Windows Down, Music Up

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably see the title of this blog post a lot recently.  We’ve had some pretty decent weather lately.  What’s my favorite thing to do when the weather gets warmer?  Roll those windows down, crank the music up, and drive.  I seriously could drive around listening to music for my job and not get bored.

Recently a very good friend of mine introduced me to an app that has changed my life.  Not even kidding.  Has anyone heard of Spotify?  No?  OK, well buckle up.

Spotify is kinda like Pandora, iTunes, and your entire music library rolled into one.  They have three different plans to choose from:  free, unlimited, and premium.

Free:  works pretty much just like Pandora.  You can create radio stations based on songs or artists you like, but you have to listen to ads in between some songs.

Unlimited ($4.99):  They do you one better by removing the ads, but you still just have access to the radio.

Premium ($9.99):  They pull out all the stops.  You have all the benefits of the other plans BUT you can also search for and play any song in their entire library whenever you want.  You can listen to whole albums, make playlists, and turn on “offline” listening, meaning you have access to those playlists even when you don’t want to use wifi or data.  It’s kind of like having the entire iTunes catalog at your fingertips for $10/month.

I know what you’re thinking…why would I pay for music when I could listen to it for free?  I thought the same thing.  But once I tried it, I never looked back.  Being able to pick and choose what music you want to listen to whenever you want, download those songs to your phone or computer, and be able to play them back wherever you are is priceless to me.

I figure I spend at least $10/month in the iTunes store.  So now, instead of spending that money in iTunes, I just spend it on my Spotify account.  If you’re a music lover like me, you definitely have to check it out.

One of my favorite things about Spotify is finding new artists.  I create radio stations based on artists I like and then when a song comes on I enjoy, I switch over to that artist’s album.  By doing this I have come to realize one of my favorite bands on the planet is Seether.  I especially like their “Holding on to Strings Better Left to Fray” album.

I also remembered how much I like Fall Out Boy!  I don’t know why I always forget this…

Sharing music is fun too.  You can find friends on Facebook and follow them.  One of my friends created a 90s r&b/rap playlist, which I started listening to and all these memories from high school came flooding back!  It was awesome!  (Don’t you just love how music evokes memories?  LOVE!!)

One thing I wish Spotify would change is the ability to search for other users.  Maybe I’m just missing it, but there are people I’m not friends with on Facebook that I’d like to be able to follow.  Maybe in the future…

This is seriously the best money I’ve spent in a loooooooong time.  If you’re a big fan of music like me, you should definitely check it out.  You won’t regret it.  Bonus?  They have a free 30 day trial.  Love that.

What’s your favorite genre of music?  Have you ever been surprised to find you like something you otherwise didn’t think you would?

*Disclaimer:  all thoughts and opinions are my own.  Spotify DID NOT pay me to write this.  I just really love music.

Run Around

I love music.  I have found there is a song to express any emotion or thought I have.  I also know music gets me moving.  Some people can watch TV while they run.  Not me.  I need my music to get my feet going!  Here are some of my current favorite tunes to run to lately:

Scream & Shout – will.i.am featuring Britney Spears

Everybody Talks – Neon Trees

50 Ways To Say Goodbye – Train

Shake Senora – Pitbull

Wait – Chris Brown

This is just a small sampling of the music I listen to when I run.  I have done a few of these posts in the past and I’m always looking for new music.  I tend to listen to Pandora a lot simply to get new song ideas, but I like having a backup playlist on my phone in case Pandora is being wonky and not playing anything I like.  A little known fact about me is I hate the radio for the most part.  Pandora is less like the radio and more like an iTunes playlist on shuffle.

Anyhow, what’s your favorite song to run to?

I Like to Move It, Move It

If you don’t know, I have been spending a lot more time on Twitter lately (@OneGirlsTaste).  Part of the reason is to connect with other bloggers (and part because I like tweeting funny pictures of myself and the boy).

