Finest Runsongs

A Break with a Lot of Lily Allen

2009-07-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

The bad news is that my knees have taken a turn for the worse. I can feel the joints and whatever else is in there awkwardly shifting and rearranging whenever I stand up after sitting for a while and they start hurting sometimes in the middle of walking, even. Argh.

So I'm going to take some time off, which one would think would drive me craaaaazy. And it does, somewhat. I'm worried about getting the pretty intense exercise I'm used to. I'm worried about losing endurance. I'm worried about not doing one of the things that really defines who I am.

But maybe it's time for a break? I've run about 20-25 miles a week for about a year now. My body is telling me to rest and I need to listen to it. So instead, I'll take up long walks and stationary biking and chilllll for a while.

I'm still going to post playlists, though, and keep the blog going! Check back soon and I'll come up with a plan for this little hiatus.

Meanwhile, Lily Allen's new album is as much fun as her old one. I have it on constant loop. Check it.

5.5 Down the Boardwalk

2009-07-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

*Never Let You Go -- Third Eye Blind
Not Big -- Lily Allen
Ruby -- Kaiser Chiefs
Disturbance At The Heron House -- R.E.M.
Black Star -- Radiohead
Beer -- Reel Big Fish
Please Don't Stop the Music -- Rihanna
Do You Really Want Me -- Salt n Pepa
Kryptonite -- 3 Doors Down
Not The Doctor -- Alanis Morissette
Know Your Enemy -- Green Day
Glamorous -- Fergie
Take Me Home Tonight -- Eddie Money
**Laughing Out Loud -- The Wallflowers
*Right Here -- SWV
Walk Away -- Kelly Clarkson
Behind These Hazel Eyes -- Kelly Clarkson

Again, with the heat! I had another stop n' start run on Sunday, but this time I'm not too down on myself because I was directly under the sun (at 11:30 a.m.) the whole time. Running down the boardwalk through Coney Island and all of its summer madness was a nice change. And this time, I didn't trip on a loose board in front of the sunbathing crowds and skin my knees (they all told me to sue the city).

You know, for all of my bitching, I'm just never satisfied. When I run through city streets, with their twists and turns and stoplights and inclines and declines, I always wish I could just run straight, flat, and uninterrupted. But whenever I get that opportunity (the boardwalk is 2.5 miles long), I just get bored. Out-and-backs are dull.

*These were nice lil' beachy songs.

**This album brings me back to high school so fast and so hard that it makes me uncomfortable.

Knees Good, Humidity Bad

2009-07-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

*Friday Night -- Lily Allen
I Want You Back -- Jackson 5
I'm Shipping Up To Boston -- Dropkick Murphys
Lights And Music -- Cut Copy
Somebody to Shove -- Soul Asylum
Glamorous (Feat. Ludacris) -- Fergie
Trouble -- Pink
The Middle -- Jimmy Eat World
Stronger -- Kanye West
Heartless -- Kanye West
Dirrty -- Christina Aguilera
Annie Waits -- Ben Folds
Think -- Aretha Franklin
No Excuses -- Alice in Chains
Transistor -- 311
Feeling Good -- Muse
Pussy Control -- Prince

The good news is my knees were at about 95% yesterday.

But ugh, something is amiss with my running. Lately, my motivation has been even weaker than usual, I'm bored 5 minutes into a run... and yesterday I had to stop several times during my 6 mile run. I. Hate. Stopping. The zen, the flow, the rhythm, all done once I stop, and I know the rest of a run will be jerky and painful.

So somewhere around 4th Avenue and Sackett I got really discouraged -- I had a lot of trouble keeping it chugging in Boston, too. But then I realized that, oh yeah, the humidity has been out of control. Oh yeah, we haven't really had summer weather yet, and those rainy skies and cool breezes, although gifts from the running gods, were a fluke.

I'm blaming stifling humidity, chugging a lot more water from now on, and trying again on Saturday.

*My 2-years late obsession with Lily Allen is going great, thanks. Why is someone so young allowed to be so saucy and fabulous? No fair.

Oh no!!

2009-07-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

*I'm Shipping Up to Boston -- Dropkick Murphys
Think -- Aretha Franklin
I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week -- Mandy Moore
The Middle -- Jimmy Eat World

My knees. My kneeeeeees!

