. That’s better.
The Sunny Side of the Street – The Pogues. There’s always a sunny side. I prefer to run in the shade but I try to keep my attitude on the sunny side of the street.
Funky Town – Lipps Inc. A Town to keep me movin’, keep me groovin’ with some energy. Won’t you take me to Funkeytown.
Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant. We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue. I think it’s on the bad side of town, so maybe I’ll just rock out to Electric Avenue.
Hot in the City – Billy Idol. I’m a-walkin ’til my brain pops. Hot in the city. My brain, by the way, pops at 30C.
Where the Streets Have No Name – U2. I want to run. I grew up in a village so small the streets had names but no street signs. I think people stole them.
King of Spain – Moxy Fruvos. Ode to my city. Once I was the king of Spain and now I vacuum the turf at the Skydome. Now some of you are probably wondering how I came to be living in Canada after being royalty in Spain. Should I tell them, guys? Tell us, King. I guess you need to listen to the song to find out why.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, marathon, music, running, running playlist
t-shirt available at zazzle.ca
The last song on your race list. The one song to get you across the finish line in style. Or across the finish line in any manner that works, stylish or otherwise.
Europe – The Final Countdown. No explanation needed.
Sawyer Brown – The Race is On. Any time I listen to anything remotely country Husband smiles and says, Oh Runshorts, you are such a country girl. Just because I grew up in farmland where people wore cowboy boots for function AND fashion. A dress pair and a work pair. And yes I went to Junior Farmer Dances and I know the lyrics to every Meatloaf song ever recorded. Junior Farmers love Meatloaf. I think it has something to do with 12 minute slow dances. Mock if you will, but sometimes a good country song says everything that needs to be said. Now the race is on and here comes pride in the backstretch.
No Time – Guess Who. Not all my songs are optimistic. This is a get your ass in gear song. No time left for you.
Madonna – 4 minutes. I’m outta time and all I got is 4 minutes. 4 minutes. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. The song is about a sense of urgency. Living on borrowed time. Sound familiar? It’s called the final kilometre of the race.
End of the Line – Travelling Willburys. The end is near and you wanted to curl up on the side of the road and cry. Well it’s all right, we’re going to the end of the line.
Going the Distance – Cake. As they speed thru the finish the flags go down. He’s going the distance. Do it. Go the distance.
Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time. You may slow down, but just don’t stop. Then you say go slow, I fall behind, the second hand unwinds. Add this instead of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. You’re welcome.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast – Time Warp. It’s astounding. Time is fleeting. Let’s do the time warp again. I’d like to recover that 5-minute port-a-loo break. Let’s do the time warp again.
Captain & Tennille – Do That to Me One More Time. Do it to me one more time, once is never enough. No, not that. This is what you’ll say as you cross the finish line of your first marathon. Once is never enough.
Pink Floyd – Time. And you run and you run. Pink Floyd tells us that time passes more quickly as you age. I think that was an Einstein thing. Time also passes more quickly during a marathon. Also an Einstein theory.
Johnny Cash – 25 Minutes to Go. Weird that a countdown to an execution is perfectly suited to the last 5K of a marathon. Now here comes the preacher for to save my soul with 13 minutes to go.
The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated. 20-20-20-4 hours to go. I wanna be sedated. I change the words to 20-20-20-4 minutes to go. And then 20-20-20-4 seconds to go. It helps. The drugs help too.
Meatloaf – Paradise By the Dashboard. So now I’m prayin’ for the end of time. To hurry up and arrive. And yes, I do know all the words to this song. That wasn’t a lie.
Mike Doughty – I Hear the Bells. I can hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant. You snooze, you lose. Well I have snost and lost. I’m pushing through. I’ll disregard the cost. I hear the bells. So fascinating and I’ll slug it out. I’m sick of waiting. The finish line bells. Do you hear them?
Blondie – One Way or Another. I’m gonna getcha getch getcha. Especially if you are in costume. Or shirtless. I make it a policy to pass all shirtless costumed runners in the final kilometre.
Finger 11 – One Thing. Between both these times. I drew a really thin line. A finish line.
