Pavement Pounding Playlist (A Review)

Hello Dear Reader,

Since the beginning of this personal challenge...run the ING Georgia Marathon for my 30th birthday...I've been on a quest to develop the perfect pavement pounding playlist (PPP). In a previous post, I listed songs included in my first official PPP entitled "Couch to 5k: Hop along Sally". Almost two months later (yaaah...two months of non-stop mind/body beautiful training), I have a little feedback....on the playlist and a few other things:

1. The two songs that keep me going (on repeat) are "Green Light" (John Legend) and "On to the Next One" (Jay-Z). Just about every time I turn to my Couch to 5k playlist, I will listen to "Green Light" at least 5 times in a row, followed by several rounds of "On to the Next One"...case in point...this morning's 35 minute run. The songs are catchy, they refer to moving forward, I'm able to run with the beat (at a 9.7-9.8 pace setting), I feel like I'm in my own blue lights in the basement party, and I'm able to determine how long I've run with each repeat.
   
2. Several songs on my current playlist annoy the crap out of me when I'm running: 1) "Push It" (Salt n' Peppa)...sorry girls!; 2) Anything involving Beyonce...especially "Single Ladies"...eww; and 3) "Hey Ya" by Outcast has one foot in and one foot out of the door...so sad.
   
3. Maintaining focus is key! I enjoy being able to visually focus on one point (when on the treadmill). Favorite points of focus: Spin Class (they're working so hard in there...keeps me motivated), the reflection of my feet in the glass fence surrounding the pool, and treadmillers in my line of sight on the other side of the pool.
   
4. I'm not really a big fan of people talking to me as I run. When I first started running, Mad-dog Trainer would stand next to me...motivating me to push myself...one foot in front of the other...until I finished my target distance or time. Then, it was really helpful to have someone talk to me...to take my mind off of how bored/demotivated/tired I was. Now...not so much. I don't want to talk. It's almost like not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time. My mind can only focus on motivating myself to run. One thing at a time, I guess.
5. I feel sooooo amazing after completing runs and making/nothing improvements on my pace/running style/distance/incline settings. A few weeks ago, I was running on level one (interval setting) at a 9.3-9.5 pace setting. Thinking that I could perhaps run faster, the pace setting was bumped up to 9.7. That only lasted for about 5 to 10 minutes. Now, I am able to run using level two at a 9.7 to 9.8 setting. Furthermore, my 5k time is decreasing. This morning, I completed 5.4k in 32 minutes. Soon enough, I'll reach my goal of 5k in 20 to 25 minutes.

On another note, this morning's workout was a success! I feel super energized for the day ahead, which includes work/work/work, Spin Class this evening at 5:30 pm, and my charity fun run event committee meeting this evening.

Oh, to help put you in my running musical frame of mind...enjoy the beats!

"Green Light" (John Legend)





"On to the Next One" (Jay-Z)




Well, until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in (successful) training,

Dani