They felt a little wonky during my run this weekend and a bit tender every time I stood up yesterday. A minute into my run last night, my right knee hurt. Like, I could feel the joints and tendons moving with each step and it was very uncomfortable. I stopped for a minute, ran for 5 to see if it would wear off, stopped for another 2, ran for 5 more, and made the grownup decision to stop for good. Ugh. I don't want any long-term damage, so I really need to take a rest. Right? Ugh. I'll try again on Thursday.

Biking is so, so boring, holy crap.

*They blasted this at Fenway this weekend, which made me squeal and remember how effing great The Departed is. This is an awesome running song -- it makes you feel badass, and Irish, and Bostonian. I am none of those things.

6 Miles through Cambridge

2009-07-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Disturbia -- Rihanna
Crazy Little Thing Called Love -- Queen
So What -- Pink
Icky Thump -- The White Stripes
Aside -- The Weakerthans
No You Girls -- Franz Ferdinand
I Come from the Water -- Toadies
Wrong Way -- Sublime
*King of Pain -- The Police
Baby Got Back -- Sir Mix-a-Lot
Cold Hearted Snake -- Paula Abdul
To Be With You -- Mr. Big
Poker Face -- Lady Gaga
My Life Would Suck Without You -- Kelly Clarkson
Minority -- Green Day

There was no way I was going to Boston for a long weekend without getting a run in. I enjoyed a lovely Cambridge jog from Kendall Square, down Mass Ave. to Harvard Square, over to Memorial Drive, and then along the river until I hit the Longfellow Bridge and turned back to Kendall. To fill it out, I then ran to my beloved Kendall Square Cinemas and then back to the hotel.

Sorry, dear readers, that I could't get my act together enough to make a Boston-themed playlist. Had I planned better, you surely would have been treated to some great Bosstones running songs, maybe even a little Aerosmith, "Love in an Elevator," perhaps even "More Than a Feeling." Alas, all I have for you is random shuffle. But it was a great run and Boston is as lovely as ever.

*This has a fanTAStic running beat. I'm not depressed or anything, but I can see how if you are, this would make for a cathartic, if not also amusing, run.

5 Early Morning Miles and a NEW #1

2009-07-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

Open Up Your Eyes -- Tonic
Shame on You -- Indigo Girls
Home Sweet Home -- Carrie Underwood
Don't Drink the Water -- Dave Matthews Band
Glamorous -- Fergie
Father Figure -- George Michael
What You Wish For -- Guster
Poker Face -- Lady Gaga
*Always be My Baby -- Mariah Carey
**See You Again -- Miley Cyrus
Just Like a Pill -- Pink
Old Enough -- The Raconteurs

This morning's lesson: I need to stop being so crazy-psycho regimented when it comes to my running.

My goal is to run a minimum of 20 miles per week. I only like to go on three runs per week, if possible, for two reasons: 1, My legs tend to get beaten up so I'd like to minimize the number of days I pound them into the pavement and 2, If I I work out longer and harder, I can work out fewer days. That leaves free nights for baking and watching Barefoot Contessa.What could be better than that?

So my mindset always tends to be that if I can't go big (6 miles or more), then I shouldn't bother, because then I'll have to make up for it later in the week, and blah blah blah, STOP THINKING AND GO.

I set my alarm early this morning to run a 6-8 miler. At 6:15 I snoozed. At 6:25 I re-set my alarm for 7:30. And then at 7:30 I woke up annoyed at myself.

But then, I thought....you know, you could throw on some clothes and run for 45 minutes and still make it to work (kind of) on time...Do it. Do it. Go. Do it. It's so absolutely better than nothing, you idiot. Do it, moron. Go.

And I did! And I feel fab. And I ran an extra 5 minutes, anyway.

I'm aware this reads very silly, but runners are crazy beasts and we tend to get caught up in the rhythms of our heads and our thoughts. Here's to more shorter runs and happier mornings.

*Oh Mariah. I've missed you! Welcome back to my runs.

