Friday Playdate » Blog Archive » grace in small things: on my iPod

Filed Under grace in small things on May 14, 2010

I ran three miles this morning, in the rain (ok actually, I didn’t run the entire way, I did what Chris calls “walunning,” which is a Couch to 5K thing where you run some/walk some — either way, I covered three miles in 33 minutes, IN THE RAIN, so go me). I’m using an iPhone app called RunKeeper to track my time and distance, and while I love it, it means that I can’t mess with my iPod while I run — I have to start the music and then start the app and then leave the whole thing alone until I’m done walunning.

So I’m kind of at the mercy of the shuffle function on my iPhone to keep me moving for that three miles. I finally got around to actually creating a playlist for my runs, because the iPhone kept trying to make me run to “Hallelujah,” which is a beautiful song (especially the KD Lang version) but not exactly what you want to hear when you’re slogging up that last big hill. Ironically, of course, my running music is almost all songs from 20 years ago, which was the last time I ran regularly (although back then I was carrying a WalkMan with a cassette tape in it, which really makes me feel old, I’ll tell you what).

This morning, I was tired and it was raining and the whole process of getting the kids ready for school nearly did me in (SIX MORE MORNINGS AND THEN IT’S SUMMER THANK YOU JESUS). So when I left to run, I wasn’t really hoping for much.

But today, my iPod totally came through, choosing the perfect balance of inspirational rainy day music with a runnable beat. Thank god.

1. “Closer to Fine,” Indigo Girls

2. “Call Me Al,” Paul Simon

3. “Bad,” U2 (the live version, of course)

4. “Summer of Love,” B52s (”Orange popsicles and lemonade …”)

5. “Waterloo,” Abba

What’s on your personal playlist today? You know, other than “Waterloo,” because there’s no way you’re getting that out of your head now. You’re welcome!

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Oh man. That video. OH MAN. I love how that is VERY CLEARLY the studio recording, but they are all pretending to sing/play SO HARD that the SHEER EXERTION of lip-syncing makes it impossible for Frida and Agnetha to manage more than the tiniest, almost imperceptible sway of the hips. Nobody tell them about Madonna, okay? Because say what you will about her, she manages those dance routines while ACTUALLY SINGING onstage.

Don’t get me started on the way the camera kept zooming in on Benny playing the goddamn ORGAN (it’s a piano we’re hearing, did anyone notice that?) as though his fingers are actually touching the keys. If I think about it I will die laughing. Or at least pee.

And never mind why I know all of their names.

ummm…I noticed Waterloo is from MORE THAN 30 years ago!!!! God I am sooooo old!

I ADORE Abba. There’s just no way to get around it. I love them even more now that my son requests the “Honey Honey” song from the movie soundtrack as well as the “mommy song” (Mamma Mia).

I totally love the dude playing the piano - he even makes a cameo appearance in the movie on his upright piano!

I used to use Robert Ullrey’s Couch to 5k podcasts to tell me when I should be intervalling. But his music was dreadful.

Oh my GAH, those COSTUMES. The BAD BAD BAD lip-syncing.

I’ve always loved that song, but that video may have ruined it for me forever.

Thanks.

Thanks for the songs! I always wonder what everyone else is running to. My first five are
1. Go Tell the World by Joy Zipper
2. Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with That by Robert Rudolph & The Family Band
3. I Gotta Feelin’ by Black Eyed Peas
4. Tik Tok by Ke$ha
5. O Saya from Slumdog Millionaire

And, now, of course, a bunch of ABBA and B-52s. HOW could I have overlooked them?

I call what I do “wogging,” which is a combo of walking and jogging!

My go to song for when I need a wogging pick-me-up is B.O.B. by Outkast. I mostly stick to listening to podcasts and audio books though. Radio Lab from WNYC is one of my favorites.

