Schindler’s Playlist

Day 108 of 130
Ks covered: 794
Ks to go: 308
General mood: Pretty good
Running highlight: 5K in 25:40
Equipment status: Rocking the running skirt -thinking about wearing it race day
Body status: Looking forward to taper
Weight: 147!!!! This is the last you will see of it until post -race. I’m done with the scale!

Help Wanted.  My running mix has become punitive.

I now have nine running mixes on constant play and I’m sick of all of them. There are just weeks to go before my (fingers crossed) sub 4:20 of glory, and I need some new canto for my canter.

If it were up to me, Kanye West and Lady Gaga would personally ride a float beside me, belting out their most fist-pumping, hip thrusting hits as I legged-it through those legislative streets. “Becky! Let me hear a “what, what!”

Alas. Jesus only Walks, apparently. And Lady G says she’ll Just Dance. The pair isn’t returning my calls. Kanye’s assistant just mumbled something about 37 calls, the police, a restraining order…Huh. I wonder what THAT was all about?  Anyhoo, it  seems I’m forced to settle for my iPod.

“SACRILEGE!” I hear the serious runners cry – “You can’t run with tunes, ESPECIALLY during a race!  Use the crowd to get you through!  The applause! The energy!”

Now listen, you Haruki-lovers. That may be all well and good for you fleet-foots at the front.  The wind passing by your ears probably sounds like thunderous applause. But for me? Hobbling through kilometre 36? I need some major inspiration.

Music gets me into a rhythm, focuses my breathing and there’s nothing better than some cuss-laden heavy-bass beats to push me through the really tough bits.

Of course there are some flat notes to tune-driven trotting:
1. I can’t hear my uber-fan yelling “looking good Bex” as I run past  (sorry Mum);
2. The ounce of iPod added to my lithe frame could be the difference between 4:19:59 and 4:20:01;
3. Miley Cyrus.  Enough said.

My husband suggests the best combination of music + serious runnerness would be a mariachi band running with me on race day. Think of it – I wouldn’t need the MP3 player and I’d probably go faster trying to get away from them, not to mention the intimidation factor for my fierce competition. On the other hand, it might be super embarrassing if the guy playing the trumpet beat me to the finish line. Those fetching pants look fast!

Sooo, I’m back to Plan A.  A few hits are guaranteed to make it onto the Great Marathon Medley – Kanye’s Stronger,  Rihanna’s Rude Boy,  Jay-Z’s Encore, Bette Midler’s from a Distance, but I  need your help.

What are your ultimate running songs? Leave a comment below and let’s make the best running mix ever.

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