I spent a lot of time perfecting the timing of my running playlist for my race this past Saturday. I ran with music for the first time a few weeks ago and I was amazed at the difference it made in my pace. My thought is that the music distracted me and gave me something to think about other than the (loud) sound of my breathing. So, just for fun, here is my latest running playlist (in the order I listened to them).
There you have it...the playlist that helped me kick race butt this past weekend.
I'm going to start using jog.fm to find some new songs. When you get to the page you type in your mile pace, and it gives you a list of songs that have the right number of BPM to help you run at the correct pace. I discovered that I should be running to Womanizer. Awesome. :] And I bought a new song to go in my running playlist that I heard Saturday morning: Wavin' Flag by K'naan. I got the Coca-Cola Celebration version because it is super upbeat and fun (it was the song from the 2010 World Cup commercials).
What is your favorite song to run/bike/walk/exercise to?
I'm letting you guys know how cool I am by telling you that "Can't Touch This" is one of my running songs. Oh yeah--this girl right here is the epitome of cool. ;] I've realized in my short time running that a kickin' running playlist is essential to a good run.
I have been a runner for about six weeks now, which doesn't seem like long, but it's amazing how much you progress in such a short time period. The first time I went out on a group run I only did two miles and that was with about a one minute run/walk pattern. The past two times I've been I have run at least the whole first mile, and then completed two more miles in a run/walk pattern. Guys, the first time I ran a whole mile without stopping I was astounded (and seriously winded). I haven't run a whole mile since I was a freshman in high school (I'll do the math...that was about nine years ago). Wahoo!
Now I feel like I can do anything. Don't get me wrong: I still can't run more than a mile and a half without stopping, but I am getting out there and doing it. I've realized that it doesn't matter how slow you are as long as you're trying. I saw these quotes on Pinterest a while back and they really gave me a bit of a boost:
Now since I got your attention by telling you about one of my cool running songs, here are some more that have been in the running playlist for a couple weeks (my playlist is affectionately titled "Run Abby, Run!"):
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen (it's darn catchy)
Dance Again by Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull (this is my "dance while you run" song)
Uprising by Muse (this is my favorite one to start with)
Baby by Justin Bieber (judge me if you will)
Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine (no matter how many times I hear this song it still gets me pumped up...this is a "sing while you run" song)
Another One Bites the Dust by Queen (a great song if I ever pass anyone, haha)
Get'ch Head In the Game from HSM (gotta love the HSM soundtrack)
Mmmbop by Hanson (old school, yo')
Thunderstruck by AC/DC (running and headbanging at the same time is not a good idea)
All These Things That I've Done by the Killers (I love a good anthem song)
Give a Little by Hanson (I still love Hanson, and this song is AWESOME)
Marry You by Bruno Mars (I like to listen to this song when I feel like I can't run anymore...it's so happy!)
Come on Eileen by DMR (gotta have some disco-y music)
Baba O'Reilly by The Who (makes me think of crime...darn you CSI)
Unbelieveable by EMF (can't deny that this is a great song)
When Love Takes Over by David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland (I could have a playlist of only David Guetta)
Bust a Move by the Glee Cast (Mr. Shue is so not cool enough for this song)
I'm Gonna Be by The Proclaimers (reminds me that I could go 500 miles--ha!)
I'm Still Standing by Elton John (70's pop is awesome and there is no one like Sir Elton John)
and, of course, Can't Touch This by M.C. Hammer (it reminds me that I'm goin' so fast that NO ONE can touch me...or at least that I wish I was going that fast)
So there you go...my potentially embarrassing running mix. It makes me wonder what other people are listening to when they run. What songs do you like to run/walk/weight-lift/exercise to?
P.S.- Does anyone else think that it would be awesome to have a super power that allowed you to hear other peoples' music while they were running? I wonder how many tough guys listen to pop songs or old school BSB or something. It's just interesting to see what gets people pumped up!
Hi everyone! It's been a long time, huh? Seems like May is tied with December for the busiest month of the year...this past month has been full of celebrating for my family. Birthdays, family members to be (read to the end to hear about that one), graduations, and the end of the school year. My summer break officially started on Friday afternoon and so far it has been great! I have a lot to do this summer, but first let's check out what's been going on.
What time is it? Summertime!
No judgement. I will not deny that HSM is awesome. And that song gets me seriously pumped up. You should listen to it while you read to get the full effect.
Anyways, I have lots and lots to do today, so I won't linger too long in bloggy world. Here is what I was up to during the month of May, as seen by my phone.
Cupcakes with my newly graduated sister.
Getting creative with my dinner: fiesta black beans, salsa, a whole avocado, and black bean/garlic chips. DELISH.
My race number from my first ever 5k! Wahoo!
