This week was all about tapering for my first race of the season. I have to admit that it’s the least likable part of my training for Badwater. If one really loves to run, not being able to run for as long as one feels is a little bit of a challenge. Because less running means less eating and I really love to eat. Although, less time running means spending more time with all the other adventurous and interesting things in life like my husband, my friends, my cats, cooking Swiss gourmet meals and making more detailed plans about this year’s Badwater race. While I was running on the treadmill this morning I realized that I didn’t use any music during all those long hours running the Badwater Ultramarathon last year. Music and senses are very important in my life. So I decided I need to burn some very special Badwater Music CD’s. As a proud Swiss citizen I need at least a couple of CD’s with famous Swiss Music. In addition to the Swiss music I will have an emergency CD called “Songs for the Almost Dead” which will include the most inspiring songs I know to push me all the way to the finish line. I will start picking the songs tomorrow. If you have any suggestions please post them to the comments. Mille grazie!
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Swiss Miss,
ReplyDeleteSo you're looking for music to help you keep cranking out the miles. Your idea for Swiss music is good. Keep going with that idea, i.e. choosing music that creates a response in YOU. It can be rock, blues, jazz, classical, country, fast (driving), slow (floating), whatever works for you.
Consider choosing a few songs that are long (e.g. Hey Jude, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, American Pie, Comfortably Numb). The end of a song is a natural pause point - a momentary return to reality. You are trying to use music to disassociate from the reality of your situation, i.e. fatigue, dehydration, swelling, blisters, nausea, diarrhea, fire, brimstone, Jeff..., so choose songs that "keep on going" if you want to do the same. If we measure time in songs, either consciously or subconsciously, time will seem to pass more quickly if you listen to long songs. Consider the following concept albums, some of which are essentially one long song:
American Idiot (Green Day, if you like punk)
The Wall (Pink Floyd)
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Genesis)
The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie)
Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd)
Thick As A Brick (Jethro Tull)
Tommy (The Who)
Sgt. Pepper's (The Beatles)
Days Of Future Passed (Moody Blues)
Happy running,
Jim
And if you don't mind going a bit north of Switzerland, there's always the peppy sounds of ABBA, if you like.
Others:
Jimi Hendrix
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Thanks a million, Jim. This is very helpful. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida could work on the very last and painful stretch but I think I'll pass on ABBA after your experience in Korea.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Iris
In-Gadda-Da-Vida: There is the shortened radio version (3 minutes long) and the epic album version (17 mind-blowing minutes, including extended organ, guitar and drum solos).
ReplyDeleteI have the long version but I may still have to listen to it more than once to get up the Whitney Portal road.
ReplyDeleteHere a comment from my German neighbour and friend Bea:
ReplyDeleteHi Iris,you are doing very well with all the preparations!
Just a couple of suggestions: songs from "Enya" are very insprirational (I got 3 CD's - available to you)and may I suggest for the last stretch "Hallelujah" from and with Leonard Cohen ;-)
Nur weiter so!
Bea
Here a comment from my friend Donn:
ReplyDeleteIris,
Guess what my suggestion is!??
Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds - nothing to do with you and Coop, just happens to be my favorite Elvis song, first recorded in 1969!! Might not work for you, a little slow moving for a runner, but it's like reading a story.
I will never know if you run with my favorite song but I am there with you in spirit!!
Love, Donn
Here a comment from my friend Dave:
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty good and I will think up some tunes for you. I have one in mind right now the soundtrack from the movie Run Lola Run and its in German although not Swiss German, very powerful music for those low moments if you have any.
Dave
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I will keep you posted about my song choices. Let's Rock'n'roll!
ReplyDelete140 playings of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida equals a sub-40-hour Badwater. :p
ReplyDeleteHi Iris
ReplyDeleteSuper Seite ..... ha so fröid
Du musst unbedingt Stairway to Heaven von Led Zeppelin mitnehmen....immernoch ein oberschönes Lied...passt auch
und natürlich wie du schon geschrieben hast .... Swiss Musik.... Polo und Kuno ha di uuuu gärn
Iris, I alwasy like a good AC/DC tune to get me going during a low-spot. "Thunderstruck" is one of my favorites. I'll try to put together a list of my favorites for you. See you soon.
ReplyDeleteJim, I like the song In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida but not that much :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony. I don't know AC/DC very well but will check out your suggestion. Looking forward to see your list of favorites.
See you in Death Valley.
Meine liebe Susanne,
Merci vielmol. Ja, Stairways to Heaven isch en mega super Song. Muss natuerlich unbedingt mit. Schwizer Music hani ganz sicher jedi Mengi. Polo und Kuno uf jede Fall und Pluesch und Bligg usw. Werde dann noch eine Umfrage machen welches der Swiss Miss Badwater Song sein wird.
Ha di fescht gaern. Muentschi noch Baern.
Here a comment from my friend and BW crew member Bernie. Thanks Bernie. We will rock BW!
ReplyDeleteHey Iris - I was suggesting a compilation of Simply Red tunes as they seem to inspire you, the song "Believe" should be on the ipod at least twice!
I am checking with a spinning instructor as he has some neat 'long' songs as per your other message on your blog. I will pass them along as I get them.
American Pie is a must and maybe you can pass the time trying to sing it!