One day, after clicking around on the Internet, I landed on Fitness Cheerleader’s blog a day writing challenge.  Basically she listed out a bunch of topics and you wrote about each one on the given day.  Now, being as I don’t write a daily blog, I didn’t have answers to all the questions, and I just found the article about 2/3 the way through the month, I am not going to be participating.  Or am I?

I looked at each of the questions and picked several out that I could use as inspiration for those times that I don’t have a recipe or an update to share.  Today is one of those times.  It’s really quite handy to have a list of blog topics at your disposal!  I’m very excited she is going to continue this into September.

I chose to talk about workout songs today.  I am one of those people that has to listen to music to really get going at the gym or outside.  Fast, upbeat music makes my feet faster, my heart rate speed up, and just makes me happy in general.  Here are the top 5 workout songs that really get my feet flying:

1.  Hurricane Streets – Hey Monday

hurricane streets

2.  Ignorance – Paramore

ignorance

3.  Got It Made – Theory of a Deadman

got it made

4.  Can’t Stop – Maroon 5

can’t stop

5.  Stronger – Kanye West

Bonus Song:  Real World – The All-American Rejects  (probably my favorite running song)

Man, listening to all these songs this morning has made my feet itch to go for a run!

What is your favorite running/workout song?  What gets your feet moving?

Run, Run, Run, Run, Runaway Baby

You know when you get a song stuck in your head and you can’t get it out?  I hate that.  Unless, of course, it’s a song I absolutely love!  Thanks to Katie‘s post about new music, I now have “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars stuck in my head.  Thanks, Katie…    (Also, I decided to steal borrow her blog post idea about current music additions.  What a generous girl!)

I recently purchased Bruno Mars’s cd Doo Wops & Hooligans and I love love love it!  Every song on there is great.  I originally heard a selection of songs on an episode of “Glee” last year.  (I don’t listen to the radio often at all so I tend to be a little late on new music…)  I was immediately drawn in by the catchy tune and clever lyrics.

After downloading the album, I listened to it three times straight through while cleaning the house.  I noticed a couple of the songs would be great to run to.

I also got a great idea from my friend, Lacy.  I was always asking for new music ideas because I got tired of my playlists so fast.  She recommended making a Running station on Pandora based on several of my favorite artists.  I chose The Black Eyed Peas, Britney, Lady Gaga, Avril, Katy Perry, etc.  It works great, especially since my gym has wifi.  I get new songs all the time and don’t have to search for music that often!

Do you have any favorite songs lately, running or otherwise?

Shut Up and Do It (C25k: W5D2)

Greetings from Cleveland!  I woke up this morning at my dad’s house in Cleveland.  I decided I would go ahead and attempt this run even though I was out of my “normal” running environment.

Dad has a treadmill, so after waking and hydrating a bit, I went to the basement to complete today’s program.  After a few minutes on his treadmill, I wasn’t feeling it, so decided to move my run outside.  It was about 50* after all, so it was a nice morning for it.

The program today was:
Warm up
Run 8 minutes
Walk 5 minutes
Run 8 minutes
Cool down

Dad lives in a nice, quiet neighborhood, though it’s not very big.  I had to stay in the neighborhood though, because the road he lives off of is a tad busy and I didn’t really want to risk getting run over this weekend.

The entire neighborhood is probably about 3/4 of a mile.  I think I ended up doing about 3 laps, so about 2 1/4 miles in 30 minutes.  I completed the first 8 minute run and was tired and out of breath.  My heart rate was around 185, so I knew my pace was a little fast (I have trouble pacing outside), but all in all I was feeling OK.

I walked the 5 minutes and then started to run the 8 minutes.  That’s when the mind games started.  I told myself, just get to 4 minutes and then you can stop if you want…it’s good you came out on your mini vacation at all.  After a bit of this, I remembered a blog post I read the other day (unfortunately I searched and searched, but couldn’t find it again) talking about all the negative talk you tell yourself when running.  That’s when I decided to shut up and do it.  Just complete the run.  Yes, I was tired.  Yes, I was out of breath.  Yes, my heart rate was getting uncomfortably high.  But I thought of the feeling I would have when I was done.  And I love that feeling so I just ran.

