WalkBlogRun - Charity Runner

Music for Running: Top 10 Songs that I don't want others to know I love

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:35:00 -0600

I am a big audiophile, and loving music really lends itself to running. When running you can just drift off. I find it's a great time to listen to new music, or just let it be apart of you and the run. That being said, I listen to a lot of different things when running. One of my favorite things to do is to create a playlist of new stuff or music with a theme and run to it to see how it works for me. So you are going to be reading all about my random ten song playlists with themes. I figured I'd start ridiculous so that you can get to know my tastes. Also, if you couldn't tell, this is partially an homage to High Fidelity (such a good movie), and because I love music so much. Please post in the comments what your playlist would be for the theme. You can pretty much see me rock out to any of these songs while running. The worst part is I have a tendency to sing along while running, but not always because I'm catching my breath. My embarrassing song list

Lovefool by The Cardigans
I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred
Hoochie Mama by 2Live Crew
Elephant Love song medley from the Moulin Rouge Soundtrack
Barbie Girl by Aqua
Anything by Britney Spears
Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Fraggle Rock theme song by The Fraggles
Mambo #5 by Lou Bega
Safety Dance by Men without Hats

So there's my guilty pleasures, what are yours?

What Makes a Good Race?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:35:00 -0600

A good race, while we all know what it means to us, is a very ambiguous term. Does it refer to the actual run, or the event, or is it only available to those elites for whom it is actually a competitive race. Can someone have a good race while running the worst time possible? Its all on your outlook and how your perceive races. A race is definitely good if you win, or pr. Races are still good if you do a good job and know you did the best of your ability. The actual race that someone put together is also important. Well organized and good scenic routes with ample room are big pluses. Good schwag is always loved, I'm a big fan of free food and clothes :) Medals and food after finishing, for the effort i put in are great too. You get out of a race what you put into it. If you dont care what the scenery is or the widths of the course, your more likely to buckle down and run a fast race while all along hoping for the flattest course ever. Which is great! Running at a decent clip is always enjoyable and leaves you feeling accomplished and strong. But if your an ambler like myself, the different aspects of race organization come into play. I don't mind hills because they give me an excuse to walk without looking too weak as well as usually providing a good view from the top. Im not going to lie I also like to race my running buddies up hills, I'm kinda a little kid like that. I am also a needy runner. I need water stations, porta potties, and (depending on the length of the course) some sort of nutrition (read FOOD).If you are for the race and nothing else, then again the race organization plays less of a part on what you want from a race. But I like being a runner because of the community and am a sociable person. So expos or after parties are a big plus for me. I like wondering about meeting new people after a race, preferably with a beer in hand. Personally my favorite races have been where ive had the mindset that I'm going to have the best race ever. Running to the best of my ability Whether i run barefoot, backwards or with as many people as possible, as long as i go into a race knowing its for fun, i will have fun. I have done all of those! Backwards running is fun because its the only time you actually get to see other runners faces unless its an out and back course.* It doesn't matter what adversity you face on the course as long as you triumph (meaning run through the pain :P ) As someone commented on our facebook page "If you can finish the race and end it still smiling it means you've enjoyed it." There are too many variants of running that I enjoy to say whether what my perfect race would be. I don't even know if i would want it be a race i have become familiar with and come to love or a new adventure to explore. All I know is, for me, there are three concrete things that will always make it a great race day for me. 1. 70 degrees and sunny. I love the warmth and you know if the suns out, my guns are out :) 2. Knowing my abilities and enjoying the runners high and healthy aspect of running. 3. Remembering why I run, and who started me running (my mumma) which will always make me smile. That's my perfect race, Whats yours? *running is backwards is never advised unless you have someone looking out in front of you.

Meet Rishan

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:42:00 -0600

As this is my first entry I thought it prudent to let you know a little about myself. I am proud to say that I am originally from Sri Lanka, a small island nation south of tip of India. I spent my formative years however living all over the world spending most of my time in Sri Lanka, Oman, California (Garden Grove represent), and Chicago. I am currently a student and have been living in Chicago for the past 12 years. Running was never something that I enjoyed unless it involved chasing a soccer ball, a tennis ball, or a cricket ball. These sports and swimming were the main things I played and were among my main interests. It would be my mum that really introduced me to my love of running. After my mum was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2005, she joined Team In Training and started training for the Chicago Distance Classic, a half marathon. She asked me to train with her, and I reluctantly agreed. Training with my mum was an inspiration, and it showed me that anything is possible if you put the work in. Both of us finished with my mum finishing two days after her first chemo treatment. My mum is now in remission and we both still share the joy of running, though at different paces. Since then I have completed the Chicago Marathon, about 7 other half marathons, and just this August the Chicago Triathlon. During the marathon last year I tore my hamstring and had to start over with my running program; hence training for the triathlon instead of the marathon. I have had a myriad of running injuries and like to think I am quite knowledgeable on the subject. I am working towards my next two goals for 2010, which are to get back down to a 9-minute mile pace for the marathon and to train for a half ironman. I also have quite a few odd running habits, but I'm sure you'll hear all about that later :)