6 Miles through Cambridge

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

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.

EZ Listening, Achy Shins, 7.8 miles

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.