**WHOOP! New #1! Pop perfection.

A 12-Mile Shuffled Weekend

2009-07-06T05:34:00.000-07:00

I had all intentions of planning ahead for this past weekend, creating playlists in advance, but time passed and before I knew it we were on a bus to Northampton. Visiting Lindsay and Rob is superawesome for many reasons, one of them being they love food as much as we do. We were treated to a home cooked four-course meal that included cocktails and wine, a trio of international bruschetta, the prettiest cheese plate you ever did see, smoked ribs with mashed potatoes, string beans, quinoa stuffed zucchini, and a homemade cake that doubled as a work of art. Goodness, it was fantastic.

The next morning I set off on my yearly 6-mile Northampton run, sans playlist. In honor of my location, I played all of the Indigo Girls I had on my Nano, and then the Dar Williams, and then just shuffled:

Shame on You -- Indigo Girls
It's Alright -- Indigo Girls
Rock and Roll Heaven's Gate -- Indigo Girls
Fill It Up Again -- Indigo Girls
As Cool as I Am -- Dar Williams
Sober -- Tool
Avril Lavigne -- Sk8rboi
Hand on My Heart -- Dan Wilson
E-Pro -- Beck
Waking Up in Vegas -- Katy Perry
It's Gonna Be Me -- N*SYNC
Bohemian Like You -- The Dandy Warhols
Drain You -- Nirvana
Love Will Never Do (Without You) -- Janet Jackson

Then I went on a breezy 6-miler at 9:30 last night. Too lazy to go upstairs, I just shuffled again. So, you know, no master planning behind this one, either. But it turned out well.

The Choice is Yours -- Black Sheep
L.S.F. -- Kasabian
Message in a Bottle -- The Police
Closer -- Nine Inch Nails
Not Big -- Lily Allen
Waiting for You -- Seal
Fly on the Wall -- Miley Cyrus
Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts -- Wolf Parade
Holiday -- Weezer
Easy Silence -- Dan Wilson
Maria -- Green Day
Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-Lot
What Are You Waiting For? -- Kathleen Edwards

6 Miles of Babbo Pain

2009-07-02T05:04:00.000-07:00

Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors -- Editors

Father Figure -- George Michael

Hey Jealousy -- Gin Blossoms

2,000 Light Years Away -- Green Day

Walking On Broken Glass -- Annie Lennox

Everything's Just Wonderful -- Lily Allen
Shame on You -- Indigo Girls
In The Closet -- Michael Jackson
**Love Will Never Do (Without You) -- Janet Jackson
Smile -- Lily Allen
Better Things (live) -- Dar Williams
As Cool As I Am (live) -- Dar Williams

Die Alone -- Ingrid Michaelson

Hand On My Heart -- Dan Wilson

Against History -- Dan Wilson

Great Escape -- Guster

When you have a gift certificate to Babbo, you go all out. When you order an 8-course pasta tasting meal (pappardelle with peas! beet/ricotta ravioli! pyramids of braised beef! cherry tart with mint ice cream! and on! and on!) that only takes up a little more than half of what you can spend, you fill out the rest of your meal with cocktails (a rhubarb bellini!) and wine.

My tender lil' tummy, which never leaves the house, was all, "dude, that's a lot of alcohol (and not to mention food), missy." She was still VERY VERY angry with me on Wednesday. I thought it would end by the afternoon, but no, come running time everything was all askew inside my body. Body be damned! I was running!

This was a painful 6 miles in every way. But complete. Ugh.

**Janet's best, obvi.

One time I was at the gym and this came on VH1. Looking around the room, I saw everyone's personal TV turn to it, one by one. You can't look away. Hi, Antonio! Hi, Djimon Hounsou!

EZ Listening, Achy Shins, 7.8 miles

2009-06-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

Lights And Music -- Cut Copy

Do You Feel Loved -- U2

*Sleep Better -- Pete Yorn

All I Know -- Dan Wilson

Against History -- Dan Wilson
Hand On My Heart -- Dan Wilson
Die Alone -- Ingrid Michaelson
**Accidentally in Love -- Counting Crows
No Other One -- Weezer
Holiday -- Weezer
I Think We're Alone Now -- Tiffany
Super Bon Bon -- Soul Coughing
Sunkeneyed Girl -- Mike Doughty
Like Eating Glass -- Bloc Party
Poker Face -- Lady Gaga
My Life Would Suck Without You -- Kelly Clarkson
Just Can't Get Enough -- Depeche Mode

I don't know what's up with all of the lite-ish rock lately! My pace is craving different rhythms these days -- I guess I burned out on 6+ years of constant Britney, Xtina, Madonna rotation. Oh, don't think I think I'm too good for it, though. Soon, when my body doesn't yawn at the prospect of having to power through "I'm a Slave 4U" again, the ladies will return.

