When I'm training alone I often listen to music for inspiration/to stave off boredom. More details below:
Swim: I'm not about to buy one of those expensive and cumbersome underwater headsets but some pools pump music through the water. Usually it's pretty mainstream music (which I'm fine with) and adds an interesting element to the swim. At the MIT pool last week the lifeguard was playing Michael Jackson. I think she was going to let me and Alan choose the music.
Bike: I don't ever listen to music on the bike because I think it's too dangerous. I used to listen when I could ride in Central Park (when it was closed to traffic) but here in Boston I'm always struggling to maintain my place on the asphalt and need to know when a car is about to run me into the ditch (a la the Italians in Breaking Away; sorry, couldn't find a link). I do however have some great music for spin classes and have the pleasure of having some instructors with similar tastes. I think techno has a place in spin class whereas it might not have a place on the road. If you are interested in sampling some Sweedish techno (isn't all techno European? Why is that?) check out Basshunter--they have some "inspirational" music videos. And by inspirational, I mean, they make you want to work out so you can look as good as everyone in the video. I don't think this is one of their better songs, but it's certainly one of the most unintentionally hilarious ones.
Run: Definitely, unless I'm talking to someone. Depending on the mood I'm in, I have different playlists. There's the angry, rock playlist (I'm really fast and pick races with people who may or may not know that I'm taking them down). There's the R&B playlist. There's the country playlist (generally more mellow, good for long runs and all my runs in Vermont). I listen to certain playlists too repetitively, then they are forever associated with a certain time in my life. For instance, I can listen to playlists from May and basically relive the events of that month during my run. It makes for some interesting introspection.
Any song recommendations you'd like to pass on to me?
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Yo whuddup Rob!
ReplyDeleteI hope that IT is being a little kinder to you nowadays. Keep me updated on that bugger.
Here are some song recommendations for ya:
- Ooh Ahh (Grits)
-Sleepyhead (Passion Pit)
-Never Going Back Again (Fleetwood Mac)
-Countdown (Jupiter One)
-Diddy (P.Diddy)
-Suite for Cello Solo No.1 in G major (Bach)
-Wounded (Third Eye Blind)
-Of The Forest (James Horner)
happy jaunting!
When traveling on Saturdays, I consider it a real treat to stay at a hotel that has a treadmill with a TV. During the fall or winter, I'll try to have my run correspond with an interesting college football game. I suspect the same can be done for pro games, too. This has almost become a pre-wedding ritual.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I honestly don't change my playlists enough, and I tend to get sick of my music, leaving me to run w/o, which is fine, too. Fortunately, Daft Punk never seems to get old.