Sarah Slean – Lucky Me. And you’re sad, and you’re sorry. I may be prone to self-pity at the end of a race. Like I’m the only person in the race in a world of hurt. Let it all out what are you running for? This is your chance, be ready. Okay, fine. Onward I go.
Elton John - I’m still Standing. At kilometre 41.1 I need to have a sense of humour. I’m still standing. Feelin’ like I never did. Lookin’ like a true survivor. Feelin’ like a little kid. A kid who has yet to develop fine motor skills o the coordination to move forward in a straight line. But I’m still standin’.
Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). It’s something unpredictable but in the end it’s right. I hope you had the time of your life. Seriously, as much as it hurt, I hope you had the time of your life.
p.s. The suggestion box is open. Please share your own finish line hits.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, music, running, running playlist
As the saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em. I love running in the rain but I realize that I am in the minority. I like racing in the rain but I realize I am probably crazy.
With April showers an almost guarantee, running in the rain is a training necessity. Some people may need an extra push to get out the door when the raindrops are falling and the puddles are deepening. Song writers aren’t much help, with most rainy tunes falling in the slow depressing ballad genre. Unrequited love. Love lost. Tragedy. Musically, rain and dark times are interwoven. I’ve sifted through the dreary rainy day songs for you to extract my top selections for your running playlist. Hopefully these waterlogged lyrics will put a spring in your soggy step.
Please add your rainy day song picks in the comment section below.
Singing in the Rain – Cliff Edwards. An obvious first choice, rain songs don’t get much perkier than this one. Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place. Come on with the rain. I’ve a smile on my face. I walk down the lane with a happy refrain just singin’, singin’ in the rain. If this song doesn’t chase away your rain clouds … there’s something wrong with you.
Umbrella – Rihanna. The ella ella ella drives me crazy crazy crazy, but the song was popular enough to monopolize tha airwaves for several months and the beat is runable. How’s that for an endorsement?
No Rain – Blind Melon. I may be (okay, I am) reinterpreting the lyrics to suit my own upbeatedness (and my own youthful nostalgia for Blind Melon), but if you selectively pay attention to the two lyrics that mention the word rain it sounds positive. I like watching the puddles gather rain. This guys actually starts to complain when there’s no rain.
Rainy Days and Mondays – Carpenters. I have a strange affection for The Carpenters. I even own a tribute album CD. The song is a little melancholy, but we can all relate to a little melancholy. You may be down but the run goes on.
Let it Rain – OK Go. Let it rain, let it pour. Hallelujah, hallelujah. A tribute to rain from the group who brought us the treadmill dance.
Lightening Crashes - Live. Like a rollin thunder chasing the wind. It starts out slow then the power and urgency builds along with your pace. I was young when this song came out and I didn’t appreciate (or even notice) the life/death juxtaposition. I was always hopeless with poetry. This song will give you something to think about on that long rainy run.
Who’ll Stop the Rain – CCR. Long as I remember the rain been coming down. Tell me, who’ll stop the rain. Here’s a tip: the faster you run, the faster you finish.
It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls. Humidity is rising – Barometer’s getting low. According to all sources, the street’s the place to go! The weather girls are wise. When it rains, hit the streets.
Rainy Day People – Gordon Lightfoot. The best kind of people are rainy day people. Remember that next time you’re running in a rainstorm with your running mates.
Here Comes the Rain Again – Eurythmics. Annie Lennox knows good training. I want to walk in the open wind. Every raindrop makes you stronger.
Blame it on the Rain – Milli Vanilli. Gotta blame it on something. Blame it on the rain. A bad run in the rain has a built-in excuse clause. Lip-syncing, on the other hand, has no excuse.
Fool in the Rain – Led Zepplin. A surprisingly light song from this heavy band. And I’ll run in th rain ’til I’m breathless, when I’m breathless I’ll run ’til I drop, hey! This line is in the running for best running in the rain lyric.
Rain – The Beatles. Short and sweet: Rain, I don’t mind. Mind over matter.
It’s Raining Again – Supertramp. Oh no it’s raining again. Why not mix a little positive into the negative? C’mon you little fighter and get back up again. That’s better.
