Music can power us forward and add to the joy of running harder.
There are certain songs that I added to my running playlist for their upbeat energy lift which have become much more meaningful to me over the course of my running.
There are certain songs contain lyrics that I hone in on and apply to my running… even though they’re not about running at all.
Here are some of my favorite re-purposed song lyrics:
We runnin’ this, let’s go: I love “I’m On A Boat” by Lonely Island, because it reminds me of a vacation I had with my sister where it was our theme song (despite never boarding a boat), and because it’s upbeat and hilarious. It’s so nice to listen to a song that’s a little different than the typical party-all-night-in-the-club song. It’s also just close enough to my mantra, “i am running this” to make me smile every time I hear it out running.
keep running, running: This is kind of like the Nike slogan, “Just Do It” in that it doesn’t sound like much until you’re in the moment, and then it becomes everything. KEEP RUNNING, RUNNING. You’ve got this, just keep running, don’t do anything differently, just keep going like you’re going… settle in, settle in. This keeps me steady on my long runs or helps me maintain a burst of effort in a short run.
You brought me to life: In my August interview on Mile-Posts I talk a little about the trouble I had after Andrew was born. Running helped me re-balance the post-pregnancy chemicals, flooding my brain with positive endorphins when I needed them most, and giving me a sense of purpose and identity outside being a mother. I’m so grateful, and whenever I hear these Katy Perry lyrics in my running playlist, I’m reminded of just how far I’ve come. And not just in miles.
I’m complete: Running and writing about running gives my life balance, energy, and purpose. Running has become such an important part of my identity that it seems strange when I recall memories from earlier in my life and think “I wasn’t a runner, then.” Weird.
We’ve come too far, to give up who we are: These lyrics have pushed me through tough points in my runs more than once. Even if I’m running without music, I’ll hear them playing in my head as I hit mile 4 of 10 on a long run and feel like quitting. These words remind me of all the training, all the sacrifices, all the hard work I’ve put in to get to this point, and how running is now a part of who I am. It’s not just something I do, it’s something in me that pushes me to continue when I don’t want to, because I know that I DO want to. I’m sure that I’ll be hearing these lyrics as I stand at the start line of my first half marathon, remembering all I’ve accomplished to get to this point, and hoping-believing-knowing-praying that I am ready for this.
I’ve come too far to give up.
I am Kelly. I am running this. I am 13.1.
Who are you?
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Good post! You’re speaking right to me! I’m obsessed with music and will work for hours on the perfect playlist.
I have a soft spot for Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen for obvious reasons, but was also the song playing at the end of my first running 5K race.
Another good one is The Underdog by Spoon. I believe the lyric is “You’ve got no fear of the underdog, that’s why you will not survive”. I’m definitely an underdog!
I wish I worked more on perfect playlists! Sometimes I listen to the same ones over and over because I haven’t made time to make a new one.
I’ve got no playlist for my half marathon… trying to decide if I’m going to run with music or not… it’s a hard call. I’ll be writing more about my race strategy for Thursday’s post!
I’ve tried running without music before, but I find it mentally easier to use the music because my brain focuses on the lyrics instead of how much longer I have to go or how hard I’m breathing.
I have definitely found it sometimes helps with that! Yet other times it makes me annoyed because I just need to focus on continuing – it’s weird