1) Running is making my taste in music…different. I won’t say horrible because that’s judgmental and bitchy, but I will say that I now own music by One Direction and Taylor Swift. So. Uh. Different. Here is my current running playlist. (I don’t listen to all of them in one run. Haaaa. I like to have a selection to choose from, because apparently my legs have different emotions on different days.)
If you have another song to suggest? Please do. I get sick of all my music after a few weeks and thus, I am very, very good to Amazon’s MP3 department. I really should just have all future earnings routed straight to Amazon.
2) I have decided when I finish Book 1 and Book 2, I am going to train for a half-marathon. As a reward. I…may not know how rewards work. I’m looking at running the Rock N’ Roll Half in June 2013. Maybe? We’ll see.
3) I am in need of the perfect running shorts. I have one pair I love that I bought ten years ago from Target. The swishy kind they sell now? HATE. Built-in underwear? NO THANK YOU. Do you have good ones? Also, while I’m asking, how about running….capri legging things? Yeah, those. You know what I mean. I got a gift card for Lululemon and bought a pair from them a few years ago, but those are just too spendy for me. Anything reasonably priced?
Wow, that was a lot of questions. SORRY. You’re doing all the work here now, apparently.
I wish I could shop at Lululemon, but it’s ridiculously expensive! I get most of my running stuff from Target. They have some shorts that look like bike shorts that aren’t too bad, and their capri legging things aren’t terrible either. Just make sure you get some with drawstrings. I have a pair from before I had a kid, and now that my proportions are a bit…um “off”, I’m constantly pulling that pair up when I run. Running songs: Young the Giant “My Body”, anything my Ghostland Observatory, Selena Gomez “Love You Like A Love Song”, the entire “Brothers” album by the Black Keys, Donna Summer “Hot Stuff”, Justin Bieber “Boyfriend”, just about any Adele but “Rolling in the Deep” is probably the best. Good Luck!
1. Eminem actually kicks ass to run to. As does Guns n Roses, although some of their songs you have to slog through before it gets to the holy shit I am a running goddess portion of the music. (I’m thinking specifically of November Rain. Last 45 seconds are AWESOME. First 27 minutes [or so] of the song are just buildup). I also love cheesy novelty songs from all decades: It’s Raining Men, Baby Got Back, Son of a Preacher Man (okay, that doesn’t really fit, but you know what I mean), Funky Cold Medina, The Humpty Dance, The Safety Dance.
I’d just like to point out that my running music taste has just about NADA to do with my regular music taste. With the exception of upbeat Indigo Girls songs. I’ll listen to the hell out of that shit whether I’m running, pining over something stupid, or just sitting around eating cookies.
2. Half Marathons are awesome! Full marathons are evil, like the fru-its of the devil. (At least the second half of them are.) You’ll have so much fun.
3. My favorite running gear came from Sport Hill. I think they’re a little spendy, but my favorite of all time running pants came from them. They’re 6 years old and still going strong, despite my attempts to run them into ribbons and wearing them through all kinds of weight fluctuations, including whale-like pregnancy.
How do you feel about running skirts? I swear by the ones from Skirt Sports and Brooks (you can often find them cheaper on sites like 6pm.com). I also just got these capris http://tinyurl.com/9czzlad and really like them. They are relatively flattering, have a pocket big enough to fit my phone, and are made out of sturdy material. I can vouch for the latter, since I tripped in a spectacularly embarrassing manner the first time I wore them. My knees got scraped up, but no holes!
Nike has good running capris, at a much more reasonable price point than Lulu. And if you buy them online (nikestore.com) they usually have a pretty good, well-stocked clearance section. I also like Lucy running clothes (and they are a Portland company, which earns bonus points from me).
I have the same “different” taste in running music as you do… I just bought a few more lately that are pretty catchy: Die Young by Ke$ha; Try by Pink; and Timebomb by Kylie Minogue.
I bought all these songs and now Ke$ha lives in my brain.
So I have a lot of “electronic” music lined up for running… it’s weird but has a pretty steady beat. You may want to try it out? Or not. I know, it’s weird.
