Having recently pursued nonathletic adventures in urban living, cohabitation and extended confinement in a 4'x8' space, the urge to run a somewhat challenging race crept back into my quickly aging legs. Sure, I'd done a 4 miler or 10k here and there, but my rigorous training schedule for those typically consisted of a few lumbering 5 mile jogs each week and required no attention to pace, eating habits or training plans.
So on a whim, I signed up for an early April half - my first in nearly two years. Luckily, I was able to dig up a few useful resources in planning for this surprisingly hilly course:
- Hal Higdon's Training Guide - Straight forward, easy to understand and targeted towards multiple levels of runners. I prefer a slightly modified version of the Novice plan.
- Google Calendar - To schedule those pesky training runs that good ole' Hal insists on. I find that email reminders of "Run, you fat ass!" can be quite motivating.
- LiveStrong.com - An outstanding site for tracking runs, meals and a variety of other useful tools. It definitely helps reconsider that mid-day mocha or push for one more mile at the end of a long run.
Of course, none of this would be fun without an accompanying playlist - my own personal montage music if you will. Having already dedicated a full post to the brilliance of one Mr. Benjamin Folds and another to previous incarnations of my playlist, I figured a third was in order. The below playlist all stars have a pretty distinctive 60s/70s feel to them, but are definitely worth consideration for any soundtracks that need refreshing:
Songs to Fight Through that First Mile
Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel
You Don't Mess Around with Jim - Jim Croce
When the Sun Goes Down - Arctic Monkeys
Upbeat Songs to Get Ya Goin'
Freewill/The Spirit of the Radio/Tom Sawyer/Limelight - Rush
25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
The End - The Beatles
Gotos for Eating Up Long, Shapeless Distance:
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Paradise by the Dashboard Light - Meat Loaf
Jessica - Allman Brothers Band
Obligatory Ben Folds Inclusions
Effington (a cappella version) - Ben Folds
Jackson Cannery - Ben Folds Five
One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces - Ben Folds Five
Quick and Easy Songs to End the Day
America - Simon & Garfunkel
Stuck in the Middle With You - Stealers Wheel
Wonderwall - Oasis
2 comments:
great bay half marathon? just asking... i may or may not base my participation in that event on whether youre there. ;)
Yes ma'am. And, of course, I'll assume your comment is of the tone "I was on the fence about running it, but if Chad is, there is no way I can miss such a glorious opportunity!" :)
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