The verdict?  Sometimes you just have to shut up and do it and you’ll thank yourself later.  I know (now) from experience.

Today’s Playlist (Let me know what you think of the playlist idea):
Heros-Shinedown
Harder to Breathe-Maroon 5
Brick by Boring Brick-Paramore
Luckie St.-Cartel
Right Now (Na Na Na)-Akon
I’d Do Anything-Simple Plan
Don’t Lie-Black Eyed Peas

What do you tell yourself to push yourself forward when all you want to do is quit?

C25k: W4D3

I was not going to run today.  No way.  No how.  Couldn’t pay me to run today.  I woke up with my back in knots (I’m thinking from Zumba last night for some reason).  I was sore, I had a headache, and I was just plain feeling lazy.

Then I read a comment a reader had posted on a previous blog post.  He said he was interested to see how my running would progress.  For some reason, this comment lit a fire under my ass.  I’m not sure why or how, but I immediately got up from the couch, changed into my running clothes, and headed out the door to the gym.

In my previous post, I decided I was going to stick to running on the treadmill because it was easier for me and, since I’m just teaching myself to run, I figure going the easier route is OK for now.  Once I feel a little stronger, I will venture outside, but for now my home is on the treadmill.

I got to the gym feeling with a mixture of confidence and trepidation.  I knew I could do this.  I’d done it before.  This was not my first time at the rodeo.  BUT after the last run I had, I was nervous this run would result the same way.

I am delighted to say today’s run was FABULOUS!  Yes, I was tired towards the end of the 5 minute runs.  Yes, my side and knees hurt a little.  But, YES, I finished the run and I finished STRONG!  I could probably have kept going, but I didn’t have any more time.  I have to be at work in an hour and I haven’t showered yet.  Whoops!

My point of this post is to thank those of you who give me that little push when I need it.  You have no idea the effect your words and comments can have.  In fact, a similar situation happened a few months back where my friend, Heather, gave me a little nudge to get me out the door.  Just know that every comment I receive is greatly appreciated and it can make a world of different between choosing the couch or the treadmill.  Thanks, guys!

Something New!
I’ve decided to start posting my playlists for my runs in case there are more people like me out there who get motivated by great music.  If you have more suggestions for me, please share!  Thanks!

“Breakout”-Foo Fighters
“Faint”-Linkin Park
“Breaking the Habit”-Linkin Park
“Sonny”-New Found Glory
“That’s What You Get”-Paramore
“Miracle”-Paramore
“Fences”-Paramore
“Everybody”-Ingrid Michaelson (Cooldown)

**I have a “Running” playlist that is supposed to shuffle, but for some reason when I hit the shuffle button, my iPod ignores me, thus resulting in me listening to the same artists over and over. 

C25k: W4D2

Oh, lordy.  I’m starting to get to that “What the hell are you thinking?” point in my c25k training.  I did this last time too.  I question myself all the time as to whether or not I’m “built” to run. It just seems like it is harder for me than many other people.

Now, I know I shouldn’t compare myself to all the other food bloggers out there that run every day and complete half and full marathons, but shouldn’t running get easier with time, not harder?

Yes, I am going a longer distance now than I was say, three weeks ago, but I also feel like I should be “learning” more about how to run.

I have decided to go back to walking outside and running inside.  If running on the treadmill is easier for me, then that’s what I should do.  Maybe once I am able to fully complete my goal distance (3.1 miles or a 5k) on the treadmill, I can revisit running outside.

Maybe I’m coming at this from the wrong direction.  Maybe not.  But for now I think this is going to be my plan of action.

What exercise limitations do you face?  Have you overcome them?  How did you do it?