I’ve got some running tights from Nike that work really well (for when it’s colder) and some Nike training shorts without the inside lining nastiness that are pretty great as well.
I too run to the likes of Ke$ha and Katy Perry – you have to do wacky things to keep your mojo up.
I also find I like running to the Black Keys (Gold on the Ceiling, Tighten Up, and Howlin’ for You have good rhythms), if that’s helpful. The Black Keys are definitely a step up in the cool department.
I’m afraid I wouldn’t be helpful in the athletic clothing department – I run strictly in the yoga capris they sell at Target, because I’m cheap and I know I’m going to look bad sweating anyway.
I have the Champion running capris from Target and I really like them. My best running songs are the ones that match up with my stride: “Sour Cherry” by the Kills always works for me. “I Come From the Water” by the Toadies. “Long Time Gone” by the Dixie Chicks. “Our Love” by Rhett Miller. And, uh, I always walk it off to LMFAO.
Oooh! My favorite exercise songs:
Sail — by Awolnation
So Good — by B.o.B.
Tonight (I’m loving you) — by Joel
Where have you been — by Rihanna
Wide Awake — by Katy Perry
You Make Me Sick — by Pink
Beat and the Pulse — by Austra
Boyfriend — by Justin Timberlake (yeah I know you’re laughing)
Cupid Shuffle — by Cupid
Everything is Poison — by Ego Likeness
Good Feeling — by Flo Rida
Just a Dream — by Nelly
Lights — by Ellie Goulding
Lose Yourself — by Eminem
No Diggity — by Blackstreet & Dr. Dre
Hope you like some! I’mma mine other people’s comments for more to add to my own collection. Great post, I love it when we can exchange ideas like this.
pps. I get my yoga pants from Marshall’s.
They never sell the same thing so I can’t go by brand but they usually have a nice selection and prices aren’t too bad.
I always have to have Kanye West’s “Stronger” and Justin Timberland & Timbaland’s “Carry Out” on my work out playlists. Always.
Not sure why
I ran rock and roll a loooong time ago and highly recommend. It is fun and people are very supportive.
I like your running playlist, and may steal it if I ever get healthy enough to run again. Stupid pneumonia.
I get exercise stuff from JCP. I enjoy the Xertion brand of running leggings (and the swishy shorts with built in underwear).
Songs:
TSOP–MFSB
Ain’t No Half Steppin–Big Daddy Kane
various Bobby Brown songs
Stand Back–Stevie Nicks
Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above–CSS (I love love love this song for living room dancing as well as elliptical stuff)
Also, GO YOU with the *multiple books* and the running!
Music: I like Gotye and the Hunger Games soundtrack, but I mostly listen to podcasts because I need to pace myself and running is boring.
Half: YAY. It’s a good amount for a race. Really freaking hard, but not at the same time. I did the Nashville Rock N Roll and didn’t love it (too big, too hilly, too hot), but I learned from my experience and just did a flat, smaller, colder course.
Clothes: I used to not like the shorts with built-in underwear BUT I am now a convert. The key pocket and the underwear are must haves for me! Gap makes some good work out clothes – i have a pair of running tights and a running jacket from them. Super awesome.
On number two, there are tons of local halfs…one in Poulsbo this weekend, Alki next…just check out running sites or ask around. I did the Seattle R&R as my first half and really liked it, but it takes a LONG time to start…very much an experience. Observe or volunteer the Seattle Marathon and you’ll get an idea of what it will be like. Do you have anyone to do it with? That makes the biggest difference, a hundred times more so than the race you choose.
Running requires different music than regular listening does. Don’t worry. As for running gear – I have had phenomenal luck with Reebok and Adidas brand pants or capris. If you are like me you enjoy the fact that it reduces chafing on the inner thighs during long runs. I also will say that for longer runs the shorts with underwear are actually fantastic for that same reason. Keeps the shorts in the right spot and prevents them from riding up with is just ridiculously annoying. Good luck on your half!!