Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Keep Calm and Listen to Music

     Whenever I go for a run, the one thing I absolutely love doing is listening to music. Especially when I don't have a workout buddy with me, music becomes my best friend! 


     I think the best part about listening to music while out for a run, is the fact that you don't have to focus on anything else. If you're having a really stressful day, music and excersize together could be the best possible remedy you can use. As a runner, I try not to think about depressing subjects when I run. It just really brings me down, so I try to focus on the more positive side of life, and music helps me out. For certain songs, the lyrics really speak to me and I feel so much lighter while listening to music. That's why it works so well with running.

     When you're picking out some tunes to play for your run, MAKE SURE THEY'RE UPBEAT. Listening to Bethoven or some really deep song about relationships going poorly is not the way to go. Music has the ability to completely change how you run. Sometimes during a really intense guitar solo, you might not even notice that you picked up a crazy pace untill the song is over! The same thing goes with sad, quiet music making you go insanely slow.


     In my opinion, any music that gets you pumped works. Just get a customized playlist put on your iPod or mp3 and put any songs you like on there. But of course, theres always the chance that you just "don't listen to music." Well, I'll just have to help you out. I like most songs by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Passion Pit, and Foster The People. There's an infinite amount of great workout songs by random one hit wonders as well.

     Since I believe music is absolutely essential to a great workout, my goal is supply people with quality tunes because quite frankly, some people's music taste sucks. Every week, I'll try to share at least one of my favorite songs on my most recent blog post. If you really have trouble finding good music, I'll save you the trouble by giving out my personal recommendations, which may be found at the bottom of each blog post!


     Remember to bring your iPod out on your next run, and stay happy!

     "Music should be your escape." - Missy Elliot

Song of the week: 
Waste ~ Foster The People

Photo Credits:
http://personalrecordinpr.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/95/
http://dancingmoonrecords.com/various-artists-workout-music/
https://www.facebook.com/sportsmotivation2


     

    


Friday, September 13, 2013

My Background


     Running - it's something all of us were forced to do starting from when we were wee little things in gym class. There was always that one kid who thought they were in the Olympics, and that other kid who honestly looked like they were about to die after the first 200 meters of a warmup.

     I'm sure most people were taught to despise the very idea of running, but then there's people who actually enjoy running. I, am that kind of person.

     My earliest memory of doing some type of long distance running would be during the 6th grade track season, where we had one meet and one meet only to prove ourselves to the world. Unfortunately it got rained out and we never got to have it, but hey I'll never forget the super intense 6th grade workouts we did preparing for it!

     Anyway, junior high rolled around and in 7th grade I finally joined a legitiment cross country team. I was a middle-pack runner at the start of the season, and then one day I simply could not walk normally without collapsing. I went to the doctor and it turned out that I had Osgood Schlater Disorder.

     Since then I was always towards the back of the group, and constantly struggled with getting myself up to the top with all the other girls on my team. But I never gave up. And people noticed. I iced my knees everyday and kept on trying my hardest even if some days it hurt to run a little. And in 8th grade I finally got into the top 10 finishers in our district.

     I'm not the best runner in the world, but I'm proud of how far I've come and I strive to do better everyday. I've constantly been told that I'm "a lot better at running than I think." And maybe that's true. I just don't have the motivation to truly push my limits as far as they can go. But I've been getting better. I've been trying. And I believe you can too.