Action shot of Mr. Biz and myself running said 5k...I don't know why I look happy. I'm pretty sure at this point I felt like I was going to melt into the pavement. I guess I was delirious.
Oh yeah. And I got engaged to the most wonderful man in the whole world. No biggie. ;]
It's been a while since I've done song of the week, so I think it's time again. This is a somewhat older song, but I didn't get into it until recently. Mr. Biz actually gets the credit, I think. He says that it is one of his running anthems--I see how that fits. On Sunday I was sweeping the stairs and this song became my sweeping anthem. It definitely gets me pumped up and ready kick some cleaning butt. :]
Without any further ado, enjoy my pick for song of the week. Let's go the distance, ya'll.
I feel like I've been abandoning my little blog over the past couple of weeks. I've just been concentrating on getting my new blog up and running. Good news: I'm up to six followers! Haha, doesn't sound like much, but I'm pumped. :]
A few random thoughts for this Saturday morning...
On Thursday Mr. Biz and I made whole wheat banana pancakes and they turned out pretty well, if I do say so! We didn't have nutmeg and we added a bit more milk (about 3/4 cup). When it says the mix will be dry, that's really true! We were both a bit flummoxed because we're used to runny pancake mix. In the end it all turned out, though. We enjoyed our pancakes with fake-sausage (aka "soysage"), random berries (of the straw, blue, black, and rasp varieties), and butter/maple syrup (only on mine). Quite a yummy dinner!
Source: How Sweet Treats
The temperatures this past week have hovered around in the 60's and I AM LOVING IT. I have never been much of a fan of winter (it's dark and way too cold), so this mild beginning to February has been awesome. February is normally such a dreary month. Here's to hoping this year is different. I think we deserve this little taste of spring, since our spring all too quickly becomes a scorching hot summer.
Have you ever prayed for God to break your heart about something? I have prayed that before and last night God answered my prayer. I work with some of the sweetest kiddos around, but I know what most of their futures are. They live in a very poor area with a lot of gang activity and such, so while they are innocents for now, they won't be for long. My heart just aches for these children. My goal as a teacher is to show them so much love and acceptance with the hope that one day they will make choices that will keep them on the right track.
One last thought: I am currently listening to the album Kaleidoscope Heart by Sara Bareilles. This next week I am going to delve into some new music on my computer: Elton John, Frank Sinatra, the Gin Blossoms, Harry Connick Jr., and possibly some Jack Johnson (in honor of my college roommate, SJ). New music is the best!
My pick this week comes to us via one of the best TV shows ever.
COMMUNITY. Notably, the episode "Paradigms of Human Memory," aka the flashback episode. They do an Annie/Jeff montage with this song...and then take it to new, creepy/awesome heights at the end. But I won't tell you about that part...you'll just have to watch. :]
Obviously, the song has been stuck in my head all week. Sara Bareilles has an insane voice and mean piano skills. Anyone who knows me well can tell you that, as a rule, I don't like female vocalists. So the fact that I purchased her album, Kaleidoscope Heart, shows that she really is fantastic.
Without any further ado, enjoy my pick for Song of the Week: Gravity (do yourself a favor and watch her super cool video, too).
In honor of an "epic" weekend, here is my next Christmas-themed song of the week. This song is a newer favorite--I've been listening to the album non-stop since Thanksgiving!
Now that is is officially Christmas-time, I am happy to share my first Christmas themed song of the week.
If you know me, you know that I love atypical Christmas songs. So when Coldplay released this song last December, it was love at first listen. I love how it starts off with a melancholy feel and then slowly transforms into somewhat of an anthem. "Anthem" is my favorite word to describe any song that makes me feel happy but also a bit like crying when I turn it up all the way and sing along.
Without any further ado, enjoy Christmas Lights by Coldplay. :] And Merry Christmas!
This past weekend my dad and I drove 18 hours from Buffalo to our home in the Atlanta area. My choice for song of the week is our most-played track from our trip. Dad played the sax in high school, so he has a soft spot for all types of big band music. Anybody wanna join me in some swing dancing? :]
Yes, it's a bit creepy, but I loved the fantastic nature of the movie. Now as an adult, I can appreciate it even more. One aspect I love more now than I did as a child is the song Pure Imagination. Recently I stumbled across a cover by Maroon 5 and I was amazed. They took a great song and made it ethereal. Now the song really sounds like it is made of nothing but pure imagination. So without any further ado, enjoy my song of the week. :]
Artist: Maroon 5
Pure Imagination
Do you have a favorite song from a childhood movie?
Here in the ATL we have the pleasure of enjoying Star 94's Big 90's Weekend. This Friday night as I was driving around, I heard this gem from my childhood. If my friends and I had understood what an "anthem" was, I think this would have been ours.
