A 12-Mile Shuffled Weekend

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

I Think You're Smart, You Sweet Thing

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.

Sickety Sick Sick

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?

J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge

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.