I find that I listen to music when I run, or walun, that I don’t ordinarily actively listen to:

Maria by Blondie
Call Me by Blondie
This One’s For the Girls by Martina McBride
I’m Just a Girl by No Doubt
Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Among others. I love seeing what other people listen to

Love the ABBA. You’re going to need some faster music if you’re going for the 26.2!! I’m pleased to read someone else likes B.O.B. by OutKast–great song to kick it up a notch. Anything by the Black Eyed Peas, Pink, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Sugar, Barenaked Ladies, some Nirvana and Beastie Boys. Can you tell I run a lot?! It’s so fun to load new music and then go for a run. Keep up the great work! Eliminate the word jogging from your vocab–you are RUNNING!

Ok, two things about the ABBA video.

1. I have never heard that song.
2. What the hell is the blonde chick wearing on her KNEES?!

All right - running music. I second Melanie & Iowamom with Black Eyed Peas (funny enough, I had barely even heard of them, little long listened to their music until we saw them in concert with U2 last October. They were spectacular.)
Beyonce has some good ones that are pretty hip - Jay Z too (but be forewarned - keep C & H away from his tunes - or else you might be at dinner and here some interesting words spilling from their sweet lips..

Today’s playlist: “Wasted Away Again in Margaritaville” since my husband is making authentic Mexican margaritas and we’ll be seeing Jimmy Buffet next week in concert.

Ok, I have a bit of ABBA in my mix. And some Beyonce, Flo Rida, Jimmy Buffett, the Dixie Chicks, and some other things that don’t go with these either.

green day and bestie boys will keep you running!

I decided to celebrate turning 40 by becoming a runner - the plan is to go from 0-half marathon in 12 months- and I started in rainy January with the couch - 5K. I completed by my first 5K in March, and I now run 4 miles 3 times a week. I’m training for my 10K and my first trail run. Hang in there, Susan. It’ll come together and be really fun. Soon.

I was using the music already on my iPod before I realized how motivating good running tunes are… the ones I loved are Beautiful Day by U2, The Bitch is Back and most of the songs from Shrek. (Except Hallelujah, which is motivating on other ways, but not so much in running.)

I also added some Lady Gaga. (Metalia has a great playlist… and the comments are awesome.)
http://metalia.blogspot.com/2009/09/so-lists-are-my-new-thing-now-it-seems.html

Love seeing that video - oh the costumes!

Sad, I “run” about 3 miles in 30 minutes or so - I thought I was running but I guess it’s walunning since my running is not much faster than your walunning! I don’t run to music though. Maybe that would help me go faster.

Your kids are out of school in 6 days? What a difference from the Northeast!! I think my kids have 30 more days.

Hey Susan, that’s great that you’ve taken up running again! I also started running again this very week…well, make that walking, I haven’t worked up to the ‘run’ yet, it’s been quite awhile and many pounds! I am going to do the Couch to 5K program as well. I am hoping to run this fat right off of my body!! I’ll be using my sons’ iPod touch at the gym on the treadmill (can’t find my shuffle or my MP3, which goes to show how truly, truly disorganized I am), so will be listening to Metallica, Nickelback and I LOVE Offspring (especially ‘Pretty Fly for a White Guy’,just cracks me up!). I’ll have to give some of your list a whirl

Music that ALWAYS makes me move faster:
“Push It” - Salt n’ Pepa
“Happy Hour” - The Housemartins
“19-2000″ - The Gorillaz

Coincidentally, the most of the music that I choose is also from 20 or more years ago. (That Housemartins album actually wore out due to constant rewinding in my WalkMan.) I have moved into the 21st century (barely) with the addition of the Gorillaz into my workout playlist.

P.S. I wasn’t kidding when I said you inspired me in your marathon post… I actually downloaded Cto5K and am plodding along in Week Two, rockin’ out to The Specials and The English Beat et. al…

I did the Couch to 5K after I had Genevieve via C-section. It was perfect b/c it started soooooo slowly. Just what I needed postpartum. I love that program! 6 months later I ran a 5K with my also-postpartum friend Rachel. That was almost 4 years ago and now I’m more of a 5-mile runner, 3 to 4 times a week. Problematic injuries and foot problems will prevent me from ever running a long race again (I did a half marathon 12 years ago).

Anyway, I’ve been running mainly to the Glee soundtrack(s) since I got them for Christmas. Love, love, love, totally fun.

I started and ended my half marathon this weekend to “You Can Call Me Al”!! What a great, peppy song…

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