* musicforthemorningafter is without a doubt in my Top 10. I haven't made it my business to listen to any of his other albums, which is lazy and silly.

**Honestly, another contender for #1. I'm a bit shy to put it up there, because, well, it's the goddamn Counting Crows Shrek song. Maybe next time. It needs more testing.

10K and MJ

2009-06-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

*Will You Be There -- Michael Jackson

Man In The Mirror -- Michael Jackson

ABC -- Jackson 5

I Want You Back -- Jackson 5

**Cry -- Dan Wilson

Breathless -- Dan Wilson
Do You Really Want Me -- Salt 'n' Pepa
Accidentally in Love -- Counting Crows
Monkey -- Counting Crows
Die Alone -- Ingrid Michaelson
Comedown -- Bush
Genie in a Bottle -- Christina Aguilera
Regret -- New Order
Strange Condition -- Pete Yorn
Supernatural Superserious -- R.E.M.
If I Am A Stranger -- Ryan Adams
Waiting For You -- Seal

*I'm sure a bunch of the runners I passed last night had MJ blasting, too. And yeah yeah, out of all the songs to pick, Free Willy?! I hadn't heard it in years, so it was a nice nostalgia moment when it came on.

**I started listening to Dan Wilson after we saw him open for the lovely and amazing Kathleen Edwards last year at Irving Plaza. For the majority of his set, his familiar voice was driving me batty -- who WAS he? Where had I heard that voice before, damnit?? Then he wanted to tell us the line that inspired the hit we might know, a line that wrote the rest of the song about the birth of his child.

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

OH YEAAAH!

His solo stuff is filled with the intimate, melancholy love songs that make you happy and sad all at once. I love it.

I Think You're Smart, You Sweet Thing

2009-06-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

I'll Believe In Anything -- Wolf Parade
*Got You (Where I Want You) -- The Flys
**World Spins Madly On -- The Weepies
Uncle Tom's Cabin Warrant
Sweet Surrender (live) -- Sarah McLachlan
Somehow, Someday -- Ryan Adams
Please Don't Stop the Music -- Rihanna
Disturbia -- Rihanna
Consolers Of The Lonely -- The Raconteurs
Electrolite -- R.E.M.
Finest Worksong -- R.E.M.
Let's Go Crazy -- Prince And The Revolution
Such Great Heights -- The Postal Service
***That's What You Get -- Paramore
Don't Look Back in Anger -- Oasis
Closer -- Nine Inch Nails
I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week -- Mandy Moore
Possession (live) -- Sarah McLachlan

*3 runs, 3 playlists! Sometimes I remember a song I haven't heard in years, download it, proclaim it "zomg, the best song EVAR," and then get sick of it in a week. So we have about 2 days. But seriously, though, this is an awesome song. The best part is the second verse, second line, when he goes "oh HE-eyyyyyy." No, no! The chorus is the best part. ZOMG, best song EVAR! Katie Holmes, you used to be the best muse...

**Such a beautiful little song. I love when this comes on when I'm on a super-busy street like Livingston, in the middle of Fulton Mall, during rush hour. I'm taking high little steps to avoid tripping, and I'm weaving around smokers (oh how MANY SMOKERS) and shoppers and carts and bikes and cabs, and no one wants to move aside to let me pass. The Weepies make it all go in slowmo, like some music video, and I zip through the madness.

