Weekly Check-In

[ell]

How are your last weeks of summer (winter for those down under) training going? Any races coming up for you?

Quote for today is from yours truly:
Running makes us feel alive and keeps the demons at bay so we run. It's not a competition with anyone else and that includes our past selves and our future selves. We run because it makes us feel good.

And a question - what's your favorite running music?

Comments

[linaelyn]

And a question - what's your favorite running music?

Ha! No music at all! I much prefer to run in silence. I know this puts me in the minority! I just don't like the extraneous input, and my running time is some of my best "thinking time"; music would just interfere with that.

No races planned ahead. I'm trying to maintain some small semblance of conditioning in the face of the busy scheduling that the start of the school year entails.

[shadowkitty]

Minority of two! Listening to music always makes me feel very vulnerable, especially if I'm on a road.

[ell]

*grin* I was expecting at least one comment about listening to the sounds of nature, etc, but I didn't expect the first commenters to both feel that way :-)

With me, it's about 50-50 whether I run with the iPod or not - I usually listen to music on any run over an hour just because I get bored, especially on the (citified) trails near me.

[ilanarama]

I mostly don't listen to music when I run - usually I listen to audiobooks, or to nothing.

I'm keeping a fairly consistent 45mpw and ran a couple of short races over the past month. I've got a big trail race coming up in two weeks, and then my 6th marathon 3 weeks after that!

[shadowkitty]

For me it's partially conditioning. My coach thinks it's dangerous and yells at anyone he finds doing it. I don't dare!

[sophinisba]

I always bring my iPod but lately I've been preferring podcasts with some entertaining conversation over music. I'll probably go back to mostly music when the winter comes and I move to running inside, because it gets too loud in the gym to make out words. I mix up all kinds of music but some of my favorites for running are U2 and Coldplay and REM.

I did about 20 miles this week! I've been working at keeping that up as a consistent goal, but it'll be a challenge heading into the next few weeks with school starting.

I intend to do a 10K on October 2nd. I should go ahead and sign up for that now.

[losingit]

I'm doing good! I had a bit of a scare with my knee, but one of my new buddies at my running store said it sounded like IT band (?) issues and showed me some stretches to try and they're really helping. Took a day totally off and then a day of just yoga and was able to run without pain before, during or after!!

Today I ran 5K in 40:47. Which, I know, doesn't sound like a lot, but like 8 weeks ago I could barely run for a minute! So I'm excited!!!

First ever 5K is on Sunday - the WTC Run to Remember on Governor's Island in NYC. It's a purely flat course, so I figured it would be a good one to start off and signed up a few weeks ago. Then on the 12th I've got the Komen Race for the Cure in Central Park!! That one has hills, so I'm expecting a longer time than the one this week.

As far as music, I've got my "girl power mix" which is a lot of Melissa Etheridge with other strong female artists sprinkled in. And I know it's weird, but I run to showtunes too. Basically any kind of music I can lose myself in seems to be great for me.

[temve]

I've been slacking something awful - no runs at all last week unless you count the running aorund apartment-hunting... and now I'm developing the cold that everyone has, so whether or not I'll get back to running in time for the mini tri on Sunday (or whether indeed I'll have to bow out of that one because swimming in a lake when one has a cold - ick!) is uncertain.

As for running music, I end to switch between the 70s station and the German equivalent of NPR. Yes, running!me is a captive radio audience. That's pretty much the only time in my life when I even listen to the radio.

[nanila]

Minority of three? I don't like listening to music while interacting with the outdoors, running or otherwise. It makes me too unaware of what's going on around me.

In the gym on a treadmill, though, I think I'd eat my own hand out of boredom if I didn't listen to electro!

[nanila]

I've been running just to keep fit for a few years now - from 5 to 10k a go, 2-3x per week - but never done a race. So my very first race, the Spartan Race in Cambridge, is coming up next month, 19 September. It's technically a 5k, although it seems to be a cross between Calvinball and an obstacle course. I plan to run it in a costume.

[dancing_serpent]

Minority of four? *g* Breathing technique and running to music doesn't work for me. To hold my breathing pattern, I can't listen to music - I'd always try to match my steps to the rhythm, and that messes with my breathing.

No runs last week courtesy of a nasty cold and almost constand rain.

[ell]

I pick my running music with specific beats and timing in mind to help me keep a steady pace. As a result, my running mixes are almost entirely 80s pop and irish folk tunes...

[ell]

Go you! I hope you post race reports here!

[ell]

I've got U2 and REM on my running mixes but no Coldplay, must add some :-)

Good luck with the race and with school!

[ell]

That sounds amazing! I hope you post a race report with lots of pictures and tell us all about it!

[ell]

You are not a slacker. You've been busy busy busy :-)

I hope your cold clears up soon so you're well.

[ell]

I think girl power and showtunes sounds great! My running partner and I were running to selections from G&S on our last run...of course that was out loud and from memory, no ipod in sight...

Good luck this week and on the 12th, it sounds like you're ready and you'll do great!

[ell]

As always, I nearly forgot to answer my own post...

I got about 15 miles running in this past week along with about 3 miles total swimming and about 110 biking.

First tri is in 2 weeks on the 12th and I'm incredibly excited and nervous
The following weekend I plan to run my first 1/2 marathon of the year (tri training has really gotten in the way of running training)

My running music (when I run with music) tends to the 70s 80s and to folk tunes...last week I had a playlist that went Clash, Ramones, Queen, Great Big Sea, Vampire Weekend, Stan Rogers, Silly Wizard...

[dancing_serpent]

*g* Running to Irish folk sounds interesting. The best method for me to keep a steady pace is counting my breaths in my head.

[nanila]

The best method for me to keep a steady pace is counting my breaths in my head.

I do this too! It also serves as a rough measure of distance traveled, though I like to check that with the Google Maps distance measurement tool as well.

[nanila]

Ooh, your first triathlon, how very exciting. Is it a nice outdoor course? Will the water be cold? (This is primarily what scares me about triathlons.)

[nanila]

Thank you - I plan to do that. A friend is coming to take photos.

[linaelyn]

Wheeee! Your first Tri!!!

*hugs*