Speaking of losing weight, about halfway through the past semester, I started running for the first time in my life. My oldest son and I lift weights three times a week, and we decided to go from the weight room directly to the track. Talk about embarrassing! Despite having walked three miles to school every day, I couldn't make one lap around the track without cramping. And when I wasn't cramping, I was stopping to catch my breath. But I swallowed my pride and persevered. Now I am running one mile straight, followed by a quick jaunt up and down the "RB Steps" (100 steps connecting BYU's sports facilities to the upper campus).
I can't credit much of this progress to my iPod, even though I listen to it while I run. My first attempt at running to music was a complete failure. Simon & Garfunkel ... what was I thinking? Elton John was a step in the right direction, but "Rocket Man" isn't as peppy as the title would suggest. So I moved to the Temptations. "The Way You Do The Things You Do," "My Girl," "Get Ready," "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" ... it takes me a long time to run a mile!
The main problem with the Temptations is the lyrics. It's hard to maintain a pace when you are doubling over with laughter. "The Way You Do The Things You Do" is hilarious, with gems like this: "If good looks were minutes, You know you could have been an hour ..." And how about "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"? This must be the most insulting love song ever written: "A pretty face you may not posses, but what I like about you is your tenderness." And "My friends ask what do I see in you? But it goes deeper than the eye can view; You have a pleasin' personality and that's an ever lovin' rare quality."
Most of the Temptations songs are not great running songs anyway. If I am going to get serious about running, I need to add a new playlist to my iPod. After casting around the internet for suggestions, I am coming to the conclusion that running songs are highly idiosyncratic. For example, "Eye of the Tiger" does not work for me. And I cannot imagine listening to this list. But I can imagine running to my daughter's favorite song ...
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1. Posted by Cliff on December 29, 2007 @ 23:18 | Permalink
Wow! Eye of the Tiger doesn't work for you? Have you checked out the Rocky IV soundtrack? Despite the fact that Eye of the Tiger is on there (which you could simply leave out of the mix) - it has a couple of very nice pieces from Vince Dicola - "War" and "Training Montage" No lyrics in either, but "War," which goes for about 5 minutes, is powerful and great for hitting a stretch run.
-Of course, I'd recommend the entire soundtrack. It even has "Living in America." Who couldn't catch a groove running to Brother James?
Here's another thought: According to my father, who is a powerlifting nut, the best music to exercise to, hands down, is classical music - apparently its superior effects have been proven both psychologically and physiologically. You might give it a try.
2. Posted by Cliff on December 29, 2007 @ 23:52 | Permalink
Re: "I'd recommend the entire soundtrack" - with the exception of 2 attempted slow songs which are ugly by any account...
3. Posted by J.W. Verret on December 31, 2007 @ 8:32 | Permalink
Keep up the good work Professor.
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