I mean, just check out these deep lyrics belted out by kids who were barely teenagers:
You have so many relationships in this life
Only one or two will last
You go through all this pain and strife
Then you turn your back and they're gone so fast
And they're gone so fast
So hold on to the ones who really care
In the end they'll be the only ones there
When you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care?
Can you tell me who will still care?
Wow. If only I'd known that much when I was a tween. ;] Anyways, enjoy my official song of the week for this first week of October: MMMbop.
Artist: Hanson
MMMbop
Anybody else having flashback to elementary school (or middle school)? Or having to defend your favorite boy band against all those "long hair haters"?
There are 421 unread posts currently chillin' in my Google Reader. Yeah, needless to say, I've been a bit absent from the blogosphere. Camp is keeping me pretty darn busy.
But this weekend was all about FUN FUN FUN! Namely, The Beach Boys at Riverbend (a big music festival in Chattanooga). And *surprise* John Stamos was playing with them! It was awesome. I also ate a ton of Mexican food and explored some neat local spots with my friends. I'd say it was a successful weekend. :]
As we speak, I am listening to Sleeping Lessons on 8Tracks, aka my new favorite website. On 8Tracks you can upload your own mixes and listen to endless mixes made by other folks. I've found some I listen to in the morning, some that are great for springtime, and others that just make me smile. There's just something magical about a mixtape (well, really a mix CD), especially the first time you listen when you don't quite know what to expect. My recommendation is that you create your own profile and start finding your own favorite mixes. Also, I'd like to take this time to make a shout-out to Mr. Strange, who creates the best mix CD's I've had the pleasure to listen to. Thanks for making me a more pretentious music-listener. ;]
So this week, my favorite things are 8Tracks and the awesome songs I've listened to there. Share one of your favorite things with us below, and maybe go visit another person's page and check out their favorite thing. Happy Monday! :]
What is MFT? Learn more here. MFT from two weeks ago is here.
Can I just say how wonderful it was to wake up at 9am to the sound of rain and birds chirping? I wish I could wake up to those sounds every day. I am filled with a bunch of random thoughts this morning (oh wait, it's actually the afternoon now...time flies!), and where better to put them down in words than on my wonderful blog. So, to my favorite 25 followers, enjoy my random Saturday thoughts!
by Claudia Asilva
Thought #1:
I haven't been to the library in forever. I was just reading a post on The Pioneer Woman about all the books a family got on their bi-monthly trip and I was filled with a teeny, tiny bit of jealousy about how cool the books were. Did you know that there are whole books on style? I didn't. But now I'm tempted to go check one out from my local library...I should probably finish some of the 5+ books I'm reading first. Oh, and my heart melted when I saw the books their son checked out. All of David Macaulay's books are amazing. I have one (Castle, I think).
Thought #2:
Phil Wickham led worship at my church on Tuesday night. I won't lie to you and say that I like contemporary Christian music...I wasn't super excited to go see him play.
I was blown away.
First of all, he is an amazing artist. One of the best guitarists I've ever heard live. Secondly, God's presence was so obvious in the room that night. If you've never had the chance to worship with ~1,000 other like-minded people, you're really missing out.
But on to what I wanted to mention. I bought his CD, Heaven and Earth, and although it's a good album, I was definitely disappointed. I should have known that there was no way it would live up to his live performance. Anyways, there is one song that I didn't like at all, but now I love it for all of it's 70's vibe and kitchy feel. Listen through till about the middle, and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Thought #3:
Ok, last random thought, that's really more of a question. I've heard of some great photo apps for the iPhone, but none for the Android market. Anyone know of a great photo app for Android? If you help me find one you'll forever be known as "the person who lifted Abby's photo's out of boring obscurity." Maybe. ;]
Happy Saturday, everyone!
No Shame: Saturday morning (oops, afternoon) pre-shower drinking coffee from a Star Trek: TNG mug.
Tomorrow (!!!) I am taking a spur of the moment road trip to see this amazing woman:
Oh--and her husband, too, whom I've actually known longer. But who cares about him? ;]
I kid, Clint, I kid.
Anyways...
Road trips have three major components to ensure maximum enjoyability: 1) comfy driving clothes/shoes, 2) caffeine, and 3) a kickin' soundtrack. Numbers one and two are taken care of, but I'm still working on number three. It takes me about three CD's to get to their house; so far in the line-up I have "Lungs" by Florence + the Machine. Any other suggestions? I recently discovered the Avett Brothers (a million years late, I know) and I'm thinking about getting that on iTunes.
So tell me...what is your favorite road trip CD?
P.S.- You can read more about the two wonderful friends I'm going to visit here.
