Miracles are finally happening over here! Well, maybe not miracles per se, but there have been definite improvements over the last week.
I’ve started interval training, or “Fartlek” runs as they are sometimes called. Basically, the body of the run alternates between three minutes of my personal “easy” speed, followed by three minutes at a “difficult” speed. Not only does this help to improve on overall fitness and speed, it also makes the time fly by if you are stuck on the treadmill.
This last point, about passing time while on that monotonous tread, made me start to wonder: What is it that helps me make it through a run? And how do other runners plow through runs and find the determination to go faster, longer, and harder?
The answer, for me, is music. (Although I have to say that Saturday afternoon’s run in the rain with my boyfriend down Yonge Street was an exception. My determination to run faster and get home stemmed only from the fact that the rain pellets were cold, streaming down my forehead, and I was drenched. Yuck!) But, for majority of my running adventures in fair-weather, music provides me with the encouragement and energy to keep going...
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| Hmm..I wonder what he is listening to? |
Energetic dance music is great for the initial warm-up. Anything house or techno always helps for making it up a hill or gradual climb. Catchy pop songs are a good distraction for mid-run (I should note that knowing all of the words are essential). I put on the slower, but loud and powerful, rock songs to push through the tough parts. And finally, there’s always those club mixes that I sometimes hit repeat, repeat, repeat on because, well, they are just fun.
Music, most definitely, is a motivator in running --at least for this one here! And so, today, I’m asking for a favour from you, blog readers: What are some songs that you love to work out or run to? Any tune that you’ve listened to while sweating it out, please drop me a line and let me know.
I greatly appreciate your help with this important music-motivation factor!
As always, Happy Running!