Heading for the Light – Traveling Wilburys. Hands down the best supergroup ever formed. And when the rain came down I was nearly drowned I didn’t know the mess I was in. My shoes are wearing out from walking down this same highway.
Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head – BJ Thomas from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I’m never gonna stop the rain by complaining. It wouldn’t work anyway.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, music, running, running playlist, weather
Hill training. Love it or hate it or love to hate it, at some point most of us will find ourselves at the bottom of an incline working out a strategy to get to the top without puking. When you run heavenward pick a song that will level out the steepest slope. I think I can, I think I can, chugga chugga choo choo.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross. If you ever need a helping hand I’ll be there on the double. As fast as I can. Ain’t no mountain high enough. Diana adds perespective. No matter how high, it ain’t high enough to keep you down. Humm. The ain’t confuses me. In the line ain’t no mountain, what words are contracted to form ain’t? Is not no mountain high enough? So there is a mountain high enough?
Up – Shania Twain. It’s about as bad as it could be. Seems everybody’s buggin’ me. Like nothing wants to go my way– yeah, it just ain’t been my day. Nothin’s comin’ easily. Up, up, up. There’s no way but up from here. That’s the power of positive thinking. This woman moved to the alps, so she knows hills.
Mountain Music – Alabama. The song is about being lazy, but the mountain theme might resonate. Like grandma and grandpa used to climb as they walked 10 miles to school. Uphill. Both ways. So stop complaining.
Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum. Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky. Sure the song is about death, but I can make almost anything about running. It’s catchy and repeats the word up, therefore it is a hill training song.
Get Up, Stand Up – Bob Marley. Rights, hill repeats, whatever it may be … Get up stand up, don’t give up the fight.
When I’m Up – Great Big Sea. When I’m up I can’t get down. Get my feet back on the ground. This song is a surpring boost on a sluggish run. I’m not entirely sure what the lyrics mean, but I love this song.
Highway to the Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins. From the movie Top Gun. Going up. Fast. Revvin’ up your engine. Listen to her howlin’ roar. Tom Cruise back before he was a sofa-hopping faux-psychologist mad man. Tackle those hills, just don’t let your ego is write checks your body can’t cash. Bonus points if you can name the source of that quote without the aid of a search engine.
Another One Bites the Dust – Queen. A song for hill repeats. Ain’t no sound but the sound of his feet. At the end of every interval, another one bites the dust. And another one gone. Another one gone. I sing this every time I pass a distance marker in a race. Sometimes out loud. Yes, that was me.
Top of the World – The Carpenters. There is something incredibly satisfying about the top of the hill. Looking down on creation.
Long Way to the Top – ACDC. Need ACDC say more? It’s a long way to the top. Might as well rock and roll on the way up. And party every day. Oops, scratch that last line. Wrong song.
Thunder on the Mountain – Bob Dylan. Double the fun: nice beat for pacing and interesting lyrics. The sun keeps shining and the North Wind keeps picking up speed. Gonna forget about myself for a while. That is exactly why I run. I need to forget about myself for a while.
Back in the High Life Again – Steve Winwood. It used to seem to me that my life ran on too fast. And I had to take it slowly just to make the good parts last. But when you’re born to run it’s so hard to just slow down. High life. Hills.
Run to the Hills – Iron Maiden. Run to the hills. Run for your lives. It may be a little slow, but rock music is strangely runable. Run to the hills.
… and of course, I love the Mountains. Boom dee ah da. It kinda makes you want to break into song. What songs did I miss? I run a lot of hills. I need more than 13 tunes.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, marathon, music, running, running playlist
Have you caught Olympic Fever? I try to avoid the contagious bug, but it usually infects me midway through the opening ceremonies. Although you may not be running for a spot on the podium, we all have our dreams of personal glory. I, for one, am convinced I am a superstar 100-miler. I will never run a 100-miler, lest I shatter this conviction. For the athletic mortals training for the Around the Bay 30K, you really do have a shot at your own gold, silver, or bronze medal this spring. No matter what your challenge, a little musical motivation before, during, or after your run might just get you one step closer to you sporting goals.
