I am a runner. I love to define myself as this because it is something that is essential to my life. And what is very essential to my runs is music, just as important as my Nike running shoes and my running hat. It is like this, I like to run in the mornings for a few reasons. One is that no matter what may transpire with the rest of my day, I will still feel productive, accomplished.
A second reason is that it clears my head. If I am under any stress, feeling frustrated or worried, I will begin my run examining these thoughts, allowing myself to feel them completely, and this is done with certain songs, certain music. After about one or two miles I am able to take the stress, the thoughts, and throw them out of my mind and even come up with some good resolutions. It is an uplifting feeling, exhilarating. Some days, quite honestly, it may take five miles, but it does the trick, the thoughts seem to evaporate.
A third reason is what I like to think of as my breakfast club. I have been going to the YMCA in Lancaster County for many years at the same time in the morning, right after I drop my son off at school. Once I am there I have the pleasure of seeing the same faces, all whom have smiles and will always kindly greet me with a very friendly “Good Morning!” I simply love this, what a wonderful way to start a run and a day.
A fourth reason is the unbelievable feeling I get once I complete my run, and if I make my goal whether it is a certain mileage or time. Endorphins. How I wish I could bottle them, that beautiful runners high. However, mine needs music to make it complete.
One of my favorite running books is What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. It is a short read, 175 pages, and has some inspiring quotes.
Murakami writes:
No matter what, though, I keep on running. Running every day is a kind of lifeline for me, so I’m not going to lay off or quit just because I’m busy. If I used being busy as an excuse not to run, I’d never run again. I have only a few reasons to keep on running, and a truckload of them to quit. All I can do is keep those few reasons nicely polished.
Beautiful, isn’t it? Keep those reasons nicely polished.
And another Murakami quote:
Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live lives to the fullest. If you’re going to while away the years, it’s far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog, and I believe running helps you do that.
Running is not simply being able to enjoy that piece of chocolate cake without any guilt or fitting into those jeans you wore in college. It’s much much more than that. And I feel that running with music can elevate the run. I will even dare to say boost the performance, make it a little easier. I save my very favorite songs, my motivational heroes for my last mile when I really need that extra push.
I would love to hear what music inspires you when you exercise. You do not have to be a runner, all forms of exercise, in my opinion, can be given a lift by music. Please share.
In the meantime, a favorite few lines from Foreigner’s song Urgent, and one that best describes my personal running vibe.
“You wanna fly, don’t want your feet on the ground
You stay up, you won’t come down
You wanna live, you wanna move to the sound
Got fire in your veins
Burnin’ hot but you don’t feel the pain
Your desire is insane
You can’t stop until you do it again”
▶ 3:52