and here's why it works.
I haven't run outdoors with music in a long time, preferring to retain the ability to hear cars coming up behind me rather than get splattered all over the road listening to the theme from Rocky.
Indoors, though, if I'm not interested in SportsCenter, a good beat helps with pacing, and that article explains a bit of the science behind it.
Yesterday, though? Not so much.
I had a car service appointment in the late morning, and since it was rainy and windy early, I did, indeed, hit the treadmill. I was disappointed with my performance, to say the least. I was running-running-keep-on-running in time to something that was way too fast for my current level of fitness. My treadmill has a heartrate monitor [the grip kind], and while I don't know how accurate it is, I do know I've never seen a 190 readout. Since Mr. Shrinking Knitter was gone, I felt it best to slow down for a bit, and then to switch to the rowing machine.
So Wednesday's speedwork ended up being a bit of a bust. I'm going to try again today. The rain we're supposed to have should be intermittent; I'm sure I'll find a window of opportunity in which to walk one/run three/walk one sometime today. Heck, the way the weather prognosticators have been missing the mark lately, I can probably work it in any time. If it weren't for my one-shower-a-day rule, I could have done it yesterday afternoon, as it was really lovely.
Seven minutes into my 20-minute rowing session, the cable broke. That was a bit of a surprise, although I've been using the rower pretty consistently for more than 12 years. For all my disorganization in household matters, I was able to find the instruction book within five minutes. I called the toll-free number, spoke with a very cheerful and knowledgeable gentleman, and a new cable, with installation instructions, is on the way.
I was surprised they even had the cable in stock. If you're in the market for an indoor rower, I can personally recommend Tunturi for both quality and customer support.
Food has been going a bit less well. I'm still sugar-free, and that hasn't been a problem for me at all. It's as if I was able to flip a switch and simply not want to consume it, in much the same way that I was able to stop smoking – cold turkey. I'm the same weight I was January 2, which is disappointing, but I'm also eating three dinners each week that I wasn't eating prior to Mr. Shrinking Knitter's retirement. So I still have some work to do here.
That NYTImes article mentioned some tunes on my favorite running playlist, including Salt 'n' Pepa's "Push It" and "Mr. Brightside" by the Killers. And since I haven't asked in a while … what are the high-energy songs that pump you up?
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5 comments:
I can't be on the treadmill without music. They have little t.v. screens on the treadmills at the gym, but I can't concentrate enough to watch t.v. when I'm working out. Got to have the music.
Right now, on heavy rotation for gym music:
Diana Ross "I'm Coming Out"
Madonna "Jump"
Dixie Chicks "Some Days You've Gotta Dance"
I'll listen to certain things incessantly for a couple of weeks, and then can't bear them again for a long time.
Last night we watched a little of some countdown of the best songs of the 90's on VH1 and they had this song from Marky Mark called "Good Vibrations," and I thought, I must have it! But unfortunately, not to be had on iTunes, dern it.
Good news that Tunturi had the cable you needed--too often, when a company's products are well-made and last a long time, they go out of business because people don't need to buy replacements, thus their business stagnates. What a paradox of modern life.
I always listen to music, too. I count my iPod shuffle among the important tools it took for me to lose weight last year.
I love Dave Matthews Band--"Two Step" and "Dancing Nancies" are my favorite running songs.
I also love Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream," Lenny Kravitz's "Are you gonna go my way," ELO's "Turn to Stone" and "Don't bring me down." A classic for bringing in a run is Cake's "The Distance." I loves me some Cake. =)
That has got to be the best customer service story I've heard. Customer service is pretty much non existent nowadays, so that's impressive.
OK...here are a few of my favorite faster running songs:
I agree with "The Distance" by Cake, "Move Along" by All American Rejects" (for the message), "American Idiot" by Green Day, "Semi-Charmed Life" by 3rd Eye Blind, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by JET, "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake, "Ray of Light" by Madonna, "Hey Ya" by Outkast, "Living La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin, "Get the Party Started" by Pink and for a laugh during my run, "Running on Empty" by Jackson Browne.
These songs always get me to quicken my step!
What baffles me about that article is how they said most people train with music but so many races don't allow you to have headphones on race day... wouldn't that completely mess up your pacing on the day? I know I'd have problems with it.
Anyway, tunes for walking briskly (my poor knee can't take running anymore):
- Trace Adkins, "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk"
- Men Without Hats, "Pop Goes the World"
- Proclaimers, "500 Miles"
- Edwin Starr, "25 Miles"
- Dire Straits, "Walk of Life"
It's funny, but I tend to go a stronger pace with songs that put a little wiggle in my walk (or a strut, for lack of a better word). I definitely recommend the Edwin Starr as a long-distance motivator. The chorus is:
"So I got to keep on walkin'
I got to walk on, oh ho ho
I, I, I, I'm so tired
But I just can't lose my stride"
Pretty much sums it up!
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