Get Ready For This – 2 Unlimited. Since 1991 this chant has echoed in stadiums around the world. Truthfully, I hate this song. Are you ready for this? Not something I want to ask myself at the starting line. Unless the answer is hell ya.
Gold Medal – The Donnas. Cheer on the circus clowns. The song is title Gold Medal. Do the lyrics or beat really matter? [Note: The lyrics are fun and the beat is totally runable].
All Fired Up – Pat Benatar. The first female vocalist featured on MTV with You Better Run (awesome!) gets us all fired up.
Ready to Go – Republica. On the rooftops shouting it out. Baby I’m ready to go. I’m back and ready to go. This is one of those songs during which I’m constantly singing the wrong words thinking I’m singing the right words even though 80% of the time I’m not even singing real words.
Winner Takes it All – Sammy Hagar. There is more to this song than a truck driving Sylvester Stallone arm wrestling to win his son’s respect. You listen when I say there’s a dream that’s comin’ true today.
Unstoppable – Rascal Flatts (The Olympic Mix). This is a you can do it despite the odds against you song. Cheesy, yes. Motivating, yes. I particularly enjoy this line, walked down the road a little sideways.
Blitzkrieg Bop – Ramones. They’re forming in straight line. They’re going through a tight wind. Hey ho, let’s go. Hey ho, let’s go.
We Are the Champions – Queen. You knew it was coming.
Bachman Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet. This is my song for kilometre 30. Just 12.2 more to go. Ba-ba-bay you just ain’t seen nothing yet. At 30K I tend towards overconfidence. I have another song for kilometre 35, but it is considerably less positive.
Nikki Yanofsky – I Believe. The CTV song of the Vancouver Olympics. I’m no grammarian, but I’m reasonably certain I believe in the power of you and I is incorrect. It’s a little slow, way over-played, and will likely be the song of choice for 2010 weddings, but the lyrics do have a gold-hued message. And she did a bang-up job singing the national anthem during the opening ceremonies. For my bilingual readers, this song has a Francophone version sung by Annie Villeneuve called J’imagine.
And a final selection from David Foster – Can’t You feel It, performed during the closing ceremonies of the 1988 Olympic games in Calgary. I love the snowsuits.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, iPod, marathon, music, running, running playlist
The constant stream of canned holiday music blasting from cheap speakers in every store is not enough. To really appreciate the festive season add those jingle beats to your running playlist. I guarantee you will run faster in an attempt to finish your workout before your ears start bleeding from listening to yet another popstar rendition of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (seriously, whatever happened to Jessica Simpson?). There is, as they say, a method to my madness.
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. Sure beats the black ninja SUV that snuck up and nearly killed me last week. I’m now wearing so many blinkers you can see me from space.
Run Rudolph Run. Santa’s got to make it to town. We already know that if Rudolph runs he’ll never make it on time. Bring on Plan B Santa.
Jingle Bells. Dashing through the snow. Forget the sled. Dash on foot.
Elf’s Lament. I think we’ve all had our suspicions as to how those reindeer make it around the world in a single evening. Hand over that urine sample Rudy. Absurd though it may seem, you know, I’ve heard there’s even been illegal doping. And though we’re coping, I just hope it’s not contagious. All I want for Christmas is BNL to reunite.
The Marvelous Toy. It went zip went moved. Bop when it stopped. Whirr when it stood still. I make sounds when I run. Mostly when I run around sharp corners. Like a race car. Vroom vroom.
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus. He’s got rhythm in his feet, but nothing in his sack. I have nothing to add.
Baby It’s Cold Outside. It can be tough to get started when the temperature drops and the snow piles up. I have little willpower over the call of hot chocolate and Bailey’s. So really I’d better scurry. Beautiful, please don’t hurry. Well maybe just a half a drink more. Put some music on while I pour.
Winter Wonderland. I’ve tried running through knee-deep snow the morning after a snowstorm. Note my use of the word try. Sometimes jogging, nay walking, is the way to go. Walking in a winter wonderland.