***Thanks, Rock Band, for the playlist inspiration.

7.5, Almost a New Champion

2009-06-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

Paper Planes -- MIA
I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week -- Mandy Moore
Give Me Novacaine -- Green Day
Got You (Where I Want You) -- The Flys
Bleed It Out -- Linkin Park
*Trouble -- Pink
The Best Of What's Around -- Dave Matthews Band
Take Me Home Tonight -- Eddie Money
Ulysses -- Franz Ferdinand
No You Girls -- Franz Ferdinand
Feel Good Inc -- Gorillaz
Jesus Of Suburbia -- Green Day
Fill It Up Again -- Indigo Girls
Girlfriend -- Matthew Sweet
I Just Want The Girl In The Blue Dress To Keep On Dancin' -- Mike Doughty
Mistaken For Strangers -- The National
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight -- The Postal Service

One upside of the gloomy weather -- the nice cool sprinkle that's been falling on every run for the past two weeks. I won't miss carrying an umbrella everywhere I go, but I will long for a heat that's not oppressive and migraine-inducing. I know it's coming soon.

Just in case anyone doubted it, the gradual incline of Union Street, from Nevins to about Court, is oh so much more fun while going down. I usually find myself running back home up that hill, but today I took another route to Park Slope. During my glorious decline, I remembered not to enjoy it TOO much; the easier it is going down, the harder it is going up. I can will Brooklyn's streets into changing, you know.

*This almost displaced Eddie Money over there on the sidebar. Pink is an awesome running buddy. But then Mr. Money kicked in and I was pretty much singing out loud. He's still king for now.

Sickety Sick Sick

2009-06-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son -- Wolf Parade
Clint Eastwood -- Gorillaz
Got You (Where I Want You) -- The Flys
*One Thing -- Amerie
**I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week -- Mandy Moore
L.E.S. Artists -- Santogold
When You Were Young -- The Killers
***Smile Like You Mean It -- The Killers
Last Exit -- Pearl Jam
When I'm Gone (Sadie) -- No Address
Don't Change -- INXS
Rock and Roll Heaven's Gate -- Indigo Girls
Give Me Novacaine -- Green Day

Bah, one of the worst runs I've had in a while. Plodding, heavy, draggy. I planned to do anywhere from 6-8, but just stopped in the middle of Carroll Gardens after 4. Disappointing, because I can always push through the "But I don't WANNA run anymore!" feeling, but not yesterday. As it turns out, I'm sick. Boo. After 12 hours of sleep, I've promised Jeff I won't run today. Fine.

*I first downloaded this song after reading it on a few "Top 10 Summer Songs" lists a few years ago. A few listens, a few "meh"s, and I deleted it. It just didn't jive for me. Then, last week, Idolator introduced me to this awesome decade countdown of the best songs. Downloaded it again, tried it again, and... meh. It just doesn't get me going at all.

**My, this is a cute little ditty, isn't it?

***This is so by far the best song on Hot Fuss, right?

Who'll Stop the Rain?

2009-06-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) -- Rihanna

Red Rain -- The White Stripes

After The Rain -- Nelson

Rain King -- Counting Crows

Only Happy When It Rains -- Garbage
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) -- Missy Elliott

Lord Let It Rain On Me -- Spiritualized

*Blame It On The Rain -- Milli Vanilli
So. Central Rain -- R.E.M.
Weatherman -- Kris Delmhorst
**Don't Drink the Water -- Dave Matthews Band
I Come From The Water -- Toadies
***Beauty Of Gray -- Live
Shades of Grey -- Billy Joel
Grey Street -- Dave Matthews Band
Summer Long -- Kathleen Edwards

*Gotta blame it on something.

**Surprising powersong. I got into a groove when this came on. My knees stopped hurting, my breath slowed; I felt like I was skating, arms wide, world passing by slowly.

*** Bah. I really liked Live in high school. And now I just really... don't. Active dislike than neutral, even, which is strange because I'm obviously not one to outgrow or shun the music of my youth. But I don't even enjoy them anymore in a nostalgic Collective Soul/Soul Asylum/Wallflowers kind of way. It all seemed so deep and mystical in 1994, which just embarrasses the hell out of me now.

8-mile Rainbow Mix

2009-06-15T21:48:00.000-07:00

Red Herring -- Kris Delmhorst
Orange Crush -- R.E.M.
*Yellow -- Coldplay
Yellow Brick Road -- Kris Delmhorst
**Hitchin' a Ride -- Green Day
J.A.R. -- Green Day
Blue Orchid -- The White Stripes
Violet -- Hole
***Rock and Roll Heaven's Gate -- Indigo Girls
It's Alright -- Indigo Girls
Black -- Pete Yorn
Fell On Black Days -- Soundgarden
Mr. Brownstone -- Guns N' Roses
Here I Go Again On My Own -- Whitesnake
18 Wheeler -- Pink
All For Love -- Color Me Badd

*Why did everything go downhill after this album? What an absolutely fantastic song, and what a far fall.

