Runnin’ Down A Dream
by Mike W. @ It's Not Over 'Til You're Underground
A week ago, I figured out my new workout plan. With a new job, a new commute, and a new gym, my regular schedule was all out of whack. So I sat down and worked out how to fit it all in. In my grand plan, Tuesday mornings are run days. And, since I'm headed down that way anyways, I plan to do my running at Rancho.
Of course, this all looks great on paper. But at 6:30 in the morning, as I drag myself out of bed and get in the car for the run, it's a little hard to do. I got to the parking lot at 7:15, just in time to see Mike, Dana, and Jill finishing their run... I don't know how they can do this at 6AM twice a week!
I hit the trail as the sun was peeking out behind the hills. My breath was very visible, and the ground was covered with a fine dusting of white frost. I had checked the weather before I left the house - 35 degrees. After all the trouble I've had with heat - between Coeur d'Alene and Honolulu, you'd think I would be thrilled to run in the cold. Nope. My legs were heavy and achy. I usually take a while to warm up, and in 35 degree weather, that was made even worse. Yesterday's strength workout didn't help either.
I ran my usual 4 miler, which goes to the pond and back along the Rogue Valley trail. The trail was dotted with iced-over puddles, and the normally soft dirt was hard... like it was frozen solid. So, as my legs warmed up, and my hands warmed up, and my ears stayed cold, I trudged past the farm. I tried to get a drink at the fountain, but it was frozen. So I kept going. My legs were tired, my lungs were tight, and I just wasn't having a great day. I know that it takes time, and my recent lack of running is going to make it worse, but I just wasn't having fun.
When I run by myself, I wear my iPod. The music keeps my mind off my legs, and sometimes the songs help. It's an iPod Shuffle. So the songs come in random order, out of the 250 songs on there, the right one comes up surprisingly often. So, when I got to that last hill before the pond, it was the right time... and the song came on.
Tom Petty's Runnin' Down a Dream. I have discovered that this is THE perfect running song. It has a strong driving beat. The beat is almost exactly 90 beats per minute so that every beat of the snare drum corresponds with a foot striking the ground. This song always wakes me up and gets me running well. And, for whatever reason, it always comes up at exactly the time I need it.
I crested the hill, turned around, and bounded down the hill. My feet got lighter and my lungs opened up. The song is only 4 minutes long, but it kept me going for the rest of the run. I negative split by over 2 minutes - much more than can be explained by the elevation change. Sometimes the smallest thing can turn your day around.
Of course, this all looks great on paper. But at 6:30 in the morning, as I drag myself out of bed and get in the car for the run, it's a little hard to do. I got to the parking lot at 7:15, just in time to see Mike, Dana, and Jill finishing their run... I don't know how they can do this at 6AM twice a week!
I hit the trail as the sun was peeking out behind the hills. My breath was very visible, and the ground was covered with a fine dusting of white frost. I had checked the weather before I left the house - 35 degrees. After all the trouble I've had with heat - between Coeur d'Alene and Honolulu, you'd think I would be thrilled to run in the cold. Nope. My legs were heavy and achy. I usually take a while to warm up, and in 35 degree weather, that was made even worse. Yesterday's strength workout didn't help either.
I ran my usual 4 miler, which goes to the pond and back along the Rogue Valley trail. The trail was dotted with iced-over puddles, and the normally soft dirt was hard... like it was frozen solid. So, as my legs warmed up, and my hands warmed up, and my ears stayed cold, I trudged past the farm. I tried to get a drink at the fountain, but it was frozen. So I kept going. My legs were tired, my lungs were tight, and I just wasn't having a great day. I know that it takes time, and my recent lack of running is going to make it worse, but I just wasn't having fun.
When I run by myself, I wear my iPod. The music keeps my mind off my legs, and sometimes the songs help. It's an iPod Shuffle. So the songs come in random order, out of the 250 songs on there, the right one comes up surprisingly often. So, when I got to that last hill before the pond, it was the right time... and the song came on.
It was a beautiful day. The sun beat down. I had the radio on. I was driving.
Tom Petty's Runnin' Down a Dream. I have discovered that this is THE perfect running song. It has a strong driving beat. The beat is almost exactly 90 beats per minute so that every beat of the snare drum corresponds with a foot striking the ground. This song always wakes me up and gets me running well. And, for whatever reason, it always comes up at exactly the time I need it.
I crested the hill, turned around, and bounded down the hill. My feet got lighter and my lungs opened up. The song is only 4 minutes long, but it kept me going for the rest of the run. I negative split by over 2 minutes - much more than can be explained by the elevation change. Sometimes the smallest thing can turn your day around.
Tyler says:
January 29th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Thanks Mike!
Doug says:
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Brrrr! I’ve seen those frozen puddles before — on mornings like it feels really good when the sun comes up and hits you.