And the beat goes on......

For years, friends told me to try adding music to my runs or walks. I laughed...I looked at folks trotting down the sidewalk with a radio or MP3 player on their hip, arm or somewheres else and thought they looked silly.
Ok, so then I bought an MP3 player. I actually use it for audio books as I drive. In my opinion, nothing is more enjoyable than to plug in s good book and listen while you drive...but not while I exercise. For some reason I just can not divide my attention to listen to the book. So I decided to give the whole "exercise to music" concept a try.

A little history first....

When I was in College...about 100 years ago, or so it seems, I had to have 4 credits of PE to graduate. So, 1 credit was the required "Health", which was taught by perhaps one of the most uninspiring instructors I had ever...or have since seen! 1 credit was the required "swimming" and that left two credits that I had to fill. Well, I actually did three credits...3 aerobic dance classes! Let me paint a picture...me and 29 women (remember, because of title "whatever" you can not discriminate...so  they had no choice but allow me in.) and I was forced to the front of the room...I didn't care. I had no dance skills...I did not care...and I had a teacher that gave me a hard time...did I mention I did not care. What I cared about was figuring out how to do this and get something out of it. I was NOT going to play tennis, or any other out door sport!!!

So after I finished the first class...I asked the teacher...who had gotten marginally friendlier...what the second class was gonna be about. When she said creating routines and music...well I signed up. See, I have no rhythm...I don't mean I am clumsy...clumsy doesn't cover it. But I figured if I could learn to do this I would not be so clumsy. Well, it sort of worked...I did a routine and did the music...and got an A. I still don't dance in public...people think I am doing a physical stand up comedy routine...or worse, that I am having a seizure!!! LOL

So let's come forward to modern day....

I figured...I can do music and run/walk to it....ah wrong. First, I can not just walk or run to just any music. Beat is important...and it's gotta be something somewhat inspiring! Second, I can only really use it on the machine work outs (tread mills, elipticals, stairmasters) because I need my ears on the sides of the road so I can hear the cars.

Regardless, I am getting better...and I have made a couple of discoveries that might help others.

1. Make 2 play lists...one of warm up/cool down music and one of workout music. The difference...the first playlist is interchangable...and with a click you can go to it. The second play list is just for pushing yourself...giving you a reason to go...maybe kick it a little harder.

2. Don't make the playlists static. All MP3 players allow you to shuffle...and once you have identified a playlist then you can shuffle just it. In the case of my Phillips GoGear Vibe, I can have 3 play lists. In other words, I can use a different song to start he warm up...and then after 5-10 minutes go to the work out play list and click a song to ramp up...after that it is random...but you know the music you have on the list will keep you going. Once you are ready to slow down, click back over to the first play list and hit the forward button until you find a good song...and cool down.

My play lists look like this:

PL 1...Warm/cool

Need you now                                  Lady Antebellum
Teardrop                                           Massive Attack    (The Theme From House)
All she wants to do is Dance            Don Henley
Good Run of Bad Luck                    Clint Black           (From Maverick)
Lock and Load                                  Bob Seger
All Star                                              Smash Mouth
Prisoner of the Highway                    Ronnie Milsap
Run                                                    George Strait
Dead or Alive                                    Bon Jovi


PL 2...Workout

Lost Highway (From Wild Hogs)                                      Bon Jovi
Renegade, Rebels and Rogues  (From Maverick)             Tracy Lawerence
Dare (From Transformers 1980's Movie vers.)                 Stan Bush
The Touch  (From Transformers 1980's Movie vers.)       Stan Bush
Man in Motion (St. Elmo's Fire)                                         John Parr
Ain't going down til the sun comes up                                Garth Brooks
Poker Face (Listen to the music not the lyrics!)                  Lady Gaga
Life is a Highway (From Cars)                                            Rascal Flatts
Thunderbirds are Go! (From the movie)                             Busted
Shakedown (Beverly Hills Cop 2)                                      Bob Seger
Footloose (From the movie)                                                Kenny Loggins


Neither of these lists are complete...but they give you an idea of just what a confused musical taste I have!

One major requirement for my music is that it be something positive or something with a comfortable beat. I don't get Lady Gaga....but Poker Face has a great walking beat, just ignore the lyrics. Dare and The Touch are songs that say "You can do it!". "Need You Now" is pretty, but has a beat that gets me into step.

The key is to find the music the speaks to you!

So, whatever you do...add music to the routine. What I have found is that during a particular song or two I find that extra burst of energy. Tonight I was on the eliptical here at West Memphis and I was listening. When it got to "Thunderbirds are go!" and "Ain't going down til the sun comes up" I pushed harder...hard enough the machine started flashing...slow down!  If you had told me I could make a machine do that 3 months ago...I would have laughed!

So, until next time...be safe!