Little Saint Nick. He’s haulin’ through the snow at a frightening speed. Even though he has a belly that shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly I can’t beat his ”frightening speed”. I’ll be at the track.
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. Need help pacing? Take a lesson from the marching soldiers. Here they come (here they come). Wooden soldiers on parade.
Here Comes the Fastest Man in Town. Here comes the fastest man in town. He’s more than 60 inches round. I’ve never actually listened to this song. It is the title track from a 1940s Gloria Parker Soundie (soundie = a three minute musical film, thank you Wikipedia) and I can’t find a soundbite online; but I’m certain I will love it.
Christmas Shoes. Okay, I selected this for the title. Like those damn Bell Canada holiday commercials this stupid song has power over my tear ducts. This one is best as a before running song, as in you will want to run to escape the haunting lyrics.
And now it’s your turn … what did I miss?
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, music, running, running playlist
Their Royalnesses, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, are on an 11 day Canadian Tour. This is his fifteenth visit to the colony, her first. As I am neither a dignitary with invitations to events of a royal nature, nor a super fan willing to line up for a glimpse of the heir to the throne, I am unlikely to cross paths with the future figurehead of my nation and his wife-nee-mistress. According to the Globe and Mail, unglamorous ordinary women find a welcome icon in Camilla. Do we? Without the royal pomp and circumstance I couldn’t pick the woman out of a police lineup. Diana I could sketch from memory. Except I can’t draw. Although I am a reincarnated 60-year British woman, I’m not swooning with excitement. The royal visit has none of the enthusiasm and splendor I remember when the late Queen Mum travelled across the pond. I’d put out tea if Queen Elizabeth II stopped by. But Charles and Camilla? Meh. I’ll watch them on the late news, if I can stay awake. Still, in honour of the nobility I present a running playlist for the blue blooded.
Photo Credit: Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press, posted in CBC news
King of the Road – Roger Miller. Positive affirmation: I am king of the road. I am king of the road. I’m a man of means by no means, King of the Road.
The Queen is Dead – The Smiths. Past the pub who saps your body and the church who’ll snatch your money. Just another Sunday morning long run.
Royal Oil - Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The MMBs was the first concert I attended with Husband, way back in our youthful university days. Their musical style, according to Wikipedia, is third wave ska. The lyrics may sound melancholy, but this tempo is upbeat and runable. Long, lonely road, long road to ruin. Wrong path to take, great big mistake. And then you sleep down in the soil. Nothing comes from nothing, come on royal oil. I don’t even know what the hell royal oil means but I like it.
Rascal King – Might Mighty Bosstones. Did I mention I love the Mighty Mighty Bosstones? The last hurrah? Nah! I’d do it again. It’s like that Nike ad: Today you may feel like you’ll never run another marathon again. See you next year.
Rasputin – Bony M. He was big and strong in his eyes a flaming glow. Hey, hey, hey hey hey. I propose it is impossible to listen to this song and not want to move.
King of Spain – Moxy Früvous. Best band you’ve never heard of. Now I eat humble pie. Everyone who optimistically lines up in a corral 15 minutes ahead of their realistic finish time has taken a slice from that tasty dish. Mmmm, humble pie.
Rain King – Counting Crows. I’m scared I might not make it home. Home may be literal, as in the place you reside, or metaphorical, as in home plate, the finish line, the end of the run.
Two Princes – Spin Doctors. This song has nothing to do with running, but the fitting line just go ahead now is repeated about 53 times. Just go ahead now.
Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton. Playing with the Queen of Hearts, knowing it ain’t really smart. A don’t-mess-with-me song to spur you past those costumed runners.
All these Things We’ve Done – The Killers. The first line is when there’s no where else to run. That lyric alone earns this song a spot on my playlist.
When I Ruled the World – Coldplay. This song is in constant rotation on my playlist. I’m not sure why a fallen king motivates me to run faster, but for some reason I can’t explain I know Saint Peter will call my name. That was when I ruled the world.
Killer Queen – Queen. Let them eat cake she says! I like her. To the cake!
