Some Running Songs

When we set up our Christmas Tree December 2nd, we plugged it in, and we plugged out the treadmill.

I then decided it was Christmas and I deserved a break.

Here is a hint to anyone exercising: you never deserve a break around Christmas time. Maybe you deserve a break in summer when you're at the beach, but if you are surrounded by refined sugar, you do NOT need a break nor deserve one.

After my jeans let me know that either they were disallowing my legs into their fabric or I had to get my butt in gear again, I picked up working out again. Best decision so far of 2013.

My husband also threw out a ridiculous amount of baking. We just had to. I was working on financials for the company with brownies and cookies by my side and then I had no idea who ate them. That's bad!

Anyway, for anyone who is getting into running again after the floury massacre called Christmas baking and overindulgence, I have some more songs that I added to my running playlist and you might find them fun to run to as well:


Gangnam Style - PSY - as you know, my kids are ridiculous with this song, and I was actually totally sick of it. I had my playlist on shuffle the other day while running and found this song was actually soothing and inspiring (funny word to use I know). Something about the way the verses all pull into each other I guess. Weird. But effective.

Stutter - Marianas Trench - I just like this song. The beat is all wrong when running, but it seems to take my thoughts elsewhere and that's the point.

Daylight - Matt & Kim - I heard it first on my Sims 3 game while my Sim was making supper with the radio on. Very catchy. Warning - this song sticks in your head even if you aren't familiar with the lyrics yet. I catch my husband whistling it or singing "and go down Grand Street in daylight" and that's it for my brain thinking about anything else but the tune.

Little Talks - Of Monsters & Men - Nothing to say except very good song.


Some people can only run to the rhythm they are listening to. I find it's refreshing to have a break with a song that I'm not running the beat to. Sometimes I'm inspired to push myself to meet that beat and other times I just fade into the song and forget I'm running.

And as for progress report for running, I have run 5K (3 miles) a few times, hurt my ankle (I think I run funny), and now stick to running 1.5-2 miles so I don't overextend my ankle abilities before I put muscle on them to help with the injuries. It keeps my cardio time low, but allows me to stretch out my legs.

I'm also weight lifting which is ESSENTIAL for a woman. And no, you won't bulk up like a female version of the hulk. You need more testosterone to do that. But you will develop tone, and that's the point. Put down those 2lb weights and start lifting real weights. I just started and lift 25lbs for my bicep curls. That's not a lot, but once I discovered that the "girl" weights don't do anything but make you look like a wimp, I moved up.

Also skinny is not the point. Healthy is. Building muscle helps your bone mass. Do yourself a favour and stay away from the goal of getting skinny.

My goal is to be in shape. I know several women who are "bigger" and can outrun, outlift, and probably outlive some "skinny" ones. My goal is to refine my body into what I'm happy with. That and keep some fat on for my husband. The census is men actually like to be able to grab onto something.

I've heard from several women that their husband's favourite parts are the parts that "jiggle". Funny, I know. I don't get it, but my husband often warns me that I shouldn't lose too much weight.

So anyway, progress report completed. Those who are running to get themselves into shape, I tip my hat to you. I know it's not always fun and sometimes motivation is hiding in the back of the fridge (ok, it's not, but sometimes I look anyway).