**I almost went with Pearl Jam, "Green Disease" here, but then remembered how much that song, well, sucks.

***Thanks, Haley, for the suggestion. LOVED it.

9 miles, A Belly Full of Chicken Mole, Ugh

2009-06-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Don't Let It Bring You Down - -Annie Lennox
Begin The Begin -- R.E.M.
Old Enough -- The Raconteurs
Sell Out -- Reel Big Fish
Divorce Song -- Liz Phair
Never Again -- Kelly Clarkson
**Waiting For Tonight -- Jennifer Lopez
The Infanta -- The Decemberists
Let's Dance -- David Bowie
Breathless -- Dan Wilson
***Shine -- Collective Soul
No Excuses -- Alice in Chains
Sleep To Dream -- Fiona Apple
When I Come Around -- Green Day
Know Your Enemy -- Green Day
E-Pro -- Beck
King Of New Orleans -- Better Than Ezra

** I know. I know.

*** In high school, like everyone else, I used to keep a blank tape in my boom box and record mixes from the radio. I taped this song one day off of either Y-100 or 94.9 Zeta or any other of the stations on which it played 80 million times a day. Some wacky DJ must have been bored, because during the guitar riff that leads into each chorus, right before the "yeah," he played an automized voice saying,

"P-Pardon me, a-are you Hispanic?"

The hell?

So I still hear that, 15 years later.

Also, I kind of felt like I was in a commercial for a Christian Rock CD when this one came on today. It got so bad during the, "hey yeah, hey yeah, heaven's little light gonna shine on me" breakdown at the end that I had to go on to the next one.

J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge

2009-06-11T05:05:00.000-07:00

I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor -- Arctic Monkeys

Pieces Of Me -- Ashlee Simpson

Tones of Home -- Blind Melon

Bohemian Like You -- The Dandy Warhols

Soul Meets Body -- Death Cab for Cutie

Know Your Enemy -- Green Day

The Distance -- Cake

**E-Pro -- Beck

Transistor -- 311

Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts -- Wolf Parade

This Is Such A Pity -- Weezer

Hail, Hail -- Pearl Jam

Tremor Christ -- Pearl Jam

Satan's Bed -- Pearl Jam

Never There -- Cake

Bleed It Out -- Linkin Park

Waking Up in Vegas -- Katy Perry

This was my first road race since the debacle of the Lewis and Clark Half Marathon in September (torrential downpour, winds straight-on for the first 3 miles, course stopped at mile 10 due to flooding). In real life, I never run by mileage; I always run by time, assuming a 10-minute mile. I probably actually run closer to a 9:30 or 9:45, but I'd rather run for 60 minutes and call it a 6 miler. Makes life easier.

I'm pretty excited that I set a PR for 3.5 miles. Officially (and by that I mean according to my stopwatch, since the race didn't keep official time via chip or bib), I ran this in 31:34 -- a 9-minute mile. But because this was a Fun Run, the first mile or so was MUCH slower than I would have and could normally run; everyone was pushing, stuck behind walkers and joggers, and weaving in and out. So I'd like to think I easily ran sub-9-minute miles, which makes me very pleased.

**My powersong. Thanks, Beck.

Also, I usually have WAY more songs on my playlists than I fully listen to. I'll create my list and then >> after a minute or two or just skip if I'm not feeling it.

Full Disclosure

2009-06-10T09:24:00.001-07:00

When I want to share with the world what pushes me through those last 10 minutes of a run, I can't very well be of service if I gloss over the fact that last night 6 out of 10 songs were by Collective Soul, now can I?

And I can't really be completely honest without sharing secrets like the fact that last month I texted Andrea, "Is it okay if I listen to Amy Grant's 'Baby, Baby' when I run tonight?"

Judge away, baby. And sync up. Years of practice have made me a master running playlister.