Dancing Queen – ABBA. With a little bit of rock music everything is fine. Isn’t that why we run with our controversial iPods?
Ballad of the Teenage Queen – Johnny Cash. Modesty is a virtue. The faster you run the less you should talk about time. She was tops in all they said, never once went to her head.
King Tut – Steve Martin. This song should first be heard with visuals. It’s good for a laugh and at mile 23 I can use a good laugh. Rocking for a mile. Funky Tut.
God Save The Queen – The Sex Pistols. Controversial at the time (1977) the group claims this song was not an attack on Queen Elizabeth II but a battle cry for the working class. The song was banned by the BBC, which ups the appeal. The lyrics will make you think about something other than your sore hamstrings. Value of distraction, priceless.
Honourable mention goes to Prince for Little Red Corvette. Prince for obvious reasons and Little Red Corvette because baby you’re much too fast.
Posted in Band on the Run, Celebrity Sneakers
Tagged celebrity, exercise, fitness, health, marathon, music, running, running playlist
Nevermind the angry songs, sometimes all I need to hustle my bustle is a good old fashioned scarin’. Notch up the fear factor on All Hallows’ Eve run with these spine-tingling running tunes. Boo.
Running With the Devil – Van Halen. This song is worthy of pulling out the word apropos. Devil + running = Halloween Running Playlist. I’m living at a pace that kills. I found the simple life, ain’t so simple, when I jumped out on that road.
Superstition – Stevie Wonder. I’m not superstitious, I’m just a little bit stitious. That’s why I never wash my race singlet.
Welcome to my Nightmare – Alice Cooper. Welcome to my breakdown. I call it The Bridge.
Nightmare on my Street – DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince. Runner don’t fear Elm Street Freddy, they worry about the actual street. Will it be windy/sunny/busy/hilly? Some days the road rises up to meet you, other days it drags you down, down, down.
Monster Mash – Bobby Pickett. Do the Mash. The Monster Mash. Then send me the video for viewing. It’s good cross-training, I promise.
People are Strange – The Doors. Next race take a look around. People are strange. Especially the ones running in costume. Best song line: Streets are uneven when you’re down.
Sweet Dreams – Marilyn Manson. Before a big run the experts say you need a good night’s rest. Who am I to disagree?
Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band. This song is infectious. Wash your hands frequently. I heat up. I can’t cool down. My situation goes round and round.
Werewolves of London – Werran Zevon. He’s the hairy, hairy gent, who ran amok in Kent. Amok is fun to say. Amok amok amok.
Devil’s In My Car – B52s. It’s driving, not running, but it’s fast. We’re goin’ 90 miles an hour.
Bad Moon Rising – CCR. I see bad times today. When you see that bad moon a rising, when troubles on the way, stay in bed. You can run tomorrow.
The Time Warp – Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s astounding, time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll. But listen closely, not for very much longer. I’ve got to keep control. Just a step to the left.
Highway to Hell – ACDC. No stop signs, speed limit. Nobody’s gonna slow me down.
Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult. No more obsessing about the weather. Seasons don’t fear the reaper. Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain … we can be like they are. Don’t fear the Reaper.
Ghost Riders in the Sky – Johnny Cash. A zillion people have recorded this song, but with varying degrees of success. Go with Cash. Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat.
Bat Out of Hell –Meat Loaf. The good news, if you like this song it’s 27 minutes long. The bad news, it’s 27 minutes long. Fine, feels like 27 minutes. Like a bat out of hell he’ll be gone gone gone. Tearing up the road. Faster than any other boy has ever gone gone gone gone.
Thriller – Michael Jackson. I see dead people. Don’t know what I mean? Read this.
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, marathon, music, running, running playlist
I’m in day three of a Turkey Coma. Ahhh, Thanksgiving. All the delicious food and family fun without spending 94 hours in a mall buying presents first. My refrigerator is filled with leftover desserts: apple pie, apple crisp, buttertarts, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, chocolate animals. The theory is that we (Husband et moi) should take home all the extra sweets because we run and therefore magically burn thousands of calories. In theory. In reality I will be carrying an 13 extra pounds on race day. What does one do the day after a Thanksgiving binge? If, like me, you have eaten two over-sized Thanksgiving dinners and 17 desserts in 48 hours you go for a run. I need to cover approximate 860 kilometres to burn off the 43,000 calories I consumed Thanksgiving weekend. That’s a lot of running. To get my lazy butt off my sofa and away from 30 Rock reruns I need lots of gratitude blasting into my ears. As I lace up my sneakers I’ll pause and give a moment of thanks for the luxury of an easy 10.
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Theme. Picture Schroeder playing the piano and Lucy vying for his attention. Good times. Good memories.
Run Turkey Run – The Rob Beadle Triangle Band. Run turkey run from me now because I’m coming to eat you. Run turkey run from this house, yes I’m going to eat you. Open wide, here comes the onion. It’s nothing personal. You taste good with cranberry sauce.
Thank You for Being a Friend – Andrew Gold. Ahh, the Golden Girls. I was a wee child when this show aired and I do not know why I was drawn to the fiesty silver-haired ladies, but I loved this show. Thank you for being a friend, travelled down the road and back again.
Thank You Friends – Big Star. Something about 1970s rock music makes me want to run. To all the ladies and the gentlemen who made this so probable. Thank you friends.
Thanks A Lot – Johnny Cash. The upbeat running-friendly tempo disguises mournful lyrics.
Thank U – Alanis Morissette. A fellow marathoner, Alanis reminds me I should stop eating when I’m all full up. Too little too late Alanis.
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly and the Family Stone. Put some funk in your step. I love that the song gives a shout out to earlier hits. There are undertones of resentment in the lyrics, but the true thanks shine through. Thank you for letting me be myself again.
I Thank You – Sam & Dave (the ZZ Top version of this 60s hit is awesome). The first line commands you to get up, so the song starts on the right note. You didn’t have to, but you did, and I thank you.
Thank You – the Redwalls. The optimism of love. You and me are gonna be alright. I can connect with any song that tells me I’ll be okay. Chase my blues away.
Thank You Girl – The Beatles. I pretend I’m the girl in the song. All I got do is thank you girl.
Thank You – Dido. A quiet song for on-the-run reflection. Sometimes the little things add up to big overwhelming things. The wrong flavour of Gatorade. A broken shoelace. Startline jostling. A dropped satellite signal. She reminds you that it’s not so bad, it’s not so bad.
Let’s Turkey Trot – Little Eva. Trot is a dangerous word to a runner. This song refers to an actual dance, not a port-a-loo dance – but it means to you whatever it means to you. My grandmother taught this dance to me. She did it at the turn of the century. You swivel your knees and you start to strut.
Thank You – Simple Plan. Bitter, bitter thanks for the angry, angry runner. Thank You by Ben Folds also fits on the long list of resentful thank you songs.
Gratitude – Earth, Wind, & Fire. They ask for freedom in stride. I wonder if any of them are runners?
Thanks That Was Fun – Barenaked Ladies. Sigh. I’m still mourning the loss of Stephen Page. Don’t forget, no regrets. A little inflection change and all of a sudden thanks takes on a sarcastic edge. No regrets, that’s a good motto.
Gratitude – Oingo Boingo. Lead singer Danny Elfman is best known for his musical scores in Tim Burton works and for creating The Simpson’s theme. Life’s been good to me, has it been good to you?
Thanksgiving Song – Adam Sandler. I eat the turkey then I take a nap. So. Tempting.
Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Denver. A tip of the hat to my country girl roots.
Danke Schoen – Wayne Newton. I was a teenager before I knew a man sang this song. Obviously I wasn’t listening to the lyrics. And now I can’t hear Auf Wiedersehn without thinking about Project Runway. Thank you in all languages.
Thank You for the Music – ABBA. Although my posts may suggest otherwise, I rarely run with music and only race with music as a backup plan. But on a long and lonely run or during a tough race music can make or break my run. Thank you for the music.
So Long and Thanks For All the Fish
Posted in Band on the Run
Tagged exercise, fitness, health, music, running, running playlist
My Running Shorts: short stories about my life on the run.
